All of Your Ideas
By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman
Now that the Geneva show is over, I’d like to get back to your comments and ideas (all 300 of them!) on how we can change people’s perceptions about our company, and our new cars and trucks.
Obviously, there are a huge number of comments here, but several common themes emerge:
· Offering extended warranties to emphasize our improved quality
¬∑ Providing a dealership experience more like Saturn’s for our other brands
· Creating advertising that compares our vehicles with our competitors
· Putting employees in our ads
· Courting Gen X and Gen Y buyers
· Using our employees as ambassadors for our cars and trucks.
These are all good ideas. We are already studying several of them. But I was pleased to see that most comments were about our vehicles themselves. This confirms my lifelong conviction that what customers really want are great cars and trucks. You said you want:
· interiors that look and feel great
· distinctive brand identities (no badge engineering)
¬∑ more exciting vehicles like the Corvette, Solstice, HHR and Tahoe, Corvette, and — of course…
· the Camaro concept in production ASAP.
Rest assured, I want all of these things too. We are working every day on them. We have a tough road and tough decisions ahead of us. But I’ll tell you the same thing I tell Rick Wagoner and our Board: I’m confident we’ll make it. Thanks again for your passion. We’ll keep you posted on our plans. In the meantime, please go test drive one of our new vehicles. And while you’re at it, get a friend to drive one, too. This whole “word of mouth” thing ain’t just lip service you know!
- Posted in Bob Lutz
Jon
It’s great to our (customers) feedback is being listened to!
Here’s another one to add to the list though: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY IN THE WORLD STOP WITH PONTIAC’S CURRENT NAMING CONVENTION!
G5 and G6 names have as much passion in them as medical terminology. Next thing you know, the Solstice will change to the G2 (Love mine BTW). Then you have the G8 coming out. You’ll be one model away from using a Bingo hall as a Pontiac commercial!
I can just imagine the commercial now… you’ll run through the model line up all flashy like the current G6/Solstice commercial and end with someone 85 year old person on oxygen, smoking a cigarette, and yelling “Bingo!”
bernard a. sznaider
Read the new book, “Think”.
F451
Quite honestly, the one issue I have with GM is having to make excuses. Excuses for why my car was in the shop for longer than it needed to be. Excuses for why the quality-control is lacking. Excuses for lower than anticipated resale. Excuses for why I purchased an American vehicle.
If anything GM needs to run a “No Excuses” campaign.
Tom W
I noticed you mentioned the Corvette twice. You should delete one of the Corvette references and insert AWD GTO.
THAT would shake up the Bimmer fanboys.
c.wyatt
concerning the camaro….it apparently is being considered to be built in canada….does gm not understand that americans that buy these types of cars would prefer them to be built in america? i wanted one but will not buy if its made in canada….
phil malloy
I would like to say that i do LOVE the camaro concept, but i would also lkike to know when my firebirld will be back. my father owned a pontiac/buick.GMC dealership that went under.. (go figure) and when the firebird and camaro were discontinued, we were told it was for a total overhaul, which by the looks of it are on their way(just a few years late). i would like to see the firebird back with a vengence, the last model firebird was just amazing, but OVERPRICED!!!! the GTO looks like a mid nintees monte carlo. and now i am hearing that it will also be discontinued??? Americian cars have names, they have soul, they have HERITAGE. rebadging the pontiacs like BMW and mercedees is NOT the way to make people think american, its bad enough that the GTO is aultralian. please for the love of god, and the company, make pontiac what it was intended to be, performance and looks, that people can afford
and also on the busness aspect… make the government start with UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE!!! this will take a HUGE burden off of your company, we as americans want it, you as a company should want it, you payout billions in benifits before you even break even, let alone profit. things can be fixed, and i hope they are good luck lutz
(btw, your design of the viper is still my favorite car ever)
The TrueTalk Blog
Talkin’ Lutz
Bob Lutz, back from the Geneva car show, responds to the comments on a question he posed to his blog’s readers a few weeks ago. Here’s what he said then: But the deeper issue is this question of our image,
MadScientistMatt
I certainly would like to see GM cut back on their badge engineering, and cut drastically. Is there really a need, for example, to give Pontiac, Chevy, and Buick all nearly identical minivans with identical powertrains?
Perhaps GM could roll out a rule to put no more than two models sold in the same country on the same platform. And add a rule that the different brands need substantial differences in engine tuning or luxury levels so buyers will know there is a real difference.
For example, the next generation Malibu might come with an SS package where the top engine is a pushrod V8, while its Pontiac stablemate would have a V6 for its performance engine - with dual overhead cams and a turbo. (And, of course, both need a stick shift option.)
