GM News, New Models and Market Share

fjm1 · January 2008

I believe the falling value of the U.S. dollar will help GM in a big way and, conversely, hurt the Japanese manufacturers badly. The full effects of the past years devaluation of the dollar have not become fully apparent in the auto industry.

GM couldn't afford to build good cars in the past. Now they can't afford not to as they will have one good shot at this to turn it all around. The next 5 years are going to see a dramatic upswing in people's perceptions of U.S. made goods.

The fly in the ointment is the Koreans and soon the Chinese. Labor costs are way low in those countries.

62vetteefp · January 2008

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors today said it terminated a $4.1 billion standby credit agreement with a syndicate of banks, saying it had sufficient liquidity without the borrowing arrangement.

GM had entered into the credit agreement in June 2007. The automaker had never borrowed under the terms of the deal, which was secured by GM's stake in its former finance arm GMAC.

"After reviewing its liquidity position, GM believes that it has sufficient liquidity and financial flexibility to meet its capital requirements in the first half of 2008 without the credit agreement," the company said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

cooterbfd · January 2008

Yes, and should be good for the entire US auto industry, as it becomes more profitable to build vehicles HERE for sale IN OTHER COUNTRIES!!! When was the last time you heard that????

62vetteefp · January 2008

Well they are but small cars were only up .4% for 2007 at only a 15% market share. The biggest losers were minivans which I think everyone knows by now is a segment that will be much smaller in the future. The big winner? High MPG cars? NOOOO. Crossovers were up almost 16%. Every other segment is down. Overall a 3% industry wide drop. Crossovers gain is almost even with SUV's and minivans losses. And take into account that the whole market was down 3% a 6% drop in SUV's is not as if the sky is falling.

Attached does not show the chart that was in the paper so I will put the data here.
% drop..............................Market share
+15.6..............crossovers....15.6
+__.4..............small cars.....15
-__3.0.............mid cars........22
-__5.3.............Lux cars.......9
-__5.5.............Pick ups.......17
-__6.2.............SUV's...........14
-__9.3.............Vans.............2
-_11.6.............Large cars.....1
-_19.5.............Minivans........5

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080106/BUSINESS01/801060586/10- 14

Gas prices are becoming a bigger issue in the U.S. auto market, but consumers are not necessarily flocking in droves to tiny, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Through November, the small-car segment, which includes the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Chevy Cobalt, rose just 0.4%, compared with the same period in 2006, according to Autodata Corp.

cooterbfd · January 2008

I think this is more proof to all the "Greenies" out there that while fuel economy does matter, the versatility of the vehicle (high sales of Suv's, pickups, and the explosion in crossovers) is still king with consumers.

62vetteefp · January 2008

I was on a "green" site and they were making hay about a Green magazine that had given the GM Hybrid a Green truck of the year award. They were very pissed that a SUV was given any kind of green award even if it did get decent gas mileage. Their thought was that GM could have put that technology in a small car and gotten big MPG gains there. Very true but people want vehicles that they want, not a compromise and the sales figures show that. I think SUV's are the latest "thing" for people to band up against and hate and feel they belong to a righteous group. You can see this because they make assumptions like it is all soccer moms with only two kids or some guy trying to portray his manhood. Gee, I love my SUV because I can haul all my crap and kids. I would love to drive a Solstice or a Malibu but it just does not fit my needs. Of course I am turning in my Envoy and getting an Enclave because it is a much nicer vehicle and gets a bit better MPG, but bottom line it will haul the kids and 4x8 sheets!

62vetteefp · January 2008

data

Daily rental sales were reduced 108,000 vehicles;
GM was at its lowest level of daily rental sales in 9 years (about 596,000 vehicles), while significantly boosting content and resale value.
Commercial/government fleet sales were up about 5,000 vehicles
Anticipated retail share stabilized at about 21 percent
Retail vehicles, as a percentage of total deliveries, increased 1 percentage point to 74 percent

rockylee · January 2008

Which Enclave are you getting pal ??? You waiting for the hybrid or V8 CXS, or going with just the V6 ???? Well I wanna see pics when you do get it. Just remember the Acadia Denali, might be worth looking at.

Doesn't that come out soon ???

-Rocky

62vetteefp · January 2008

Should have it today so it will be the CXL reasonably loaded. The brown color you see right there---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------->>>>.

You did see that Buick will have a Riviera concept vehicle at NAIAS???

rockylee · January 2008

Should have it today so it will be the CXL reasonably loaded. The brown color you see right there---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------->>>>.

Well I want to congratulate you on buying the finest CUV on the market today. That's the color I would get as well pal !!! :shades:

You did see that Buick will have a Riviera concept vehicle at NAIAS???

No I didn't see that !!! :surprise: I guess that means my Velite, is as good as dead now ???

