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Arguably, the HHR is better looking than the PT Cruiser. The HHR at least looks like a past GM product whereas the PT cruiser looks more like a 1937 Ford.
I think of the Miata as a later-day Triumph Spitfire that actually runs. Honda was late with the S2000 as well.
General Motors Corp.'s worldwide sales rose 0.4 percent in the second
quarter, as gains in China and Russia helped overcome a decline in the U.S.
Sales totaled 2.41 million cars and trucks, an increase of 9,752 from a
year earlier, the Detroit-based automaker said today. For the first half,
sales rose 1.7 percent to 4.67 million. GM said its global market share
through June declined 0.1 percentage point to 13.1 percent.
Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner wants to boost sales outside the U.S.
to more than 60 percent of the company's total, from 55 percent last year.
Toyota Motor Corp. is gaining market share in the U.S., challenging GM's
76-year reign as the annual global sales leader. Toyota, which outsold GM
worldwide in the first quarter, hasn't announced its second-quarter total.
“The real key is not to be excessively dependent on the U.S., while you
still need to be successful in the U.S.,” GM chief sales analyst Paul
Ballew said on a conference call.
GM's second-quarter sales fell 7 percent in North America, while rising 8.2
percent in the Asia-Pacific region, 4.7 percent in Europe and 20 percent in
the area including Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Sales doubled
in Russia, climbed 23 percent in Brazil and rose more than 6 percent in
China.
International sales accounted for about 58 percent of the quarterly total,
GM said. By region, sales were 1.2 million in North America, 574,246 in
Europe, 337,855 in the Asia-Pacific region and 293,311 in the Latin
America-Africa-Middle East area.
Saturn had the largest gain among GM's divisions, at 27 percent. Buick had
the biggest loss, at 15 percent.
In the U.S. during the first half, GM in a planned reduction pared about
100,000 low-profit sales to rental-car companies.
GM will sell as many as 500,000 more vehicles outside the U.S. by the end
of 2007, compared with last year, Ballew said.
Listen, you base the Aura's value on other cars in this class. When you do that you will find the Aura is not overpriced, especially with a $1500 rebate. The bottom line is that many people expect extrordinary discounts when buying a GM product and the Aura is more expensive than cars Saturn has sold in the past. When you combine that with its lack of name recognition you get low sales.
BTW, GM cannot sell an XR as currently equipped for $22k and expect to make any money, even the Sonata isnt that well equipped at that price point.
your entire post was off track, thats for sure. You failed to mention GM is further along in hybrids than Nissan, MB, BMW and Hyundai. You seem to think Izuzu is a GM division when its not, you are totally wrong about the Silverado being as good as last generation trucks from Dodge and Ford. You are also wrong about the Malibu being as good as last gen Asian midsizers. Have you really looked at these vehicles in depth? It doesnt appear that you have.
BTW, GM is working on diesels for the US market. They have a new 4.5L V8 under development for trucks and will be bringing a V6 here for the Aura and other cars.
8) Budget sports car. The Miata is what, 15 years old? The S2000 is at least 3 years old. The Solstice and Sky are now here!"
The HHR has been largely successful. The Miata is being outsold by the GM twins. I dont see your point.
You are also ignoring that GM was one of the first to cash in on SUV popularity in the late 90s and early 2000s. The Asian companies got their competent SUVs to market right before gas prices went up and sales started to slide. You dont mention the vette which has never been behind the times when it comes to sports cars. GM also developed the V series cadillac before Lexus decided to launch a similar line. Infiniti and Acura still do not have a line of hi performance vehicles to compete with AMG and M.
GM has also been making strong pickups for decades while Toyota just launched their first legit competitor after 50 years in the market.
they are not twins. The front ends are totally different, wheels are different, gauges are different, center stacks are different, trim inside is different. The overall shape is the same but the same could be said for ES350 and Camry. People are throwing around "badge engineering" too much these days. Badge engineering is Sierra and SIlverado, not outlook/Acadia.
ES, Camry and Avalon, you mean to say. They're all the same.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
A different grille, Wheels, minor light differences, and guages/trim doesn't remove the strong scent of badge engineering.
The actual sheetmetal has to change. It really helps if you can change the profile of the vehicle, between the A and C-pillars.
In the Lexus and Camry, the ES' C-pillar and trunk are dramatically different, much more slope and much higher, with a squared off trunk, and a more conservative rear end. The flares and aggressive front end in the Camry have been removed from the ES, and the front end becomes much less tense, lights are larger. The whole design has more weight, but is also much more conservative. The 1992 ES was the aggressive one. The 1997 went conservative, The '02 was aggressive. Now conservative again.
DrFill
GM was late to the party with suvs, at least the four door variety. Remember the four door S-10 Blazer had to compete with the all new Explorer. Same goes for the initial four door Tahoe. When launched, the Expedition blew it away. However, when GM launched the first redisign of the Tahoe, they got it right. GM got it right again with the most recent Tahoe redesign.
I have never liked the Trailblazer. Does anyone like it compared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee/Explorer/Durango?