I know GM may have far fewer models for sale if they stick to a rule like this, but they should still be able to cover all their bases. Dealers may need to take on more model lines to supply their customer’s needs.
teidsmore
Hello Bob, just went and test drove the Mercedes S550 and a BMW 750Li with a friend and neither of us really liked either of them. We loved how they rode and handled but we both found the styling to be far from beautiful, an attribute that a car I’ll be spending a $100,000 on must have. It’s a shame that there was nothing at the Cadillac dealer for me to test drive. With MB and BMW in a stying rut it seems to me like a wonerful time to push the car I know you want as bad as me, a large gorgeous rear wheel Cadillac. I get nervous that there will be so few XLR-V’s sold that everyone will tell you that a $100K premium cadillac isn’t possible when in fact it is more than ever. All you need to do is make it look smart, sleek and modern, more cien and evoq themed than sixteen (which is beautiful but already dated and too imposing) and create an all new platform for it that sets world standards for interior space and ride quality. GM Powertrain is respected around the world and I’m sure what ever they come up with for this car would be fantastic. Include your two-mode hybrid system and active fuel managment that can all be turned on and off by the driver and this car would be a success even here in California. You could even come out with a discontented version for Buick and SAAB a year later with an optional diesel powertrain.
Thanks for all your hard work Bob and I’m confident as well that GM will make it, so confident in fact that I just bought GM stock, at bargain prices too if you ask me.
Kevin Johnson
GM’s new products are awesome but the press loves to hate you, so they won’t give you a break. You need to let people know that buying a Toyota is not really good for the country–their domestic content is about 40% instead of GM’s 80+%. Talk vehicle attributes, quality and price–then show that it’s good for you and your neighbors and the country as a whole to buy GM. There are 80 year old veterans driving Toyotas in our town who think it’s OK to buy them since they’re assembled here. It’s not—tell them it’s not.
Greg
Phil Malloy said:
“I would like to say that i do LOVE the camaro concept, but i would also lkike to know when my firebirld will be back.”
Bob Lutz has already said there will be no new Firebird. There will be a new GTO based on the Zeta platform (which is the same platform the new Camaro will be based on).
It is currently anticipated the GTO will begin production late in 2008 as a 2009 model.
Greg
Joe
Bob,
I am glad to see you really read all the comments. I was a bit worried it would be all for naught and just more GM lip service.
I think most people (myself included) would buy a GM product first if it were a superior product. We want GM to succeed. We really do! I mean, I’m American first and foremost. It’s really sad to see GM in the state it is in currently. But, on the other hand, we are spending 25 grand (on average) of our own heart earned money on a product that, unlike a house, depreciates the second you sign the title. When you consider the choices people have today, what was once taboo to own a Japanese vehicle if you live in a factory town is now common place. People buy them, not because they are unpatriotic, but simply because of product.
So, I think GM is on it’s way back, but I am still a bit apprehensive about buying one. Prove it to me, Bob. Prove to me you can build a car for 30 grand that has BETTER performance than a BMW, BETTER interior fit and refinement than a Lexus, BETTER reliability than a Toyota Camry, and all American style and grunt under the hood.
In other words, I have confidence that GM can make the best cars in the world if they honestly applied themselves to do so. BETTER than anyone else in the world.
Then I ask you, Mr. Lutz, am I reaching too far?
Chris
I already posted my excitement for the Camaro under the main Camaro thread. I think the front and rear should be revised somewhat, perhaps similar to the RS/SS grill we’ve all seen in photoshops. But please count me down as a buyer for a new Camaro. I am already planning to purchase one.
With that said, I agree with the majority of everyone else who says GM needs longer warranties. I think 3 yrs/36,000 miles is not enough for 2006. I believe GM cars and trucks have improved enough for a longer warranty to make sense, and think 5 years/60,000 would be a great start. That is one way GM could improve it’s perception with the public. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard will not even go look at a GM car because the warranty isn’t long enough. Hyundai has a long warranty, why can’t GM?
At the end of the day, as long as you build cars that I like (V8, RWD coupes, I.E. Camaro), I will always be a GM customer. But not everyone is as brand loyal as that, and one way to draw more people in is to increase the warranty.
christopher
You talk about changing the general public’s perception of GM? To begin with, I’m a loyal GM owner, and am confused by the perception you’ve given to me.
1. More often that not, GM completely ignores Buick when talking about future plans (or in speeches, or press releases, etc.). Why? Buick was one of the cornerstones of GM, and has always been profitable. At one point, you said, “Buick was junior only to Cadillac.”
