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

[HoosierRon]

It's not a matter of "fooling the public". It's a matter of giving them what they want. A current RX350 owner may consider a Buick Enclave. He will probably not consider a Chevy lambda. It's not because he is "fooled". Rather, it is because he prefers the looks and image of the Enclave. He does not want to show up at the country club in a Chevy.

If you don't think brands are important and image makes a difference, ask yourself why Lexus exists. It is not because people are "fooled" into thinking an ES350 isn't a reskinned Camry. It is because there are a lot of people who will pay an extra $5,000 to not drive what everyone else is driving.

[paul8488]

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.

Hey, I want to believe you, but the only thing I know is that there were reports (not necessarily true) that GM cancelled the lambda-based Chevy minivan they were developing... and I recall an article stating that Chevrolet was getting a 'version' of the Outlook. None of this is supported in any way... but old habits die hard, and GM isn't known for its brilliant long-term plans, sadly. Still, I hope you're right!

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by Ming

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.

The probelm with the GMT 360 family isn't the fact that GM went rebadge crazy. In my opinion it has more to do with the poor execution of the interior, the last minute afterthought of a third row and resulting awkward side profile and the fact that they came to market just as the CUV craze was taking over. The midsize SUV segment was doomed about five years ago. Now it is the hottest thing around. The Chevy Trailblazer sold well - but the interiors of the TB, Envoy, Bravada, Ranier and Ascender were all nearly identical. Only the 9-7X received a unique interior - but by then it was too late to salvage what could have been a good shared platform.

GM had a good platform in the GMT-360 and an excellent engine line up with the I6 and V8 options. Had they given the trucks a heavy MCE with focus on the interior and a new 5 or 6 speed transmission to improve fuel economy - then they might still be relevant. The rubber maid interior killed these trucks from day one.

[Hitman1970]

Originally Posted by neshapop

NACOTY Aura May 4784 YTD 22,535
GMI Most hated car of the year: LaCrosse May 4913 YTD 19,307

Yup.

[SJZ3]

Good news for GM, but keep in mind Toyota did even better.

If GM can keep their sales steady for a year or two and pull back on incentives, they will almost certainly return to profitability.

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Outlook is suffering from Aura-itis... great vehicle that no one is buying.

Both vehicles are suffering from Saturn-itis. A well documented problem on the GMI forums - basically no one wants a Saturn.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by guitarlix

Both vehicles are suffering from Saturn-itis. A well documented problem on the GMI forums - basically no one wants a Saturn.

It's called failed marketing. You can't revitalize a brand and not advertise the hell out it.

[86'er]

Originally Posted by mikesright

Look at Impala this month! 35,000 sales!

I think the Impala has been a design that has really grown on people. That and I think that, in part, people are realizing they can get a roomier vehicle for less money. Once, that used to mean something.

[Chaz_23]

I sure hope the Lambdas improve sales even more. At 250000 it would still be one of GMs slowest selling platforms.

Maybe GM should convert some of them BPG dealers to Saturn.

I wish GM would make the LaCrosse the rental king instead of the Impala, GP, but I guess with the Enclave's arrival they're trying to market Buick as more luxurious.

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.

[Bvonscott]

I sold 0.125 % of the AURA's this month! That was 6! YAY!

[1487]

did anyone else notice the Impala outsold the accord last month.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by guitarlix

Both vehicles are suffering from Saturn-itis. A well documented problem on the GMI forums - basically no one wants a Saturn.

Extreme dogmatic comments like this "no one wants a Saturn" tend to ruin one's credibility - especially when Saturn sales are skyrocketing...check the numbers.

Yes - they haven't been marketed very well and they have a small dealership network - both of which hamper chances for ten fold sales increases that everyone thinks they should be having. But sales are climbing and Saturn is reaching new buyers with the Sky, Aura and Outlook - even if at smaller than expected numbers.

Evidently more people want a Saturn with their new line up than they did last year...Could you please check your bias against Saturn at the door before making statements like you did?

Thanks.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by 1487

did anyone else notice the Impala outsold the accord last month.

I did not. This is great news for Chevy. No surprise as the Impala is a fine sedan. Just imagine how good it would be with the 3.6L DOHC engine and a six speed automatic?

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

I sold 0.125 % of the AURA's this month! That was 6! YAY!

Good news. Any conquest buyers in those six?

[geozinger]

Originally Posted by guitarlix

Both vehicles are suffering from Saturn-itis. A well documented problem on the GMI forums - basically no one wants a Saturn.

This is strictly observational, but it might translate into something...

My office building is right next to another one occupied by a law firm. Both offices rent space in the parking structure from the local community college adjacent to both of our buildings. The principals at the law firm have their own section in the deck, and we're next to them.

I have noticed starting in January that a Saturn Aura XR was parking there. Initially I thought it was one of their office worker's cars, but I found out later that the ladies park further up on the structure. About 2 months ago a Saturn Sky started showing up in their area, and now there's another Aura in the lawyers' parking area. Keep in mind, these guys do just fine in terms of money. The Saturns are parked next to BMW's and M-B's and Lexus' too.

I 'm not going to go to fanboi lengths and say that Saturns are outclassing the other metal that shows up in that part of the parking deck, but it IS curious that those cars have been showing up there lately.