GM: Where To From Here?

[JoeT]

Now that the once great General Motors has filed voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection the GM as we once knew it is now dead.

Where to from here? Is this the beginning of the end or just the end of the beginning?

With our new Front Page Poll you can have your say!

[Speedjerk]

Well, like Obama has said, "This is the beginning of the end".

Take it as you will.

[Xenon]

GM will survive, but I really wonder if they will learn anything after they are past this stage and actually start to make money.

[2002 Caddy]

GM is in survival mode now... But without a RADICAL change in how business is done they are doomed.

[cire_1wb]

Hopefully, GMNA will get some sort of clue on how to manage the 4 brands that remain in the U.S. They need someone who understands the potential of these brands in the future and the products these brands will need to ensure the success and longevity of the company.

My biggest worry is Buick, especially in light of the launch of the new 2010 LaCrosse. A recent visit I made to the website is evidence to me that GM still doesn't understand how to position and manage this brand. I think the 2010 LaCrosse will eventually become Buick's flagship. It needs to be positioned, equipped, and priced befitting the flagship position of the company's midmarket premium brand. Instead of doing this, GM has given Buick a CX version of this car without alloy wheels (Buick products should never have plastic wheel covers), fog lights (which should be standard equipment on all Buick and Cadillac products), or automatic dual zone climate control (which should also be standard equipment on all Buick and Cadillac products). Offering this trim level on the 2010 LaCrosse enables Buick to market the car with a base price of around $28,000, which is exactly what Buick should NOT be doing at this point. The 2010 LaCrosse should be positioned, equipped, and priced near its 3 major competitors in the market place: the Acura TL, Lexus ES, and Lincoln MKZ. To strip this car down to advertise the lowest base price in the segment basically undermines Buick's mission and potential in the market. The 2010 LaCrosse appears to be much more impressive than any of its competitors listed above, but Buick is jeopardizing its parity with its competitors by trying to be the bargain alternative. This practice will not reestablish Buick as the premier premium brand in the market. It will doom the brand to the perception of only being a "fancy" or slightly upmarket alternative to Chevrolet (the same thing applies to GMC for that matter). That same perception is what rendered Saturn (in its last incarnation) and Pontiac irrelevant and redundant in the market.

Buick should be GM's opportunity to obtain some major profits off of the corporation's FWD platforms (for the most part, a Zeta based product or two would be nice too). This can only be accomplished by offering properly positioned premium products that are appropriately equipped and engineered to effectively compete in that segment and echelon of the market. GM needs to quit trying to be the bargain alternative and strive to become world class.

The fact that GM decided to continue with the "LaCrosse" name for this car in North America should have been the first clue that GM still doesn't have a clue about how to manage this brand. The name has no history or equity in the U.S. market nor does it signify that something new, exciting, and different has arrived at Buick showrooms. This car should have either resurrected a well respected name from the brand's past or been labeled with a dynamic new model name to proclaim the brand's revival and renaissance. The way GM has treated this great new product seems to indicate that it is still "business as usual" at GM. I hope the restructuring process allows someone who does "get it" to take the reins and get the 4 remaining brands on the right track. Hopefully, this person will also realize that compromised products (be it in engineering, equipment, or marketing) will not allow the company to accomplish this feat.

[johnny smallblock]

GM will survive and grow. In a few years it will be in a much better position then it is now. But to say GM will be stronger then ever before is ridiculous; they once controlled 62% of the US market.

It will never be the same, but in a good way.

[JTWard]

Originally Posted by Speedjerk

Well, like Obama has said, "This is the beginning of the end".

Take it as you will.

"Banking establishments are more dangerous than a Standing Army !"
Thomas Jefferson

I answered that GM will move forward, but never like it has been in the past. I doubt if any out side fring elements like a Performance Division will ever have a position at GM ever again. But again we're talking about a company that is 100 years old. Between the thives at the management level and the corrosive level that the UAW is, General Motors has been harpooned in the side and is listing to port badly. If the same level of guidence is in place in the future, then GM will disappear from the marketplace.

[delmarjohn]

first of all will GM survive ,YES,will they be a major player YES,will they have the same market share in the USA that they had 35 years AGO absolutely not....why so many players and they all have almost instant access to the US market ..........so when I watch the news and see the chart of GM decline inmarket share I say to myself WOW are we a stupid people to listen to anything this press has to say

[FireFox89]

Gm needs to either
A.Hire new blood that isnt atune to gm's corperate culture. (similar to Alan Mulally of ford)
B.Get the general understanding that gm is a car company, and not a bureaucracy.
C.Bring in car guys that are drive inspiration and thought to the business.
Ca.Dig up John Delorean, Harley Earl or Pete Estes.lol
D. Better derived marketing could help too.

Those few things would do wonders for gm....

[doh]

Survive. As a shadow, of it's former self.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by cire_1wb

My biggest worry is Buick, especially in light of the launch of the new 2010 LaCrosse. A recent visit I made to the website is evidence to me that GM still doesn't understand how to position and manage this brand. I think the 2010 LaCrosse will eventually become Buick's flagship. It needs to be positioned, equipped, and priced befitting the flagship position of the company's midmarket premium brand. Instead of doing this, GM has given Buick a CX version of this car without alloy wheels (Buick products should never have plastic wheel covers), fog lights (which should be standard equipment on all Buick and Cadillac products), or automatic dual zone climate control (which should also be standard equipment on all Buick and Cadillac products).

Agree, and all Buick and Cadillac products should also have an 8-way power driver seat with memory.

GM has the product pipeline now - but does it really know what to do with it?

Originally Posted by cire_1wb

The fact that GM decided to continue with the "LaCrosse" name for this car in North America should have been the first clue that GM still doesn't have a clue about how to manage this brand. The name has no history or equity in the U.S. market nor does it signify that something new, exciting, and different has arrived at Buick showrooms. This car should have either resurrected a well respected name from the brand's past or been labeled with a dynamic new model name to proclaim the brand's revival and renaissance.

Agree, the LaCrosse should have been the LeSabre (historic name with top quality ratings) or Invicta (fresh name to most of today's buyers), but we're stuck with LaCrosse so GM really needs to get the standard features correct.

I voted will grow larger (globally) than ever but it has to be with some new management both in personnel and philosophy.

Fritz maybe able to pull it off and I am willing to at least hear what his "vision" of GM is before tossing him, but he needs to implement a strong program quickly and make the hard adjustments immediately (Wagoner rarely did this).

[cyclone]

A lot of the people who said it won't survive like Fords.

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by cyclone

A lot of the people who said it won't survive like Fords.

A lot of them judging by their names/posts are disgruntled Pontiac fans.

[Exploder]

A lot of the people who said it won't survive like Fords.

A lot of them judging by their names/posts are disgruntled Pontiac fans.

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this...

[teamfbody]

Originally Posted by cyclone

A lot of the people who said it won't survive like Fords.

I AGREE WITH U MAN THESE ford,honda,toyota etc folks are just HATERS YHEY WANNA SEE GM FALL BUT GM WILL HAVE A RUDE AWAKENING FOR THEM WATCH AND SEE!!!