Which GM Brand(s) Do You Think Should Get The Chop?

[RedVee8]

Pointless Dept.
If you kill Pontiac you still have thousands of BPG dealers, savings?
Why kill GMC? it must be heaps lower cost than developing unique vehicles, and I've read that the Denali line attracts wealthier customers than Cadillac. I'd keep those....
I just can't see the savings cutting one or two from BPG since the merge of the dealers.
Isn't it barely weeks since GM announced a reorganisation of brands? now they're on the chopping block?


I think models should be pared rather than brands. I see GMC Denali and Buick as a natural pairing. GMC Commercial is a different kettle of fish.

Perhaps Saturn should be added to Pontiac shops and vice versa - Saturniac if you like - let the models compete to form a line. If you were to choose between a G6 and an Aura, A G5 and an Astra, which would win? Sort of end up with an extended range equivilent to Opel with the Zeta and an Outlook.

Similarly, H3 and H4 should become GMC Hummer offroaders, or a new Jimmy range.

Buick should have only 2 or 3 sedans, a coupe and the Enclave. But any Cadillac protection should be removed - let them fly GM - they are not Cadillacs and can be quite different whilst still aiming for excellence.

[Orbit Orange]

Percents add up to 164.44 percent??? WTF???

Someone fix the poll please, they should add up to 100%. Maybe some members are superdelegates and their votes count more than the rest of us.

Alright, it looks like you could have voted for more than one division.

[CarStar]

Axe the GMC brand and give the popular Acadia to Buick.

GMC is too redundant with Chevrolet and should be relegated to large
haulers or dump trucks.

Pontiac is the next logical brand to ditch in a few years since it is
also redundant with Chevrolet. But they should gradually fold its
cars into Saturn since that's the more progressive GM brand.

Saturn should keep its seperate outlets and add some discarded GMC
models to its portfolio.

Buick should be kept for nostalgia and the older buyers who will drive
nothing else as well as the younger buyers who want Lexus-like style.

Hummer should be sold off or restricted to commercial/government sales

Saab should be sold back to its original owner who then should find a
Eurpoean partner like Porsche-Volkswagen to team up with.

[1957wildcat]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

To be clear, there's nothing wrong with the brands. There's a whole lot wrong with underworked, overpaid, visionless, uninspired executives at the RenCen.

QFT!

And I agree that Ladjziak, Bunnell, Peper, and LaNeve are the ones who should be cut for failing to deliver results. That's what they're paid for!

[1957wildcat]

I say cut Saturn, Saab, and Hummer. Historically, they mean nothing to GM and if one doesn't take that into consideration, it might as well be XYZ Motors, not GM!

GM's iconic brands are, in alphabetical order, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac. Is the definition of "iconic" understood? If corporate GM and inside politics starves any of them (yes, even the precious Chevry and Cadillac), watch them become damaged.

Regarding the possible axing of GMC, I thought it provided the volume to keep Buick and Pontiac going until their products could be corrected. Cutting GMC and putting Saturn in its place will do nothing, judging by Saturn's declining sales.

[dederer]

If GM has any issues with its current strategy, is some what confusing. Chevrolet is the flag ship and has cars that meeting various needs and attitudes. Young buyers or fuel efficient needs, IE Cobalt and Aveo, Malibu -families, Impala-older groups wanted more room, Camero - sport enthusiast. and corvette the flag bearer, HHR - Small SUV Equinox - medium SUV Taho- large SUV trucks, they all make sense. BPG gets confusing with the g8 that crosses in to the Buick's demographic and should the Torrent be a GMC? And who is the buyer for Saturn; is it directed towards the European style driver? Saturn seams to step on Chevy toes, with the outlook. They should consider consolodating the name of BPG, I don't know how they could do that but it's something to consider.

[Kennyboy]

3 people actually voted for Cadillac and Chevrolet. I wonder who are those people? But anyways I voted none because each brand is unique and have their own loyal base.

[FStephenMasek]

Originally Posted by Kennyboy

3 people actually voted for Cadillac and Chevrolet. I wonder who are those people? But anyways I voted none because each brand is unique and have their own loyal base.

Please read my post above, as I voted Chevrolet.

[montrealvue]

GMC, an entire line of rebadges seems pretty pointless. There is no room for diversity in the brand as trucks are dead and won't be back anytime soon. A close second would be Hummer, another outdated idea who's time has come and gone.

[Kennyboy]

Originally Posted by FStephenMasek

Please read my post above, as I voted Chevrolet.

Then you're a FOOL. Chevrolet in North America is the most popular brand here. Most recognition, brand and fan base.

[1957wildcat]

Please don't call anyone names. His opinion is as equal to yours or mine or anyone's, whether or not we agree. Besides, haven't the people on this website (and others) had enough of the "these brand(s) should be cut" to fill a book by now? This doesn't get anywhere. If you want to call someone a fool, pick a GM executive (Wagoner, Ladjziak, Peper, LaNever, Bunnell, someone else... your choice).

[jamiepeterson2]

BRAND MANAGEMENT is the problem, not too many brands. Chop nothing. Everytime you cut a brand; you lose customers. Not only that, but closing brands like Oldsmobile cost a billion dollars, so GM can't afford to do that anymore. Franchising laws make it almost impossible to close a brand without incurring huge losses.

That only leaves one option: Make do with what you've got. Make it better.

CADILLAC should offer uncompromising RWD luxury. I despise the alphabet soup monikers though. I know what a Seville, Deville or Eldorado should like like, but not an XLR, SRX, DTS, CTS, EST, EXT or BLS. All Cadillacs should be two-mode hybrids. Raise the standard higher please.

CHEVROLET should continue to offer mainstream FWD cars and RWD trucks. Opel should infuse a lot of gusto into Chevrolet cars.

PONTIAC should offer sporty turbocharged versions of Chevrolet cars.

BUICK should offer upscale turbocharged and AWD versions of Chevrolet cars.

SATURN should drop its current line-up and become the plug-in hybrid sub-brand of Chevrolet showcasing the Chevy Volt. Bob Lutz has indicated previously that Chevrolet already has a full portfolio.

GMC should drop its current line-up and be re-invented as just a sales channel offering only Hummers and Opel Movano. Pontiac-Buick dealers still need some trucks on their lot, but they should be different from Chevrolet.

HUMMER should be revised to offer SUVs (H2, H3, H4 & HX) and pick-up trucks (T2 & T3) with 2WD and 4wd. All Hummers should be two-mode hybrids. This changes Hummer image substantially and makes it more viable in the GM marketplace.

SAAB should offer sporty European turbocharged AWD cars. The line-ups of the both the 9-3 and 9-5 must be expanded to include coupes, convertibles, sedans, hatchbacks and wagons.

OPEL should contribute to the designs of VAUXHALL, HOLDEN and DAEWOO as well as CHEVROLET. GM should accelerate its World Car program.

A business model like this would help GM cut costs dramatically without sacrificing anything.

[FStephenMasek]

Originally Posted by Kennyboy

Then you're a FOOL. Chevrolet in North America is the most popular brand here. Most recognition, brand and fan base.

This from a self-described (read profile) "grad student and slacker" is no surprise.

Consider that the what goes for "popularity" may largely be a result of supply, given the number of Chevrolet dealers. Yes, there are some who try to make up for deficiencies in their life by associating themselves with various brand names, but vehicle sales data clearly shows that brand loyalty, especially for US-brand vehicles, has been and is falling.

[88Fiero]

GMC? Are you nuts? GMC percentage wise sells more than cheby! Give us a better production precentage and give us the same pricing and watch it grow!

[johnnyvettes]

dump Buick it is as dead as it's owners