If you were in charge at GM what would you do?
Discussion
With GM sales down in the states would you get rid of some of the smaller names like GMC/Pontiac/Buick and keep the bigger brand names going with a larger range of cars/trucks like Chevrolet/Cadillac in the States.
And Europe maybe better if Cadillac/Corvette were sold along with Saab? Even get rid of Holdon/Vauxhall and brand those cars under Opel for a Global market like the Ford name?
It must cost Millions to run so many different brands that sell so many similar cars in America, If GM want to save some money maybe this is what has to be done.
Does anybody miss Oldsmobile that went and was forgotten overnight.
And Europe maybe better if Cadillac/Corvette were sold along with Saab? Even get rid of Holdon/Vauxhall and brand those cars under Opel for a Global market like the Ford name?
It must cost Millions to run so many different brands that sell so many similar cars in America, If GM want to save some money maybe this is what has to be done.
Does anybody miss Oldsmobile that went and was forgotten overnight.
I'd build a factory original right hand drive Corvette.
Just one.
Just for me.
And drive it round in the UK.
And hear the anguished cries from people on PH, Top Gear, Fifth Gear etc wanting to get hold of one.
And then I'd build some more.
And sell them.
In a strictly "Limited Edition"....
....limited to just one car less than the number of firm orders with 10% deposits that I held.
And make it a success.
And then I'd build an El Camino SS based on the new Camaro and park it in the garage next to my Vette.
And refuse to build any more.
Heh, heh.
Just one.
Just for me.
And drive it round in the UK.
And hear the anguished cries from people on PH, Top Gear, Fifth Gear etc wanting to get hold of one.
And then I'd build some more.
And sell them.
In a strictly "Limited Edition"....
....limited to just one car less than the number of firm orders with 10% deposits that I held.
And make it a success.
And then I'd build an El Camino SS based on the new Camaro and park it in the garage next to my Vette.
And refuse to build any more.
Heh, heh.
Promote Bob Lutz and send Rick to test vans on a frozen lake in Sweden around about Easter.
Ask the public what they would like to buy and match future production to public desire.
Close SAAB and Daewoo
Introduce the Hummer HX now with as few changes as possible from the prototype.
Downsize by producing European models in the USA to compete head-on with Japanese brands.
Slim down the portfolio of brands on offer to one value, one sport, and one premium brand per continent.
Be confident in supporting and promoting areas of excellence like Corvette, Chevy Volt, Cadillac Escalade.
Introduce a culture of meritocracy and free speech among the workforce and then listen to the team.
Eliminate the paralysis brought on by a yes man culture where fear drives down initiative and original thinking.
In all communications, if it's not motivational, don't do it.
Remove beige and gold from all colour ranges both internal and external.
Learn how to make comfortable seats with good lateral support.
Back up good cars with sufficient advertising to create public awareness.
Train company employees to treat dealers as partners.
Send Navy SEALS to Holland to blow the dykes
Ask the public what they would like to buy and match future production to public desire.
Close SAAB and Daewoo
Introduce the Hummer HX now with as few changes as possible from the prototype.
Downsize by producing European models in the USA to compete head-on with Japanese brands.
Slim down the portfolio of brands on offer to one value, one sport, and one premium brand per continent.
Be confident in supporting and promoting areas of excellence like Corvette, Chevy Volt, Cadillac Escalade.
Introduce a culture of meritocracy and free speech among the workforce and then listen to the team.
Eliminate the paralysis brought on by a yes man culture where fear drives down initiative and original thinking.
In all communications, if it's not motivational, don't do it.
Remove beige and gold from all colour ranges both internal and external.
Learn how to make comfortable seats with good lateral support.
Back up good cars with sufficient advertising to create public awareness.
Train company employees to treat dealers as partners.
Send Navy SEALS to Holland to blow the dykes
Decide that everybody in the middle east are now all naughty boys who need close supervision.
Decide they could have some rather dangerous fireworks in their back gardens and justify invading them for there own good.
Decide to take payment for all this niceness in crude and make it a limitless supply.
Decide to start building outrageously powerful supercars/trucks to celebrate......
Pardon ? Whats that ?...........
ITS ALREADY BEEN DONE !!!!!!!!!!!!! ?
Oh.......
Decide they could have some rather dangerous fireworks in their back gardens and justify invading them for there own good.
Decide to take payment for all this niceness in crude and make it a limitless supply.
Decide to start building outrageously powerful supercars/trucks to celebrate......
Pardon ? Whats that ?...........
ITS ALREADY BEEN DONE !!!!!!!!!!!!! ?
Oh.......
In the UK, to establish a market, I would launch the new Camaro at a stupidly low "early adopter" price - like a properly converted dollar / pound price. This will get some market penetration and something for the dealers to earn money from = more commitment from dealers as cash rolls in from sales and service. I would advertise this as an introductory offer, and give the price hike amount and date(s) in advance - probably a 12 month staged increase.
Given that there must be people like me who, in the early 90's bought a TVR Griffith at 27k, and watched the new list price go to 35 k in 2 years. The net-net of this is that I sold mine with 25,000 miles on the clock at 2 years old for... you guessed it, 27k.
This would be an attractive proposition for buyers of unusual cars to have residuals protected to some extent whilst the manufacturer is entering a distant market. There is unlikely to be a flood of takers ruining the market, given the nature of the beast and LHD only, but it would certainly be a reason to buy over competitive, established makes for many showroom lurkers over here. Plus, who else will do such a striking car with a V8 at moderately higher end repmobile money?
Introductory offers - good finance - protected residuals for early adopters - establishing a dealer network and giving them something to do, and earn from - establish a customer base..... could happen, but will they be greedy on day one? I guess so - and then go on to reduce the prices later when the market is flat and flooded with cheap used models.
Given that there must be people like me who, in the early 90's bought a TVR Griffith at 27k, and watched the new list price go to 35 k in 2 years. The net-net of this is that I sold mine with 25,000 miles on the clock at 2 years old for... you guessed it, 27k.
This would be an attractive proposition for buyers of unusual cars to have residuals protected to some extent whilst the manufacturer is entering a distant market. There is unlikely to be a flood of takers ruining the market, given the nature of the beast and LHD only, but it would certainly be a reason to buy over competitive, established makes for many showroom lurkers over here. Plus, who else will do such a striking car with a V8 at moderately higher end repmobile money?
Introductory offers - good finance - protected residuals for early adopters - establishing a dealer network and giving them something to do, and earn from - establish a customer base..... could happen, but will they be greedy on day one? I guess so - and then go on to reduce the prices later when the market is flat and flooded with cheap used models.
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