:sick: I though their was a glimmer of hope still. :sick:

-Rocky

62vetteefp · January 2008

The Velite is an old concept car now. Perhaps the Riviera, with a production name, is much closer to reality and is similar to the Velite??

torque_r · January 2008

Which Enclave are you getting pal ??? You waiting for the hybrid or V8 CXS, or going with just the V6 ????

So GM is planning a V-8 for a Buick and has stopped developing V-8's for Cadillac? Does that even make sense to you? Cadillac has had V8's for the last 100 years. However GM explains this is no excuse. BMW's solution to rising fuel economy is a smaller displacement V-8 with direct injection and a turbocharger producing 400hp. Lexus has a 4.6L and 5.0L attached to an 8-speed. Even Hyundai will sell a V8 luxury car soon. Why doesn't GM just admit that the Northstar replacement under development could not pass the fuel economy/emission tests?
Without a V-8, Cadillac will never be as upscale as Mercedes/Audi/BMW/Lexus. Say goodbye to the Standard of the World. Long Live premium brand Cadillac (a.k.a Acura, Volvo)

rockylee · January 2008

Well the premium engine might be something else.

It's going to be funny when congress passes a ban on car comapny's who can't meet the new standard. Bye, Bye, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus. May be the fine will be so high nobody will buy them. So perhaps Acura, is doing the right thing !!!

-Rocky

torque_r · January 2008

It's going to be funny when congress passes a ban on car comapny's who can't meet the new standard. Bye, Bye, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus. May be the fine will be so high nobody will buy them. So perhaps Acura, is doing the right thing !!!

Fuel consumption for Acura RL (3.5) is 16/24 mpg, exactly similar to Lexus LS460 mileage. So how is Acura doing the right thing? :P

62vetteefp · January 2008

I think that Rocky messed up with the Acura. Bottom line is though that 16/24 sure is not going to cut it. It needs to have at least 37 to meet the new standards.

62vetteefp · January 2008

So GM is planning a V-8 for a Buick and has stopped developing V-8's for Cadillac? Does that even make sense to you?

#1 From what I read (rumors) it was something that would be available this year so while the Lamdas may get a V8, the Cadillacs will also continue to have a V8 as the Northstar still lives. Perhaps GM is updating the northstar this very minute? I mean all they did was announce that they were killing a new V8 engine that would not have been available for a couple years.

#2 we are talking a large CUV that will be replacing many peoples SUV's. Some of these old SUV buyers will want to continue to pull their boats/snowmoibiles/etc. and will want a more powerful engine. So if the Lamdas get a V8 it will be a continuation of GM's actions to transfer SUV buyers into their CUV Lamdas. Perhaps the towing capacity of the Lamdas would also be increased.

#3 who is sure that the Enclave is gettng a V8? That may also have been cancelled. But actually everyone has a few years before the CAFE starts ramping up and the high price of gas will naturally push folks to higher MPG vehicles (yet to be proved!) so the OEM's who already meet the CAFE will continue to by replacing low MPG vehicles with higher MPG vehicles.

#4 you are talking mid sized car vs. large SUV. I think most consumers are intelligent enough to see that a smaller car, even if it a lux vehicle, would have less need for a larger engine than a work horse truck.

rockylee · January 2008

Well their other cars more than make up for it. Besides, isn't Acura bringing out a diesel or hydrogen car ??? They like GM, appear to be ahead of the game in alternative fuel and new engine technology.

-Rocky

dieselone · January 2008

I've read somewhere that Honda/Acura is working on diesels for cars and SUV's to be available within the next few years.

rockylee · January 2008

Okay, so I read right and my memory is still working properly !!!

-Rocky

62vetteefp · January 2008

I've read somewhere that Honda/Acura is working on diesels for cars and SUV's to be available within the next few years.

Isn't everyone?

Anyway they will not be able to sell them in California unless they get a deal like Mercedes and only lease them and then sell them outside of CA when they are finished with the lease.

rockylee · January 2008

I thought the Blutec was 50 state legal ??? :surprise:

-Rocky

62vetteefp · January 2008

Well I cannot find the article that I read a week ago about how the special lease will work.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/10/mercedes-benz-i.html

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is introducing a limited number of its E320 BLUETEC diesel sedans in California. The sedan is now available through a special two-year/24,000-mile lease, and is lease-priced on a par with its gasoline sibling, the E350.