2. When the “damaged” brands controversy occured, you seemed to realize that GM had harvested Buick (and Pontiac) for all it could, but reinvested little in product. Please right that wrong, don’t starve Buick of product!
3. Buick has better J.D. Power initial quality, dependability, and sales satisfaction ratings than ANY other GM brand. The Lucerne is doing well. The Rendezvous helped to lower Buick’s average owner age. (In other words, when Buick gets a decent or distinctive product, it does sell.) Isn’t that worth building on?
4. GM seems to have money to pour into Saturn and Saab. What happened to the $3 billion promised to Buick in 2004? (Don’t insult me with the LaCrosse and Terraza.)
5. Doesn’t the Buick Enclave look like a hit? Most everyone says yes, so why doesn’t GM move the Enclave up in the release cadence?
6. I appreciate that, while in Geneva, you mentioned a new model, the Statesman, in Buick’s future. But does Buick really need a second, large 4-door? If so, why not use one of Buick’s cherished model names like Invicta, Roadmaster, or Wildcat? In any case, make it bold, not just a Holden Statesman with the Buick tri-shield on it.
You’re well aware of what Buick was - there’s your guide for what it can and should be, only a Buick that’s better than ever, with a deservedly secure place in GM.
ghughes
put out that saab as unchanged as possible - a saab muscle car ala the maro!
SteveG
You forgot to mention another common comment here-you need to increase the vehicle content of all your vehicles.
Standard tilt and telescope steering wheel, stability control, ABS, etc etc.
B
Amen brother. Now Bob we all know these aren’t revelations to you. GM has more than its fair share of bright people. So here’s the $64 issue. Sponsorship and execution of a radical transformational plan to get it done. So, understanding an issue exists is easy enough. It’s really reachind deep down and executing a plan without waivering or without mercy. That is not in GM’s culture nor is it likely within its capability without outside leadership. And I don’t mean firing anyone either. That is, except for Wagoner which the board, bondholders, shareholders or all of the above will do soon enough. You do not have the General in General Motors. Who is going to lead the good fight? Lip service time is past. Bankruptcy is likely inevitable but not the end. The final crisis needed to complete the transformation of GM into a world class fighting machine.
Edward Hayes
Bob you got a home court disadvantage.
While you were in Europe did you hear the press defame the Porsche Cayenne?
Did you hear names in the press like Porkswagen?
How about the Rolls-Mini-Motor-Works? PorAudiwagon?
Did you hear anything about Daimler killing the Mercedes brand because they were loosing money?
No, I wouldn’t think you would hear any of that nonscence over there.
We got reporters that are framing this months Consumer Reports and putting it on their mantle next to “The Machine that Changed the World”. They clip out bad news on the General and collect them in a scrap book as part of their daily victuals just wishing David Dunbar Buick was born David Dunbar Lexus. They have their alarm clock set on the demise of American industry and at 12 noon they chime that same old mantra and return to bed hearing nothing but what they receive in the press as gospel.
I don’t believe any of the darkness gloom and scuttlebutt. I never drank the sak- look I live by this rule…
“Lies, they have no power so question their authority arresting ruth,
A million lies cannot alter a single truth.” -Hayes
Bob and Rick are busy dreaming of GM’s bright future and if no one stands in their way they have an awesome plan and Bob has a great track record.
And we hope to keep pushing them up not tearing them down with ideas like this…
Bob how about this Buick mission statement?
Buick is literally raising the family sedan segment to offer incomparable comfort, style and class unprecidented in our price range to a level once afforded only to the most exotic European saloons.
Yeah that’s it.
Dick Watson
I would really like to see GM succeed. However, all the ideas you posted above won’t turn it wround until you can pick up the annual April Sonsumers Report and find GM vehicles highly rated rather than Honda or Toyota or other Asian brand. When you read the reports GM vehicles aren’t world class. The reports over and over report poor fit and finish, rough engines, mediocre handling when compared to the competition (not true of all GM vehicles but certainly the bread and butter ones. For example, recently I rented a Buick Lacross because I was interested in possibly buying one but while it was comfortable and quiet it scared me with the sloppy way it handled at 70 mph compared with my Honda Accord. I also recently rented a Chevy Impala and it was much better in the handling dept as well as comfortable and quiet so I hope it succeeds. If the Korean cars can get in Consumer report top 10s GM should be able to.
Brandon K
I’d love to see you make cars that are more younger person friendly. And by that I mean allowing owners to change stereo systems easier, having accessories to differentiate their car from others. I think what Scion is doing is great. It’s like the old days when cars had options, not being forced to take on 10 add-ons when all you wanted was 1.