Yes, and I agree the Buick is clearly differentiated itself from the other two in the looks dept. Thing is, all three of them serve the same mission as 7 passenger crossovers. Sure, each one has a different feature here and there and the interior has been "tweaked" to each divisions style and pricepoint but it's all the same vehicle in the end... And with a fourth Chevy version on the way, and a rumoered Caddy or Saab version, the Lambdas are heading down the same path as the Trailblazer clones. Business as usual...
Anyway they also do not share front fenders and rear guarters from the pics I see.
Niche car? 100,000+ vehicles per year is far from "niche" today.
I drive an Envoy and love it. Probably get an Enclave next.
Does anyone like it compared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee/Explorer/Durango?
Trailblazer outsells the Jeep Grand Cherokee amnd the Durango and is about even with the Explore. So I guess many do like the Trailblazer better.
What insight!! They all carry 7 passengers (or 8 if you want).
But do you really think the Enclave will be seen as the same vehicle and the same market as the other two?
I have rented the Trailblazers the last 3 trips to Hawaii. I rented the Explorer on earlier trips. I liked them both. The Trailblazer gets slightly better mileage. I rented a Durango one time and got leg cramps from driving it. Very uncomfortable vehicle compared to GM or Ford. The Grand Cherokee has poor rear leg room so I wrote them off.
I would rather drive an Escalade or Denali.
I don't see it.
This one I do see.
To me, a Camry/ES serving similar missions or a Navigator/Expy, Sierra/Silvy is no more a badge job than any of the Lambdas. Just a bit more glitz and voila, a new model.
Or any of the 11 models of GMT900 SUV, or the 8 different Trailblazer clones, the 4 different minivan clones. Somebody claimed that "rebadge" was thrown around too often and unwarranted when describing the Lambda utes. Because the Arcadia, the Outlook and the Enclave don't look the same on the outside, they are not badge jobs.
Bull. As I said, there's a Chevy version coming and based on the things I've read on it, it'll be nothing different than what's already sitting on your Buick, Saturn or GMC lots. So when we are up to 4 and counting, things haven't changed a bit. They've only been clouded a bit more...
I fail to see the problem. Some people will only buy a Buick, some only a Chevy. If they want a certain model with a chosen nameplate give it to them. I can guarantee if Toyota had 5 nameplates you would see 5 re-badged Camrys or highlanders.
Take Toyota and Lexus, since you brought them up. You got two plates. Want basic, everyday transportation? Buy a Toyota. Want a bit more Performance, luxury, style, cachet, etc? Buy a Lexus. Simple as that.
Chevy or Saturn, Pontiac or Saturn, what's the difference?
Buick or Caddy? Caddy or Saab? Hell, Saab or Saturn?
Chevy or GMC?
Too much overlap.
The prostitution rests.
DrFill
For example, you can use Chevy as the "base" for all the other brands to be base off of. If you wanted Pontiac to be the performance division of GM Pontiac would get a rebadged version of the Chevy, but have a bigger engine, better suspension, manual transmission, etc... Buick, the near luxury division, would get another version of the same car, but it would get the "sofa on wheels" version of the same car. Caddy would get both with more refinement. It goes on and on.
I think many divisions within the same company works if they have a specific focus that the customer can identify with. If you wanted comfort over performance, you go to a Buick showroom. You want performance, go to Pontiac. It is when the lines blur that you lose focus and start being counter-productive.
The Buick Enclave, however, is much more differentiated from the other two.
So you've got a Saturn Aura on the lot. But wait, it offers nothing over the G6 except a decent interior and hey the G6 comes in Coupe and convertible. Which is the step up here? Now there's a new Malibu ready to launch this fall. Why would there be any takers on that thing when the G6 and soon to be old news Aura offering 1500 dollar rebates can probably be had for less $$$? Does it dilute the Saturn or make the other two more upscale?
How bout a Sierra and a Silverado? What makes the GMC more "Professional grade" than a tagline? Same with the Colorado/Canyon and the Arcadia and Chevy thing... Those GMC guys are professional! So those Chevy guys are not? What are the Cadillac truck drivers supposed to be, Posuers?
Not trying to criticize you personally chuck, I am just explaining where I am coming from. I know it's been said a million times that GM supports far too many brands, but look at the examples. It's obvious. And looking at the road that GM is going down with the Lambdas, it appears to me that they still don't see it which to me is absolutely amazing.
GM cars, sold by your favorite dealership or name preference.
Just a thought - Loren
As for the Solstice and Sky vs. the Miata, it is all about the new look. It is a beauty contest. The Miata is still selling after all these years on its merits as a sports car.
Loren
Unfortunately the idea hasn't aged well and it has left GM with something of a headache in that you indeed have customers with the old mindset and if you take away their brand they won't just shop GM for a replacement. I would hope they learned that much from Oldsmobile.
That said, the consolidation of the Buick, Pontiac and GMC dealerships should help. I know that Bob Lutz says the era of the cheap Buick is over. It would have to be to keep Buick viable.
I do think they are moving towards the right idea here. The market is probably diverse enough to absorb all those divisions if they hit it just right.
I admit to being a little hazy as to how you fit Saturn into all of this and make it work.
That said it's not like they are rare around here (Jersey shore) and I like the look of them.
