What Should GM Do With Hummer?

[61BelAir]

Keep Hummer as a niche brand, drop the H2, Make the H4 and HX models with diesel/hybrid technology on a shared GMC/Chevrolet small truck platform and merge them with Cadillac and Saab as others have said here.

[mgescuro]

The problem here is that GM just doesn't know how to manage a niche brand.
They're clueless.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HUMMER!!!

Hummer is a brand that exudes toughness, ruggedness, and the ability to off-road at a moments notice without a care in the world.
SO SELL IT AS SUCH!!!

Drop in a diesel... biodiesel... Adapt Saab's BioPower system... Work on a hybrid system like Land Rover.

There are so many options here for HUMMER.

The issue isn't about being green. It's about maintaining the core meaning of the brand.
So what if HUMMER won't sell H1 and H2 anymore. H3 is a more than viable alternative. Or an HT3. How about a Jeep-style vehicle? Or even an H2 that is smaller -- Range Rover sized -- to cut down on the weight?
Or even take a page from Land Rover and make them all aluminum bodies!

It would be devastating for GM to lose a high profile name with an image that is so correctable. Other than Saturn, there is no other GM brand with such a sharp focus as HUMMER.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by drew630

Keep it and go smaller to compete with Jeep.

I agree with keeping it and designing smaller HUMMERs. I own an H3 and love it and will be looking at the H4 if it ever reaches production.

But let's be realistic. You could argue that GM already competes with Jeep with all the other SUV options within GM; competing with Jeep doesn't require HUMMER. Why keep around a brand just to produce a single vehicle (H4) that competes with the Wrangler? If it's only the image that is competitive, that's marketing strategy which can be applied to a different brand.

What if they took the HX concept, put a GMC badge on it, targeted Jeep in their marketing of GMC SUVs and got rid of HUMMER? Personally I would hate to see that, but it's a valid argument.

[TriShield]

They should have cashed it out before fuel prices made the brand a liability, now they're basically stuck with it. The H4/HX, whatever they want to call it should have been here by now and it's probably too late. The brand also isn't much withou the H1, the vehicle that defined and founded it in the first place.

If GM closes HUMMER they should be closing GMC as well. Both are simply gas-guzzling brands that the company probably can't afford anymore and Chevrolet has always been known for it's trucks.

[ColinOpseth]

Sell it to Tata Motors.

If GM is going to make good on its promise to "clean up" they need to get rid of the worst offenders. Either make them all dual-mode and go upscale or ditch the whole effort.

[geozinger]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

...It would be devastating for GM to lose a high profile name with an image that is so correctable. Other than Saturn, there is no other GM brand with such a sharp focus as HUMMER.

I appreciate your point of view, but just can't agree with the bolded statement. I feel this is not reflective of the (sales) situation as it exists.

Saturn has sharp focus? Here's a good example of a mis-managed brand. Saturn is what? The techno company? The "green" division? The value division? GM lost the premise of Saturn years ago. They killed Oldsmobile to make room for Saturn and then even after a huge investment in product, there's still no return. And please understand, after being in Germany, I've waited for Opels to come back the US, in one form or another. IMO, the Opels should have gone to Pontiac, but that's another discussion for another time.

I live in a GM town and the most popular cars I see here are Pontiacs, followed by Chevys. This is in a town that has two Saturn retailers, many former and existing GM and Delphi employees and family members. Hell, even with gas prices as high as they are here ($3.99 gal) I see more HUMMERS than I do Saturns. If two of the people in my neighborhood didn't have Saturns, I would never see any.

My point is this: If you are marketing a car in this environment, which is fairly GM-friendly, and it STILL DOESN'T SELL, it's time to think differently.

Sorry to hijack the thread and /rant.

[rozz]

Sell it to the Rappers.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by TriShield

They should have cashed it out before fuel prices made the brand a liability, now they're basically stuck with it. The H4/HX, whatever they want to call it should have been here by now and it's probably too late. The brand also isn't much withou the H1, the vehicle that defined and founded it in the first place.

If GM closes HUMMER they should be closing GMC as well. Both are simply gas-guzzling brands that the company probably can't afford anymore and Chevrolet has always been known for it's trucks.

You know everytime you say close GMC you just keep getting dumber. GMC even with falling truck prices is GM's #2 brand.

People who buy GMCs will NOT buy Chevy trucks. Seriously these buyers are not the same. So closing the brand does nothing but lose sales.

[usa1]

Sell it. It's a PR nightmare and completely out of touch with current and future market realities. Pay Toyota to take it so Toyota can deal with the stigma that Hummer brings to the company that owns it in today's marketplace.

Mark

[Saturn69]

Regardless of what we think GM should do with Hummer, they, GM, will do what makes the most sense for them as a business and we will all sit here and bitch about that decision, whichever side we may be on. It doesn't matter.

[drew630]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

Regardless of what we think GM should do with Hummer, they, GM, will do what makes the most sense for them as a business and we will all sit here and bitch about that decision, whichever side we may be on. It doesn't matter.

Than we might as well just shut down GMI altogether because nothing discussed here on GMI really matters to GM or any of the automotive brands.

[drees1]

Dump the turd..

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by drew630

Than we might as well just shut down GMI altogether because nothing discussed here on GMI really matters to GM or any of the automotive brands.

Yeah, cuz that's what I meant. I just meant it doesn't matter what they do with it because someone is going to be unhappy about GM's decision, I wasn't implying that GMI is pointless.

[Astra RL]

Keep it and make it like jeep H4/X would be your wrangler and the H3 would be Grand Cherokee like. That is IT add two mode to the 3.6 DI for the H3 and 3.0 DI in the H4/X. Also have a real offroad version and an all wheel drive for those still looking for a non crossover.

[FBODYRULES]

just revamp it! make it work! if other people can (like range rover etc, and also land rover) then you can!
also if companies like bentley and doubleR can stay around then hummer should be able to!!
come on GM!