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September 28, 2005
Podcast: OnStar's 10th Anniversary
In this podcast, FastLane radio host Deb Ochs interviews Chet Huber, OnStar president, about the innovations at OnStar during the past 10 years. Huber also talks about responses during recent hurricanes, the seventh generation of hardware and how customers use the service.
Download the MP3 (19.1 MB)
Posted by Editor at 2:18 PM
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First Podcast with Bob Lutz
Podcasting
Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, talks about the
realities of today's market for full-size sport utility vehicles with host
Bill O'Neill, GM executive director of communications. Bob also discusses the fuel-saving technology in the new SUVs, luxury interiors, Displacement on Demand and the future of crossovers. Oh, and blogging, too.
Posted by Editor at 5:39 PM
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The Future of the Auto Industry
In Frankfurt, Germany, last week, Bob Lutz delivered a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce on the future of the automotive industry. See the complete text of the speech.
Posted by Editor at 6:16 PM
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New Look for Opel
Opel Antara GTC
By Bryan Nesbitt
Executive Director
GM Europe Design
American motorists may be interested in a zippy Opel concept we unveiled this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Opel Antara GTC is Opel’s interpretation of the crossover segment. It's tough, athletic, and emotional.
This car is a perfect example of how Opel (badged Vauxhall in the U.K.) is exploring its design language as it applies to different segments. First, from a distance, notice the coupe upper and the SUV lower. This proportion is intended to visually communicate driving adventure.
Second, Antara GTC -- which stands for Gran Turismo Crossover -- is immediately recognizable as an Opel due to cues like the strong centerline peak combined with a proud grille emphasizing the signature Opel Bar and Blitz. Unique lamp graphics still retain the Opel flavor. Even details like the front fender vent and side exhaust signal power and performance.
Opel Antara GTC
Antara GTC also honors Opel's traditions of versatility and functionality, with its center-hinged tailgate and pedestal front seats, all wrapped in a tranquil harmony of beige, mahogany and piano black. The Antara GTC Concept is pure Opel - modern, dynamic, emotional design with equal emphasis on versatility and driving excitement.
To this end, Antara GTC combines variable all-wheel-drive with a 212 horsepower twin-turbo diesel engine enabling dynamic handling and a top speed of over 210 kilometers per hour. (That’s 130 mph for you in the U.S.)
Opel will have a production version crossover vehicle based on this new concept on the road during the fourth quarter of 2006, and it will be called Antara.
Note: Autoblog called the Antara GTC “a breath of fresh air” and has 10 photos.
Posted by Editor at 9:28 AM
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Saab – A look at our Product Program
Saab 9-3 SportCombi
By Jay Spenchian
General Manager
Saab USA
First of all, we’re proud to say that Saab today is engaged in the most aggressive product program in its history. Starting with the introduction of the 2003 9-3 Sport Sedan and followed by the 9-3 Convertible, we broadened our appeal from the traditional Saab buyer to new entry luxury intenders – an important objective for us to grow the brand in the future.
Late last summer, we introduced the 9-2X premium compact. It is the first-ever Saab to feature all-wheel drive as standard equipment. And it gives us access to a totally new segment – the first new segment that Saab has entered since the original 900 Convertible in 1986, almost two decades ago. With more than 7,000 sold in the U.S., the 9-2X is bringing new customers to the brand. They’re even younger than the Saab average, and they seem extremely satisfied with the car.
And then there’s another new segment for us – the SUV market. We know that almost 40% of our American customers have an SUV of another brand, right next to the Saab they own in their garage. No less than 30% who leave the brand migrate to an SUV. So it’s no surprise that we are extremely happy to have the 9-7X SUV, Saab’s first-ever SUV, available at dealerships right now.
With its strong styling, recognizable Saab cockpit, high-end interior materials and extensive chassis enhancements, the 9-7X is a seamless fit with the other members of the fast-growing Saab family. Press reviews of the Saab 9-7X have been extremely favorable, with the majority of journalists recommending it as a vehicle worthy of strong purchase consideration.
To give you an idea of the consumer interest we’re getting for the 9-7X: dealers have been taking deposits for the 9-7X, which has not happened to Saab in decades. Since the sales start in June, we have now almost 1,500 on the road – though availability is still limited, as we ramp up production and fill the pipeline to our dealer network.
Another area of strong expansion is our 9-3 line-up. This fall, we will introduce an entirely new 9-3 bodystyle, called the SportCombi. The starting price for the well-equipped 2.0T with 210 hp will be under $28,000.
As all true car enthusiasts know, Saab has a tremendous heritage and an extremely loyal following when it comes to hatchback-type vehicles -- going all the way back to the Saab 95 that debuted in 1959.
In 1973, Saab pioneered another innovative hatchback with the 99 Combi Coupe. That exact same spirit, and part of the name of that landmark vehicle now relives, here in 2005, in the all-new 9-3 SportCombi.
The Saab 9-5 remains a very important product as the flagship of our portfolio. It is still one of the safest cars on the road today. And we will keep it fresh – later this year, you can expect a thoroughly revised 9-5.
Bottom line: just looking at what we’re bringing this year, Saab has one of the quickest growing portfolios in the industry. The good news is that the entry premium market is growing, and is projected to continue to grow. That brings us to the next big landmark in our journey to maximize Saab – communicating a unique brand identity.
Our market research tells us that Saab has a globally relevant and acknowledged brand legacy – we’re universally seen as Scandinavian, with an aircraft heritage…and we’re widely known for independent thinking.
Further, our target consumer is globally consistent, with approximately the same income, education and values, in North America, Europe and Asia. They are confident individuals, who tend to lead as opposed to follow. They are curious, and enjoy discovering what isn’t necessarily obvious to everyone.