At its initial US introduction, the E320 BLUETEC slightly exceeded the CA LEV II, EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions threshold, and so was not put on sale nationwide. (Earlier post.) To meet the stricter standards of California and the other LEV II states, Mercedes-Benz made some modifications to the aftertreatment system, including changes in the control software. Although the catalyst material used in the NOx catalyst is the same, the unit is slightly different, according to Professor Dr. Herbert Kohler, Vice President, Group Research & Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain, Mercedes-Benz Cars and Chief Environmental Officer for Daimler AG.

rockylee · January 2008

Thanks, that is interesting 62'

Will the 2.9 TT V6 diesel from Europe, have a problem meeting those emission standards you think ??? :surprise:

Also do you think GM, will manufactor those diesels here in the U.S. ????

grbeck · January 2008

The Honda diesel is supposed to be coming for the 2009 model year in the Accord. From what I've read, it will meet the California emissions standards.

62vetteefp · January 2008

I think GM will just go after the diesels used in other countries if available. That means the V8 diesels will probably be built here but perhaps designed overseas?

No one else can meet the CA emissions yet other than Mercedes.

rockylee · January 2008

Well grbeck, is claiming honda can so we will see.

I hope we can also.

-Rocky

kodename · January 2008

The Malibu is this decades Citation, or at least it should be considered as such before picking one over a Toyota/Honda. Can those Die Hard GM'ers remember the X body :lemon: GM products? They sold like crazy. GM was building them for every division , even Cadillac, but alas , within 24 months of their glorious introduction the prince turned into a frog.( a Vega repeat) Resale values plumited and GM couldn't give them away. The Die Hard GM'ers (you know who you are) have a new savior each year. Last year it was the Soltice, and the never ending promise of a better Cadillac.Before that it was the ultimate 2 seat Barbie Car ,the Corvette.
Why can't GM get over this need to have front end styling that mimmics a snow plow? Then's there's the Buick Enclave..exterior porportions seem all off. When you see one in person, it's as if BMW's Chris Bangle did a redesgin of the Pontiac Aztec. Am I the only one who see's unsold Pontiac Soltices sitting week after month on dealer lots? Bottom line has got to be this: Any GM product is still a great risk. Only the Malibu is getting reviews that say as good as or better than their competitors....and they said the same thing about those X-Bodies of the 1980's.
Don't kid yourself. GM is still no better off than the other domestic makers. Even the current wonder child The Volt is more hype and "PR" than a reality. GM fans: Put those party hats down,,your still a good 10 years premature in any celebration of a comeback.

rockylee · January 2008

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/J/JAPAN_TOYOTA_MIOL-?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=HOM- E&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

-Rocky

rockylee · January 2008

Company's 8.9 percent increase came largely in the U.K, Russia, Greece, Italy and Ukraine.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080110/AUTO01/801100320/1148- /AUTO01

-Rocky :shades:

dieselone · January 2008

How many Astra's is GM planning on selling?

Seems like a nice little car, but a bit quirky with only one cup holder, a clock that displays 24 hour time only seems a bit odd. If the engine is as buzzy as I've been reading about I don't see it winning over the Civic crowd.

michaellno · January 2008

My understanding is that GM is looking to import about 20,000 a year for the next couple of years, then in 2010 they will start building the next generation Astra here in the US as well.

I was just at my Saturn dealer over lunch and they haven't gotten any Astras yet.

I hear ya on the complaints with the Astra .. I believe GM did as little as possible to federalize it for the US market and some things that should be taken for granted - multiple cup-holders, XM radio (this is a GM vehicle, after all) and an AUX jack - aren't available.

I've read some decent reviews of it, but time will tell.

I'm looking forward to a 2010 Astra Red Line with the 2.0L turbo engine from the Sky - 260HP!

dieselone · January 2008

I'm looking forward to a 2010 Astra Red Line with the 2.0L turbo engine from the Sky - 260HP!

Yeah, that should be a nice competitor to a Mazdaspeed 3

torque_r · January 2008

Did you guys see how a V-6/6-speed-powered Saturn Vue lost a comparison test to 4-cyl mini SUV's like the Nissan Rogue, Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V and the comparison winner Toyota RAV4? Heck, it even came behind the Suzuki grand Vitara. This is by the same magazine that elected the Corvette, CTS and Malibu among their top 10. It's a proof that a V6 won't make up for the vehicle hefty weight. Note to GM: Keep it light, simple and thrifty!

uplanderguy · January 2008

"Only the Malibu is getting reviews that say as good as or better than their competitors....and they said the same thing about those X-Bodies of the 1980's."

Geez, that's open-minded. Based on logic like that, no one should have considered a 1956 Ford product based on perceived issues with the first 1928 Model A.

Bill P.

rockylee · January 2008

General Motors' mid-size sedan wins coveted North American Car of the Year award.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/13/autos/car_of_the_year/index.htm?postversion=2008- 011310

-Rocky

62vetteefp · January 2008

http://gmtv.feedroom.com/

GM announced at the NAIAS that they are partnering to build a plant by the end of this year that can make Cellulosic ethanol at $1/gallon. If they can do this it will change everything. Lets hope it works out!!

rockylee · January 2008

OMG, that would be awesome 62 !!!! :surprise:

:shades:

-Rocky

62vetteefp · January 2008

http://www.mlive.com/naias/index.ssf/2008/01/cole_gm_ethanol_partnership_co.html-

David Cole, chairman of the Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research, praised GM's investment in Warrenville, Ill.-based Coskata Inc. The 35-person firm says it has developed technology that can produce cellulosic ethanol for less than $1 a gallon.