I can tell you personally as a new car buyer in the next 4-6 months that your change to integrating the radio and A/C controls in your vehicles is driving me away. I always change stereos in my car, and I am a Sirius subscriber, who doesn’t want some lame addon unit.
Wanna change GM’s stigma, start by being more customer friendly.
And while your at it stop making “almost” great products. Having recently attended the local auto show the shortcomings of GM vehicles is so apparent. Styling wise they continue to be bland. Your “excitement” division Ponitac has little to be excited for. Their closest thing to excitement is the Solstice which requires a driver under 5′10″ and the hope that person doesn’t want to go to the store or drink a soda while driving the car. The amount of people I saw excited about the car till they had to get in it was startling. Stop cutting corners. The lack of choices for people not able to afford $35K for a car yet wanting something sporty and bigger then a compact is scarce. Not everyone wants an SUV, however some of us would still like to be able to fold down the seats and gets some 2×4″s every once in a while.
As a longtime GM supporter, it’s disheartening to not see anything interesting on the lots that is still affordable.
Dan
The only problem I have with commercials comparing a product to its competitors is that the companies doing a really great job never do that. At least for the most part. I think it always looks desperate when it’s done. If your product is good enough, it’s not necessary. Pontiac hasn’t had to compare the Solstice to the Miata now have they?
I think what GM needs are commercials that are really creative. I think the stuff they’ve done with the HUMMER brand is really top notch stuff. The one with the monsters conceiving the HUMMER is brilliant
Hey GM! More commercials like that and a little less of the tired competitor comparisons.
Of course, you still need excellent product to back that up.
I agree with one of the other posters here that an American muscle car loses some appeal if it’s assembled in say, Canada.
Bob Larson
This is easy advice to give but hard to achieve: make the products brilliant. Are they good enough? Yes. But so are your competitors. Just like water seeks its own level, the automotive landscape will continue to spread more evenly, leading to an inevitable loss of market share. This, unless you build standout products, through the best network of dealers.
GM’s latest round of products have done a great job of catch up with the imports. The new full-size trucks? Brilliant. The Corvette is a standout. The Solstice is beautiful, but many people still prefer the detail and perceived quality of the Mazda MX-5. Why is that? Because you left the door open, by settling on some of the details that more and more people take notice of. This is no longer acceptable, and I’m surprised (Bob) that you let it happen.
The new reality is, everything from your core, bread and butter family haulers to the most expensive Cadillac have to absolutely *sparkle* with innovation, style, finish, and freshness. Look at the new Honda Civic. Does it have some flaws? Sure. But it does a great job of making a $15-20K car look like a unique object that can be desired on its own merits, even over much more expensive cars. As such, it is now widely acknowleged to be the state of the small car art. Sometimes it’s the little things, like the very simple feature of allowing an SD memory card to be plugged into the dash for MP3 file playback. It’s not rocket science, it just shows that someone had a really good idea, using perfectly ubiquitous technology, and followed through on it. Come from the Honda dealer and look at the Cobalt, a perfectly good entry, but it still gives one the sense that your money in that class doesn’t warrant GM’s best efforts, as if making the Cobalt too nice would pull sales from Malibu and Impala. Wrong strategy!
Every single new entry GM brings to market now should have SOMETHING in it that makes customers think, “I really want that.” Remote start is a great feature, so why aren’t there TV commercials with happy GM drivers getting into their warm car in the snow and driving off, while Camry and Accord buyers are shivering their [bleep]s off?? Why not show an OnStar equipped vehicle off an embankment getting help, while down the same icy road a competitor’s vehicle is leaving a family in jeopardy? Are you afraid to push the envelope? You have some advantages here and now that you’re just p*ssing away.
Next, I love pushrod engines. I am generally in the minority on that issue, and especially where the sometimes insane press is concerned. There’s the old saying, “you can’t fight city hall.” Why do you persist, then? Everything but the small block V8 should go, replaced by state-of-the-art OHC engines, and nothing should have fewer than 5 forward gears. Now! You should also be copying or outright buying Audi’s DSG gearbox technology, it is the best. Copy the best, and innovate from there–this was the Japanese strategy and now Toyota, in market value, could buy GM 10 times over! No exaggeration. It makes me nauseous just thinking about it.
On to hybrids. There is no good reason why you shouldn’t be offering the soon-to-be-released Vue’s innovative, low-cost system, on the Cobalt, HHR, Malibu, and G6 at the same time. The HHR in particular would be a major home run. The Vue is already a damaged nameplate, from a really flawed product when it was introduced (although reasonably improved since.) So why does it get first dibs? The HHR has no such baggage, and would have been a much better choice for this great, GM-only technology. You cannot continue to miss the right opportunities for reasons that probably only make sense inside of GM.