Which brings us back to where we started. Above all, we will get the right products in the right segments. Our product family in 2005 is only the beginning of what you can expect from Saab in the near future.
Posted by Editor at 10:10 AM
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The State of Saab
Jay Spenchian
By Jay Spenchian
General Manager
Saab USA
If there’s one word that describes Saab owners best, it’s “passion.” As in, passion for the brand, passion for the product, and passion for our rich heritage.
I had the opportunity recently to experience that passion at the 23rd Saab Owners Convention at scenic Mount Stratton, Vermont. I delivered a “State of Saab” address to those owners, which I’ll present in boiled-down form here.
Saab has been, and will continue to be The Statement of Individuality. We will continue to deliver a distinctive interpretation of a premium European vehicle, with progressive design and driver-focused performance. At the same time, we’ll remain practical and safe. It’s no surprise that we attract the kind of independent-minded individuals that we do – mostly people who are not satisfied with the typical automobile.
Let me clarify that with a couple of examples.
Design? The Scandinavian school of minimalism rules here. Less is more, which is an excellent fit with our progressive buyer demographic – people who prefer to stand out of the crowd in a quiet, understated way.
Performance? We don’t chase after the highest horsepower ratings in our segment. We focus on low-end torque to provide power where the customer needs it – as in city driving and overtaking.
Functionality? Saab interiors draw from our aircraft experience, providing a comfortable and functional cockpit for the driver. Our engineers believe a comfortable driver is an alert driver and an alert driver is a safer driver.
Safety? We are certainly segment-leading in safety. Last fall, the 9-3 Sport Sedan was awarded an unprecedented “Double Best Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. No other passenger car has ever earned that distinction, notably with just standard equipment.
All of this contributes to the passion of our customers. It is the essence of Saab. Our task, here in 2005, is to leverage that passion and extend the brand into new segments. In that regard, we know darn well that we still have a lot of work to do.
First off, let’s keep in mind that Saab is a small company by any standards. We sell about 130,000 vehicles a year in over 50 countries around the world. The US represents almost 30% of Saab’s total volume, which makes us the largest single market for Saab.
So the challenge is, how do we meet the demands of so many markets – and the unique requirements of the big and highly diverse US market in particular?
How? Leverage. Saab has the unique opportunity to leverage the resources of General Motors, the largest automobile manufacturer in the world.
I know many Saab loyalists view GM ownership as the beginning of the end for Saab. However, the truth is that Saab’s long-term viability is dependent on GM ownership for investment in new products and marketing resources. And Saab is just as critical to GM’s success. Saab represents a unique position in the GM product portfolio because it’s GM’s only European premium brand, and it’s GM’s most recognizable global brand.
Because there is very little interaction with other GM makes, virtually all Saab business is plus business to General Motors.
For Saab globally and for Saab USA, being part of the GM family presents the best asset that we have for meeting our growth imperative. And as we have at every other critical point in our history, we will approach this opportunity with both innovation and intelligence.
As a start, we have outlined our mission by creating a Plan for Action that targets all our major challenges.
First item on our action plan: we need to grow our limited product portfolio into the ‘right’ segments. This means maximizing our product development investment and ability to conquest market share. This also means that we preserve and distill Saab’s brand essence.
Second, to minimize the impact of currency fluctuations, we must devise manufacturing strategies that support the brand and the necessary growth – for both the short term and the long term.
Next, to provide a clear competitive differentiation, it’s essential that we communicate a brand identity that is uniquely Saab, through thoughtful, aggressive marketing and advertising.
Fourth is to collaborate with Sweden’s global brand-building initiatives and provide guidance for how we can “localize” the Saab brand promise and value proposition to the US market.
Pulling all of this together for the customer is the fifth, and maybe most important item in our action plan. This means defining and sustaining a world-class dealer network and premium ownership experience.
By doing all of this well, we will maintain sustainable market credibility. That should give us a good shot at fulfilling Saab’s immense promise.
Now, these may all be nice plans – but what really matters is how we execute. On Friday, we’ll get down to some discussion of specific products.
Posted by Editor at 9:46 AM
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To the 20% of You Who Don't Wear Safety Belts
Robert Lange
Executive Director
Structure and Safety Integration
I know it is not just me. Many of my friends in safety, law enforcement, and public health cannot understand the view that a decision to not wear a safety belt is in some sense a personal "right."
Safety belts are the most effective technology known for protecting a person from serious injury in a car crash. They are proven to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by 45 percent in a car, and as much as 60 percent in a pickup truck. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 168,542 lives were saved by safety belts in the United States between 1960 and 2002.
That's equivalent to the population of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The good news is that safety belt use is at historical highs in the United States. But there are still about two in every 10 people who don't wear them. The national safety belt use number is at 80 percent and should go higher because of law enforcement efforts like "Click It or Ticket." In Michigan, one of only a handful of states with belt use above 90 percent, usage jumped to 93.5 percent after the most recent enforcement program.
Another factor leading to higher use is the spread of primary safety belt laws in more states. That means you can be pulled over and ticketed only for failing to wear your safety belt. South Carolina was the latest state to go primary with safety belts, enforcing belt use as it does other traffic laws. If it is like other states, the impact of the law could help reduce highway deaths by 30 percent to 50 percent.
Seat belt use is a safety priority at GM. We introduced enhanced reminders for safety belts in our full-size pickup trucks in the 2005 model year. It's a feature that most people will likely never notice because they routinely buckle up.
Unlike the single chime period of the traditional belt reminder, enhanced belt reminders have three cycles of chime and visual warnings if the driver or passenger has not buckled their safety belts. It is a kinder and gentler reminder than some belt reminders. But it's something I hope you never see or hear.
Posted by Editor at 11:43 AM
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