Comments on: You’re going to keep Buick?

By: Three Barrels

Three Barrels — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:14:17 +0000

GM won’t kill Buick because it is the most popular foreign nameplate in China and they obviously think that is a big chunk of their future–you know, a simple typo in that last line would have created a horrible epithet, but I digress.

So Buick will hang around because the Chinese like them, in much the same way that hair metal bands hang around because of Canadians. We as a nation may have long since outgrown these things, the rest of the world not so much.

By: Charlie Croker

Charlie Croker — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:50:25 +0000

And for the record, if we’re keeping one, I agree that GM needs just those two brands: Chevrolet and Cadillac.

In this day and age, that appears to be most sustainable number of brands and hits both ends of the spectrum.

I think GM needs to be worried about the Chinese and Indian manufacturers. The same way they should have been worried about Hyundai ten years ago.

By: Three Barrels

Three Barrels — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:46:25 +0000

The one that makes no sense to me is GMC. All it sells are Chevy trucks under a different badge. WTF?

GM should be Chevy and Cadillac, end of list. As for Saturn dealers organizing a buyout, GM mentioned that in their press release announcing the Saturn phase-out, then immediately countered that news with a whole bunch of reasons why that would be a bad idea. I guess they are worried about Chinese or Indian competition here in the States and not so much about the URGENT need for cash RIGHT NOW.

By: Charlie Croker

Charlie Croker — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:08:52 +0000

They assumed they’d rely on Benz designers? Guess that didn’t work out.

Here’s a slice of irony: Apparently Saturn dealers are looking to buy themselves out. They are looking into options for bringing in Chinese or Indian cars to keep the brand alive.

By: Blue Crab

Blue Crab — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:47:32 +0000

I’m continually mystified by GM’s inability to shed brands. Toyota has three, and just added that third one. GM needs Chevy and Cadillac to survive and nothing else. I think that’s a doable business model, but Lordy it’s like pulling teeth.

Chrysler is absolutely dead man walking. I hadn’t realized how much Daimler had gotten rid of all of the design talent. They literally have no ability to design a new car.