Final point, your political action committee no doubt helped get the current, disastrous administration elected. Now Bush recently told the governor of Michigan, “I can’t save your auto industry.” Yes, “your auto industry,” not ours, not America’s, but yours, as if it’s Michigan’s problem and we’d all be just fine if the free market let Honda and Toyota take over the entire world while GM and Ford go under. Next time you’re sending money to a political campaign, choose more wisely, please? And I do hope you make it until 2008 to do so! Long live GM.
Bob Larson
2004 Corvette
2005 Envoy XUV
KeithO
Hello again:
I’ve been reading the latest entries in your blog, and I have to admit that I think you guys are finally starting to get it.
IT’S ABOUT TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
However, I still have a criticism or two, this time concerning Pontiac.
Is it your intention to kill Pontiac a la Oldsmobile? It appears that you have lost sight of Pontiac’s identity.
Why did you badge-engineer the Equinox into the Torrent? Why are you giving your latest cars such inane, uninspired names (G6? Come on)? Why are Pontiacs not competitive in racing (NASCAR, SCCA, NHRA, etc.)? Why have today’s Pontiacs no passion?
I would suggest that you go back to your archives and take a good, hard look at the cars that earned Pontiac the reputation you’re wrecking. Ditch the G6 “name” and replace it with something more evocative, like Catalina, Ventura, or LeMans. Bring back the GTO and Firebird, and soon!
In other words, do not water Pontiac down! Let Pontiac be the “We Build Excitement” company again. If you don’t, you’ll only succeed in ruining the brand, and you will further hinder your ultimate recovery in the eyes of the buying public.
Thanks for listening.
Zach Hudson
I want to know when GM will release a diesel for small-to-midsize vehicles. When bringing the Opel Astra over for Saturn you could use an Opel diesel. Diesel adds efficiency that at this point can’t be matched with gasoline engines, efficiency that is appreciated in a world were oil prices continue to rise. Also GM should consider increasing the factory warranty on at least some of your vehicles as a marketing bonus.
Scott Gitlin
Speaking from some bitter history (bought 3 Chevys - 2 new, 1 current used certified) - the GM package is made up of dealer sales, dealer service, GM warranty department, and GM customer service. And when the consumer has a problem, all these departments conveniently separate from one another leaving the end user with . . . a full time job trying to get something done. Hint: Don’t certify a car without dealing with known TSB’s affecting the vehicle. Don’t sell extended warranties if the dealer service network is too busy to look at the vehicle when there is a problem.
Tim Geisler
Bob, While I’m here at the dealership front, your driveway to success if you will, there are several things that need to be adressed:
sorry this one goes off into a bunch of different directions…
I must press Percieved quality, this is a must fix… recently I heard some advertising regaurding “if you havent seen chevy recently, you dont know chevy” while I think this is a good way to flip perception… it may not be enough. GM has enough customers saying “Man I’ll never own another one again!” or… or what I find strange is “I had really bad luck with GMC but I love my chevys” or vis versa.
GM needs to cut down on premiums… vehicles ought to sell for full retail, and full retail only… no $4k premium on solstice, or 25k on Z06… we have a great selection of 2007 tahoes, over 100 to chose from… heck we already even have one thats already been traded in. But bob, if you must know I think the light interior’s on those cars expecially the cloth are too light… they get dirty really fast, even at the dealership. also, i’ve got a few mentions that people prefer the alluminum trim instead of the wood trim for the tahoes… so perhaps you could option it for the LT models.
Also GM must have direction… if it doesnt know where it wants to be, it has no place to go… every brand must have a halo car, you can take Hummer for example, each vehicle is striving to be just like the H1… but in moderation.
But when you look at buicks line up, well (i still think buick needs a better line up but the lucerne is a great looking car) there really isnt a halo car, same with pontiac, the solstice is a very nice car, but you dont want your halo car to be 20k… a good example would be the cadillac sixteen or if they accually made the cien that would be an awesome halo car… because it obviously shows the direction cadillac wants to go…
ohh i could go on forever… but good luck bob… i really hope that we can get improved warrantys more then anything, preception is reality
Bo Nash
I think GM’s done a fantastic job of upgrading its truck offerings over the last several years. But with all of the improvements that have been made (both within GM and other manufacturers) I see a big hole in the market I’d love to see GM fill. How about bringing back something like the LUV - perhaps as a small pickup based on the HHR? The LUV was my first car, and I’d love to have a pickup with that kind of attitude again. I like the Colorado, but that class of pickup isn’t all that small anymore. I just want something that’s primarily a city driver with good gas mileage (not just good mileage “for a truck”) that I can occasionally use to cart around a lawnmower or some bookshelves. The LUV was great for that. I’d love to have something like that again.