"I think there's a potential for this statement here to be one of the most important of the last 50 years in terms of the auto industry," Cole said. "Just look at the value of displacing, say, a million barrels a day of petroleum with ethanol. I mean, it's huge. It's just huge."

I talked to Dave last night and his Center is really impressed with the changes GM has and is making in the last 3 years, turning into a truly integrated global company.

62vetteefp · January 2008

They can actually make biofuel out of old tires and household garbage. If true that really means something. We can get rid of the huge landfills and all those tires laying around.

The Coskata process is considered more efficient because it uses parts of the plant material that normally cannot be converted into ethanol through the sugar fermentation. Potentially, Coskata says, the process can be used to produce ethanol from various feedstocks, even old tires. The company will begin with wood chips as a feedstock.
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/ANA02/808220094/1186-

rockylee · January 2008

I talked to Dave last night and his Center is really impressed with the changes GM has and is making in the last 3 years, turning into a truly integrated global company.

62' that is pretty darn cool pal !!!!

-Rocky

rockylee · January 2008

Did you by chance read my recent post in the "How The 35 mpg Law By 2020 Will Affect The Cars We Will Drive" forum. Post me a comment and tell me what you think ???

-Rocky

torque_r · January 2008

Does anyone know if the G8 is on sale yet? The web site still says arriving early 2008.

62vetteefp · January 2008

GM should be announcing sales today. Wonder what it will be?

62vetteefp · January 2008

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gm- news/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=42745

Major orders from transit agencies in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Minneapolis/St. Paul for up to 1,732 GM-Allison hybrid-powered buses will save an estimated 2.4 million gallons of fuel annually, enough to fill 300 tanker trucks, GM announced today at the Washington Auto Show.

These new deliveries will more than double the current fleet of nearly 1,000 GM-Allison hybrid buses, and potentially include the largest single hybrid bus fleet acquisition in history  an order for 952 by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

In addition, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authoritys order for 480 hybrid buses, as well as Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Transits plan to purchase up to 300 hybrid buses, will bring the number of GM-Allison hybrid buses to more than 2,700 units in 81 cities in the U.S., Canada and Europe

62vetteefp · January 2008

GM Sales up 19% in Latin America, Africa and Middle East

GM Latin America, Africa & Middle East (LAAM) sold a record 1,235,913* million units in 2007
GM LAAM sales volume up 200,600 units, an increase of 19.4%
2007 calendar year market share improves to 17.2%
GM has been the vehicle sales leader in LAAM for 10 consecutive years

62vetteefp · January 2008

I'm very surprized they are not using Hybrid Ecalades.

First Ever Gas-Friendly GRAMMY Fleet to Transport the Music Industry's Hottest Talent; Chevy Volt Concept Brings

LOS ANGELES  A fleet of gas-friendly vehicles from Chevrolet will bring an eco-friendly presence to the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards on Sunday, February 10. As the official vehicle of the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Chevrolet will provide both Hybrid and FlexFuel E85 ethanol SUVs to transport talent to the Awards telecast and other GRAMMY Week events. In addition, Chevrolet will electrify the red carpet with a show-stopping display of the extended-range electric vehicle Chevy Volt Concept car.

This marks the first time a fuel-friendly fleet of vehicles this size has been partnered with, and branded for a major awards show. The GRAMMY Fleet of Chevy vehicles will consist of a mix of 100 Tahoe Hybrids and FlexFuel E85 ethanol Tahoe and Suburban SUVs. GRAMMY presenters, performers and VIPs will not only arrive at their destinations in a fuel-efficient way, but also in grand style with each vehicle being customized with exterior GRAMMY badging.

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gm- news/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=42700

stever · January 2008

It's a tie:

"General Motors Corp. is no longer the clear leader in global auto sales. It now officially shares a title it held by itself for 76 years with Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp."

9,369,524 vehicles sold for GM - 9.37 million for Toyota (rounded number).

Toyota catches GM in global sales (CNN)

62vetteefp · January 2008

9,369,524 vehicles sold for GM - 9.37 million for Toyota (rounded number).
Did you round up just to put Toyota in the lead? :P

Actual Toyota: 9.366

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080123/ANA02/809764705/-1

cooterbfd · January 2008

Did you round up just to put Toyota in the lead?

No, Toyota says all they ever report is a figure that is 2 numbers past the decimal point.

rockylee · January 2008

I heard they are taking orders..........

-Rocky

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