But the headlamps, fascias, hood, front fenders, rear quarters are all different. I think they did not make the cut lines on the sheet metal different enough but they are different.
Upper greenhouse looks to be the same as are the doors. The underside of the vehicle is probably the same but I do not look there normally.
yes, I would have preferred and I think GM is stupid to not have made them different enough after spending the money to tool up both. BUT still not a badge job.
So what vahicles do you think fall into the "rebadged" category then? Just curious.
Lets see, you said I was totally wrong with the whole truck point that I made, yet you offer no reason why I was wrong. The truth is that Dodge started making a current generation truck in 2003. Ford did in 2004. Nissan did in 2005. Toyota and GM in 2007. Until the 2007 model year, Chevys were equal to everyone else's last generation truck. The new one does indeed have a box frame, a modern, comfortable interior, and modern (albiet kind of quirky looking) styling. That being said, it was just a case of GM playing catchup to everyone else. Please tell me something that is innovative on this new truck? Sure, it won truck of the year. It's the 2nd most popular vehicle in North America. Of course it will win truck of the year when it gets updated. In reality though, nothing new for the calss of vehicle and several years too late. where exactly am I wrong?
Isuzu is not a part of GM? Let's see.... they offer a total of 2 models and both of them are rebadged Chevys. The diesel engine used in the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks is also the vaunted Isuzu diesel, I believe. It looks to me to be a closer relationship than the Ford / Mazda deal.
GM is is working on diesels for the U.S. market huh?....So is everyone else. Any guess as to who will be dead last with one?
Also, I'm not sure what you mean about me being wrong about the upcomming Malibu being as good as the last gen [non-permissible content removed] cars. Do you mean I am giving GM way too much credit and the new Malibu is not as good as the last gen [non-permissible content removed] cars or do you mean that it will be as good as the current Camry and upcomming Accord? Judging from my experience with the Saturn Auras, I think my comparison is about right. New Malibu = Fusion = last gen camry = current gen accord. Again, the last one getting to the market being the Malibu.
And finally the whole hybrid technology thing. OK, I concede. You may actually have a legitimate point here. GM may actually have better (unreleased) hybrid technology than BMW. I guess they really are on the offensive.
My point is that with GM having so many different types of offerings, it would be good for them to allow the customer to make initial decisions based merely on brand. It helps narrow the focus.
BTW: GM should never EVER mess with anything Corvette. With something iconic as the Corvette name, an exception should be made.
The original PT Cruiser is still the most interesting, and eye catching. It will be a true classic of a unique class of car, still hard to define. The HHR has the better gas mileage, and a more conservative look to it. A nice little wagon, with all the interesting features of the PT, since it was developed by the same designer. It has the rear tray and the pull out visors, and well a lot of the same features. The latest PT is now more quiet than the original, but unfortunately the front was changed, and it no longer has the cool front grill, as it stops at the bumper line. With gas prices as they are, and most people opting for a auto transmission, I would say the only one to consider today is the HHR. It too however seems to be a popular fleet car. So in essence, the PT is the real deal classic and the HHR is the better car buy.
Loren
I think the only concern they need to address is making sure each brand has enough vehicles that catch people and say "buy me." Combining dealerships makes that a little easier (it you are selling both Pontiacs and Buicks only one has to appeal to a specific buyer). That's another reason I am concerned with Saturn. They are all freestanding dealerships.
It was a different story way back when I was a kid and you'd have tiny dealerships that mostly factory ordered to customer orders. Heck, when I moved down here the local Dodge dealer still retailed gas out in front.
With todays multi-million dollar dealerships you really need to be able to push a lot of vehicles out the door.
I think the only way for GM to keep all its current nameplates (and that's all they really are these days) is to convert most of the non-Chevrolet names into US sales channels for GM's major overseas operations.
Saturn --> Opel
Pontiac --> Holden
Buick-US --> Buick-China
From the looks of things I would say Toyota will be dead last.
I think the CTS got it right. The car is solid, is RWD with good handling and is not a cheapo, like the Cimmeron was. It is also a Cadillac and not Chevy. The Escalade of price doesn't mean a thing to me. And yes, you are so correct, there are people which buy on the name plate / snob appeal.
Loren
Pontiac --> Holden
Buick-US --> Buick-China
While on the surface that sounds like a good idea, that would really only leave Pontiac with one or two models to sell.
If you look at what Holden offers in Australia, you'll find that many of them (Corsa, Astra, Vectra) are really nothing more than rebadged Opels.
Now, if you break it up more along the lines of size, you might have a more equal distribution of product:
Saturn - Corsa, Astra, Vectra (Aura), Antara (VUE), Sky -- small and mid-size vehicles
Pontiac - Vectra (G6), G8, Lambda (Outlook / Acadia) - mid-size and large vehicles
I do agree that Buick could be differentiated from Pontiac on the performance / luxury axis, as many of the Buicks built and/or sold in China are the Holdens in Australia.
Chevy would remain entry level of all sizes, trucks, SUVs and the Corvette.
GMC would go away, as it exists (currently) only to give Buick and Pontiac dealers some trucks and SUV's to sell.
Loren