GM reports May Sales: Up 4.7%, Retail up 8.5%

[autofan]

Since car rentals are a good way for the non-GM buying public to "test drive" GM's vehicles, it's disappointing that the Grand Prix is the rental king. Anybody who has preconceived notions about GM will take one look at a Grand Prix and think GM hasn't changed one bit. Oh well, maybe they'll be more impressed with the Chevrolet Classic...

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Hate to say it again, but imagine the Outlook had been a Chevy... it'd probably be close to 20,000 a month by now.

But if the Chevy had come out first...then the auto mags, trolls on this site and the competition would have billed the Acadia, Outlook and Enclave as badge engineered versions of the Chevy based Lambda.

This way - the cheaper version comes last - brilliant marketing as far as I am concerned. Let the new plant build the premium versions - develop a following and then bring out an early 2009 or late 2008 Chevy version next spring. The Chevy dealerships will need something new and fresh since the GMT-900 trucks and suvs will be nearly two years old by then. I think GM/Chevy played their cards right.

The Lambda success is working out just as planned.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by spykebn

Everyone has to remember that Saturn was a small fringe brand with poor products and that is how most of the public views it. Now that the brand is completely new it will take some time for the public to notice. Give it time, Saturn grew by 50% this month, this will help. As sales grow more and more people with notice it and see how they are producing great new products. This will lead to more sales, which will lead to even more sales. Turning around a brand takes time and it has only been a year since new product started to flow. Give it another year to take hold.

The new VUE will work well to change peoples perceptions of the brand. Saturn has a lot of upward potential yet. The new VUE and Astra will propel the brand into the limelight again for 2008.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

But if the Chevy had come out first...then the auto mags, trolls on this site and the competition would have billed the Acadia, Outlook and Enclave as badge engineered versions of the Chevy based Lambda.

This way - the cheaper version comes last - brilliant marketing as far as I am concerned. Let the new plant build the premium versions - develop a following and then bring out an early 2009 or late 2008 Chevy version next spring. The Chevy dealerships will need something new and fresh since the GMT-900 trucks and suvs will be nearly two years old by then. I think GM/Chevy played their cards right.

The Lambda success is working out just as planned.

Hmmm... guess I see some truth to that. I don't suspect that was really GMs PLAN though... when's the last time GM was THAT shrewd?!?

This DOES make sense though... a high-volume Chevy might not have earned the same respect as these other three smaller-volume crossovers. We've all said it a billion times, but it would be really nice if GM could differentiate the Traverse so much so that it wouldn't be easily recognized as a sibling to the other lambdas. How much good faith will GM lose (at least amongst us GMi nerds) if they release an exact copy of the Saturn?!?

[jbartley]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Hmmm... guess I see some truth to that. I don't suspect that was really GMs PLAN though... when's the last time GM was THAT shrewd?!?

How much good faith will GM lose (at least amongst us GMi nerds) if they release an exact copy of the Saturn?!?

It probably was their plan. That's exactly what happened with the new Escalade (it's just a fancy Chevy!)

And how does anyone know the Traverse is going to look just like the Saturn? Anyone? Proof? If GM was doing a simple rebadge, they could have it out for 2008. But they're not, and their building it elsewhere, which should be a BIG hint, it's going to look substantially different.

[Ach]

Well, there it is...the Camry is 10X better than the Aura

[minnfang]

Lambda Sales Ramp Update

Acadia:
05/07 9073
04/07 7487
03/07 5739
02/07 4283
01/07 1682
12/06 480

Enclave:
05/07 1853
04/07 52

Outlook:
05/07 4048
04/07 3592
03/07 2210
02/07 1900
01/07 944
12/06 144

[nsap]

Originally Posted by minnfang

Lambda Sales Ramp Update

Acadia:
05/07 9073
04/07 7487
03/07 5739
02/07 4283
01/07 1682
12/06 480

Enclave:
05/07 1853
04/07 52

Outlook:
05/07 4048
04/07 3592
03/07 2210
02/07 1900
01/07 944
12/06 144

I'm pleased with the ramp up on the Lambda's. They got off to a slow start, but are starting to pick up. They may need that 3rd shift at Lansing-Delta again!

