ArticlesReader.com Menu
Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup
Search the articles

Articles Main Categories
Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing
Subscribe
Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Enter your name

Enter your email

Syndicate

















Related Products
Home::Jason Moore

8 GM Brands: 1 or 2 Too Many?

Author : Matthew C. Keegan
Lots of folks are speculating about GM’s future. If you take all the press reports at heart, you would think that General Motors is on life support. Quite frankly, the opposite is true especially when you look at the global picture. In 2005, “the General” sold more than 9 million cars worldwide, the first time the automaker reached that figure since 1978. Yes, U.S. auto sales are down and some are calling for GM to reduce its many brands, currently numbering 8. Who should GM let go? Or, should General Motors stick with the game plan and maintain all 8 brands?



For the record, GM’s 8 brands are: Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Saturn, GMC, Hummer, and Saab. You could take Saab out of that pack as the Swedish automaker (although fully owned by GM) builds few cars in North America. Still, GM includes Saab in its marketing schema so we’ll keep them in for argument’s sake.



Clearly, Cadillac is GM’s luxury division; Chevrolet is it’s budget or “All American” division; while GMC is the truck division. Beyond that, there is much muddling of divisions, but Buick is a maker of “near luxury” vehicles (Cadillac lite) while Hummer is GM’s specialty truck division. The Saab line is a bit confusing as it once was a true European division. Now, the make is chiefly featuring rebadged GM and Subaru vehicles with little original models to show for it. Finally, Pontiac and Saturn duplicate much of what the other divisions do, although the Saturn mystique of “no haggle pricing” gives the make a certain aura to it. That leaves Pontiac.



Pontiac, like the recently killed off Oldsmobile name, is probably one of the most vulnerable of the true “American” makes. Saturn will survive because its dealer network is tops and consumer satisfaction ranks up there with Lexus.



Ultimately, the Saab name will likely die first. Outside of the U.S., particularly in Europe, Opel is a known name and an important GM make. Word has it that some of Saab’s production will shift to Germany and certain rebadged Opels will begin to sport the Saab name. Let’s just say once that happens, there is little reason to continue making Saabs. Let the Saab name die with dignity. Why spoil it by selling rebadged Opels as Saabs?



Personally, I think GM should leave well enough alone with its remaining American brands. I wasn’t in favor of Oldsmobile’s demise and I am not in favor of killing off trusted brands. GM is retooling its operation as old models are killed off and as new or revived models step in. Look for the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Saturn Sky, and the Buick Enclave to help spark their respective divisions to renewed glory. Am I living a pipe dream? Maybe, but at least my imagination is going in a positive direction.


Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com





Copyright 2006 – For additional information regarding Matt Keegan, The Article Writer, please visit his blog for wit, quips, and freelance writing tips.





Spam emails More free articles

Related articles


  1. How to Summer-ize Your Car
  2. Honda Civic 2005 (Special Edition): The Weekly Driver Review
  3. Railroad Crossings Kill Thousands Each Year
  4. Know Your Automotive Waxes
  5. Synthetic Lubricants Mean Less Dependence on Foreign Oil Consumption
  6. 3 Fast Tips on How To Sell Your Car for the Most
  7. 8 GM Brands: 1 or 2 Too Many?
  8. Ball Joints and Your Car's Suspension System
  9. Before the Mazda 6
  10. Top 10 Buying Tips For Buying A Car
  11. The Contour Years
  12. Chevy Camaro: Build It and We Will Buy It!
  13. Antique Car Parts
  14. Sharpness of the Acura TL
  15. Upholding Volvo Standards
  16. A Luxurious Drive
  17. Style over Power
  18. How to Choose Rims for Your Vehicle
  19. Buying An Automotive Extended Service Contract
  20. Honda Accord Coupe 2005: The Weekly Driver Review
  21. Before You Purchase A New Car Watch Out For These Scams!
  22. The Whiplash Injury As Of Early 2005
  23. How NOT To Buy A Land-Rover: For Men Only
  24. Stop Wasting Money When You Fill Your Car Up With Gas – Part 2
  25. Stop Wasting Money When You Fill Your Car Up With Gas – Part 1
More related feeds
8 GM Brands: 1 or 2 Too Many?
Yes, US auto sales are down and some are calling for GM to reduce its many brands, currently numbering 8. Who should GM let go? Or, should General Motors stick with the game plan and maintain all 8 brands? For the record, GM’s 8 brands ...

The Top 40 NBA Surnames* That Make No** Sense (Part II.)
The first artificial object to escape Earth's gravity and pass near the Moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 1, the first artificial object to impact the lunar surface was Luna 2, and the first photographs of the normally occluded far side ...

Andre Iguodala THE Shooting Guard
It’s one thing to be a mediocre 3-point shooter; it’s an entirely bigger issue to be a poor shooter who jacks up as many attempts as Iguodala does (3.8/40M). Of the 14 players that shoot worse than Iguodala from beyond the arc only five ...

Interesting info on auto makers
General Motors d. Hyundai e. Toyota f. Volkswagen ANSWERS: 1. Which country can boast that their brands occupy 2 of the top 3 spots for long-term reliability? Answer: United States. Per JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study, ...

Review 2009 Hummer H3T
Neither will earn points with green groups, either; the H3T achieves just 14 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway, which are 1 and 2 mpg more in each respective cycle than the H3T Alpha’s. Both, however, offer a measurable improvement ...

Could NBA Players Make It In The NFL?
Quarterback - Chauncey Billups (6'2, 210) - As a leader, Billups has all the traits that an NFL GM would want in a QB. Good decision making ability, team first mentality, toughness, level-head, he's got all the tools to go along with ...

Business process reengineering
1 History; 2 Definition of BPR; 3 The role of information technology; 4 Methodology; 5 Successes; 6 Critique; 7 Development after 1995; 8 See also; 9 External links; 10 Notes. //. History. In 1990, Michael Hammer, a former professor of ...

Rauch on the Volt, Risk, and Corporate Culture
Originally 1/3 of cars were electric, 1/3 steam, 1/3 internal combustion. Now lithium ion batteries. GM want to get this car into showrooms by late 2010. Ambitious to try to do it 2 years from now. All started in 2005, GM hemorrhaging ...

Saturn Revitalization Working, Defiant Brand Chief Insists ...
Saturn Revitalization Working, Defiant Brand Chief Insists; Dealerships Get New Look By Herb Shuldiner WardsAuto.com, Aug 8, 2008 8:19 AM DANBURY, CT – Defiant in the face of continuing news reports General Motors Corp. is contemplating ...

2008-2009 AJHL Season Preview
2007-2008 record (23-30-1-8 55 pts) 6th in South Division. Coach Brian Curran spent 18 years as a professional defenceman and another seven seasons coaching in the best minor pro leagues in the world, but perhaps his biggest challenge ...

 


 

© 2007 articlesreader.com - All Rights Reserved