Tony
Capitalize on some of your American history, stop trying to imitate the Japanese. Mine the past for more of your great ideas and bring them forward.
Eric
Last summer I interned at a supplier of GM’s. Did you know that some of the people employed there do nothing all day yet make $80,000+ per year? That’s right, suppliers feel they need 45+ year old white males to court buyers and senior SQEs of a similar demographic at GM. Any engineer who happens to be 20-30 years old, or who was born in another country, or who is of the female gender must have such a “manager” to interact with the customer at GM, even though the engineer is fully qualified to handle both jobs.
This dysfunctional corporate culture must be changed! From just one small supplier, at least $160,000 of your money is going to waste every year.
As far as product, rumors that some in GM’s leadership think that Saab and Hummer should be spun off are disturbing. How can they see a need to sell a distinctive Euro brand or a heavy-hitting off-road division when GMC is a shameless badgineering clone? If any of your brands must go, let the axe meet the brand with no unique product and a contrived origin conceived to appease Pontiac/Buick/Olds dealerships.
You’re right, Mr. Lutz: build distinctive, attractive, innovative, reliable product, and THEY WILL COME!
Oh yeah, and build the Saab Aero X (with the wraparound windscreen intact). This is one of the best-looking concepts I’ve seen, ever! The Camaro will catch the [semi-]retro crowd’s attention, but the Aero X will keep people tuned in for the future.
Colorado
Hi Bob,
How about running a special unlimited or double GM card earnings redemptions where customers can usa all their GM card earnings on the purchase/lease of a GM vehicle. If this is not feasible, how about buy/lease two GM cars and the second vehicle is eligible for unlimited GM card earnings redemption. Speaking of GM card, why can’t we use it on Saturn products. I will be real ticked if the Saturn Aura comes out and I can’t redeem my GM card earnings on it.
How about regional commercials or print ads showing off where models are made and thanking customers for supporting the plant through sales and allowing the employees to have one of the most rewarding jobs there is. And also how GM supports that local community…yadayadayada…
I’m also a fan of the warranties. If GM matched Hyundai and Kia’s warranties, they would grab massive market share for a few hundred dollars, help customers to retain equity in their vehicles and greatly improve customer-dealer relations, strengthening owner loyalty.
New Saab concept looks like a real winner; full speed ahead with Camaro, Enclave and H4.
dan
GM needs sharper designs and better quality. My saturn 05 qc looks great, but the roof rattles like a 1980’s car. Spend $5 more per car to make the quality better and give the passion back to drivers. HUMMER could also use an h4 or h5 built using the small truck platform. Things just need to change a little bit. I like GM, I also like the jeep brand, get hummer into a clasic design and I will never by a chrysler again.
Jaime Medeiros JR
GM makes great products, but I think there is still a long road ahead for GM before it can compete with Toyota. I want GM to succeed and make great cars, while The Camaro looks good, what is GM going to do about the Chevy Malibu and Impala? I mean how is Chevy going to compete against those with sporty looks of a Nissan Maximum or a rock hard dependablity of a Toyota Camery, so my question is this. what is GM going to do to reduce the 18 problems per car reach to Toyota 12 defects per car? And what is GM going to do about the plain style of Chevy to compete against Nissan’s sporty looks?
Martin
Please, please, look at THE DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE, first, Bob!
The best cars in the world will NEVER overcome the mostly clueless dealer network you have out there.
Start by ‘upgrading’ the people skills, sales skills, and relationship-building strategies of everyone in every dealership, from the person who sweeps up at night all the way to the top (owner).
Everyone working in a GM dealership should know and believe in the company mission: ‘Building lifetime automotive relationships with clients’, not ‘Closing one-time sales with dumb suckers’.
Empower your dealers, service managers, and sales managers to DO THE RIGHT THING for every GM customer, EVERY TIME.
Gosh, it could even become a ‘motivational marketing mantra’.
I can’t tell you how many tales I’ve read recently on my favorite GM car forum of customers who were treated badly by dealerships on what should have been valid warranty repairs.
What do you gain if you save GM $250.00 by not honoring a warranty and then lose a GM customer for life???
Treat people right, and you won’t NEED to remake every model and every GM brand to GET AND KEEP customers coming back to GM dealers and showrooms!