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by jbartley

It probably was their plan. That's exactly what happened with the new Escalade (it's just a fancy Chevy!)

And how does anyone know the Traverse is going to look just like the Saturn? Anyone? Proof? If GM was doing a simple rebadge, they could have it out for 2008. But they're not, and their building it elsewhere, which should be a BIG hint, it's going to look substantially different.

Agreed - this isn't going to be a simple rebadge. I predict it will be similar to the Cheyene Concept up front with a unique interior.

[jbartley]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

Agreed - this isn't going to be a simple rebadge. I predict it will be similar to the Cheyene Concept up front with a unique interior.

right on



Acadia and Buick have had 10x more advertising than Saturn.

GMC sponsors sports stuff on TV non-stop. And the enclave is all over the tiger woods and PGA circuit. What is Saturn sponsoring that they can plaster Outlook ads all over?

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by minnfang

Lambda Sales Ramp Update

Acadia:
05/07 9073
04/07 7487
03/07 5739
02/07 4283
01/07 1682
12/06 480

Enclave:
05/07 1853
04/07 52

Outlook:
05/07 4048
04/07 3592
03/07 2210
02/07 1900
01/07 944
12/06 144

Total Lambda sales:

Acadia: 28,744 after seven months

Enclave: 1,905 after two months

Outlook: 12,838 after seven months

Total: 43,487 units sold

Annual sales rate based on May sales volume:

Acadia: 108,876

Enclave: 22,236

Outlook: 48,576

Total: 179,688 - while all models are still in ramp up phase - 250,000 in annual sales is very realistic from these three models. Once a Chevy version is introduced next year for the 2009 model year - GM could be looking at 400,000 Lambda sales per year.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

Total Lambda sales:

Acadia: 28,744 after seven months

Enclave: 1,905 after two months

Outlook: 12,838 after seven months

Total: 43,487 units sold

Annual sales rate based on May sales volume:

Acadia: 108,876

Enclave: 22,236

Outlook: 48,576

Total: 179,688 - while all models are still in ramp up phase - 250,000 in annual sales is very realistic from these three models. Once a Chevy version is introduced next year for the 2009 model year - GM could be looking at 400,000 Lambda sales per year.

Don't forget about the Lambda SUT's that are coming.

[jkennedy293]

Way top go GM!!!

[Ming]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

This way - the cheaper version comes last - brilliant marketing as far as I am concerned. Let the new plant build the premium versions - develop a following and then bring out an early 2009 or late 2008 Chevy version next spring.

While the timing is better, there is nothing brilliant with using the same old scheme as was used for the Trailblazer (GMT 360) family, and the Uplander (GM Minivan Platform) family.

Mechanical clones reskinned for different brands and pumped out of the same factory will not fool people for long. As soon as the Chevy version comes out, expect sales of the others to drop off sharply to the point where even the great looking Enclave is just a tad better selling than the Rainier has been over its lifetime.

I expect the same thing from the 2008 Malibu and whatver mechanical clone Buick likely gets. We'll see them followed by 2 more, no doubt. This is a pattern. And I'm not ga-ga over it like so many here are. This idea that sheetmetal alone can get me into a Pontiac over a Chevy. There's a reason I chose the Bonneville SSEi over a standard Bonneville. At least the engine was unique on that platform at the time. The "sporty" Pontiac really was sportier than the Buick LeSabres out there.

Unlike some here, I remember all of the hype over the new Trailblazer/Envoy/Bravada. GM couldn't help itself, its natural urge to rebadge and reskin like crazy instead of making one or two truly fantastic vehicles with huge volume, and then we had Isuzu Ascender, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7X to add to that long list of mechanical clones of the Trailblazer.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by jbartley

right on



Acadia and Buick have had 10x more advertising than Saturn.

GMC sponsors sports stuff on TV non-stop. And the enclave is all over the tiger woods and PGA circuit. What is Saturn sponsoring that they can plaster Outlook ads all over?

The only Outlook advertisements I see are on the internet. Saturn needs to change their marketing campaign. It sucks. I love the slogan - "Rethink American" but the delivery of the campaign is horrible.