Truman
I have been saying this for years. I recently purchased a VW Golf, mainly for safety. But, because it was “Sharp” in the looks department. Before that, I had a Scion xB. Now THAT was a car. Cars are supposed to DRAW you in. They are supposed to be FUN. You are supposed to LOVE them. Think “18 yr old buying a his first car in 1966 and its a Mustang”.
Where are those cars with US brands on them? The HHR?? THATS supposed to be “HOT?”. MAYBE if it wasn’t a ripoff of the PT Cruiser (Which apparently appealed more to Grandma than Gen X,Y, or Z).
Ok, The Solstice, The Sky, great….. but can your average college kid afford one? NO.
Toyota got it right with Scion. Mitsubishi is doing pretty well with their “entry level” cars. VW of course has that niche locked down. And we get from the US makers? “The AVEO” and the “Focus”. Comon, you couldn’t have bent the metal on the Aveo to make it look a lot more like a MINI COOPER and lot less like my Toaster. Take a LONG hard look at Scion. They offer great basic features. The ones everyone wants are built in.
GM could do this, but BETTER. Look at Toyota overall? BORING. Cars that put the Z in snooze. But, yet, they are stomping you.
Get in some HOT new designers. Get rid of BORING cars like “The Malibu 5″ did ANYONE buy that crap?
Take some risks on the low end. Historically they ALL Lose money. But, look at the Neon. It may be LOATHED as an old ugly peice of crap now. But, when it first came out it actually MADE A PROFIT, because it was fun, it was sexy and it was CHEAP. Where is the entry level american car thats fun now? The Cobalt?? UH, NO, its just the same old boring cavalier, just updated to look even MORE like a Honda CIvic (another boring car company).
You design some great concepts. Why not take the “style” straight to the showroom. You can’t out “Honda” Honda. You can’t do what they are doing better. But what America USED to be able to do was put some HOT metal on the streets. Keep a basic frame/chasis. Make 4 different versions of the car. Where is the american version of the Opel Astra??? Look at companies like SMART (cause they are gonna do just what I am saying, and blow you guys away).
Comon GM, Think CORVAIR! (Sure it was kind of a failure, but it sure was FUN!!). We used to drool over cars from the US, now we only buy them if we can’t afford the Japanese version.
Americans wanna feel COOL driving their cars. They want EYE Catching designs. You are trying to “out bland” Toyota and Honda. How about you try to OUT STYLE Them. Look at Chrysler!!!! They get it!! Why don’t you?
And the new Camaro? In my opinion its just a knock off of the Mustang (with some line stolen from the Dodge Charger concept).
Ford HAS that nich covered. Why not invent a WHOLE NEW style, look, design esthetic?
You been playing “Me too” for too long.
SHOCK US!!! PLEASE!!!
Now A Ford Guy
New Gto? Great. So when Can I expect a New aztek? Obviously you don’t want Pontiac to have profitable cars. As long as there is no Firebird Trans Am you will not have Me as a customer. I don’t want a Camaro, or a Overgrown Cavalier.
No Firebird= Me buying a Mustang. Good job guys. Should have killed POntiac before you turned it into the “Minivan, Aztek, BMW fighter, Oprah Division”
You are letting us Loyal Pontiac Fans down bob and guess what we don’t only buy 1 vehicle we buy trucks and Daily drivers too. Way to let down a fanbase. F*** your camaro. P.S. Sky should have went to Pontiac you idiots.
ScottZ
How about a series of ads that acknowledge your past blunders and product shortcomings? Admit to people that GM cars in the recent past were not all they should have been, but that’s being corrected bit by bit everyday.
“For those who swore to never buy a GM vehicle again, give us another look. You may just like what you find.”
PacerX
“Last summer I interned at a supplier of GM’s. Did you know that some of the people employed there do nothing all day yet make $80,000+ per year? That’s right, suppliers feel they need 45+ year old white males to court buyers and senior SQEs of a similar demographic at GM. Any engineer who happens to be 20-30 years old, or who was born in another country, or who is of the female gender must have such a “manager” to interact with the customer at GM, even though the engineer is fully qualified to handle both jobs.”
I work for a supplier to GM (and pretty much every other car company) and let me state for the record that the above is unadulterated bunk.
We, as the North American suppliers to GM and the rest of the Big 2.5, have almost universally taken it square on the chin in this downturn.
The North American Supply Base is in the middle of absolutely ferocious competition, even more intense than GM sees - note the number of bankruptcies (Dana, Tower, Oxford, Delphi, etc…) - and at the end of the day many of these suppliers went bankrupt in their attempt to cut to the bone to support GM, Ford and Chrysler.
We know that a large part of our future is GM, and we’ve done everything possible to contribute - from horrific monetary givebacks forced on us by Purchasing, to not getting compensated for material price increases that are completely out of our control (steel), to cutting and cutting and cutting manpower.
We’ve done our part. With no quarantees whatsoever. The idea of using the Japanese model of supplier relations is so far removed from GM’s psyche as to be incomprehensible to the company.
We’re there Bob, we’re committed, and we’ve bled real blood for GM.
At the end of the day I understand competition, I don’t really expect anything in return, and don’t need “Atta-boys”, but to have the supply base bad-mouthed in this way by an INTERN just goes beyond the pale.
markweb
Sell (mostly) European cars, and American trucks.
I like small cars, which used to be called “econoboxes” by the automotive press. They are the last bastion of peppy, quick, spry “sports” sedans and coupes (and the occasional hatchback).
But Ford and Chevy keep shooting themselves in the foot. Ford invested a ton of money in the Focus, designed to really win in the highly competitive European market, then stripped out the fun when they brought it here - no “European” handling.
GM has the whole Opel line, with fine platforms jointly developed with Saab etc. - but when you bring over the Epsilon, you screw up the suspension - make it “soft” for American tastes. Hey, it doesn’t have to be Eibach’d etc., but what’s wrong with good handling on the Malibu?
The Cobalt could be better. Apparently the twist beam rear suspension isn’t the end of the world; VW got by with the same set up for years.
But why not surprise the single moms and teenage boys with a Cobalt that makes them say “wow” - that corners flat and precise.
Ditto on the Impala. I MIGHT buy one next year, but three years in a row of test drives turned me off due to the sloppy, wallowy handing. Only the advanced technology in this year’s 3.5 and 3.9 engines keeps bringing me back to take another look.
Remember what happened to VW when they tried to design Rabbits to American tastes. They lost their core audience, which was looking for European handling.
Sue Plier
PacerX is right on the mark. When suppliers like Delhi, Tower, Dana etc. go bankrupt, GM still gets the product and it’s the Tier 2’s or Tier 3’s that don’t get paid. The upstream suppliers are the ones who fund the bankrupt supplier, and sometimes go out of business themselves. And GM’s attitude from all this? “Too bad - what’s your cost reduction?”
Bob, you know that GM is in a death spiral and it won’t end anytime soon. Not until you change the way you conduct your business. You’re killing your supply base and putting American’s out of work, yet it’s still not good enough. Since you’re looking to source so many parts from China, I suggest you start looking for customers there as well to buy your cheap cars. At least Toyota is consciously looking to increase the US content in their plants. At the rate it’s going, “buy American” will mean “buy Toyota”. And GM will be past tense….
Chris Reiner
Just make us a big rear wheel drive, independant suspension, 5.0L+, Buick sedan for 40K+/-. Also make sure the new Burb has a big block and/or diesel option.
Ming
Bob,
I agree with your “word of mouth” comment most of all. Enthusiasm for GM products starts with us, and if we, the fans, can’t make our enthusiasm infectious, then who can?
- Ming
Tim Geisler
Ohh BOB… can I suggest one thing, I was reading really quickly on here that one gentleman said to improve dealership experience.
Well this reminded me of something, while our dealership is #30 in the USA for Chevy volume, and like #5 for CSI scores… I personally think it would be a good idea to have a moral booster from the executives of the company. Personally I’d like to meet many of you, Rick, Mark La’Nave, Bob… But many of our employees here aren’t so in touch with the company (as I am), and sometimes it seems the executives of this company aren’t too in touch with its dealers. Just a thought bob… if corporate would reach out every once in a blue moon and tell its larger dealers they are doing a good job… it would be nice to meet some of you guys! And to let the employees of the dealership know that every day you are working as hard as you can to keep their living stable…
Phil Racicot
Hi Bob,
My local Pontiac-Buick dealer always made me very happy. I have great service from the parts department (the parts manager even got me used parts at Carlisle!), the bodyshop and their mechanics do their best with my old Buicks. The department that didn’t make me happy so far is the sales department. Not because of the attitude of the employees but because of the products they offer. Current Buicks do not have the characteristics that the Buicks I like so much have and their resale value is not the greatest… So I continue to drive my older ones that make me happy and don’t depreciate.
My Riviera Gran Sport at the GM dealer’s body shop: http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/4152/photokodak8657no.jpg
stickman
How about this idea?
http://tapscottbehindthewheel.blogspot.com/2006/03/green-car-update-virginia-dealer.html
Californian College Student
Create an afforadable lightweight hatchback and coupe from the rear-wheel drive kappa platform with european styling similar to the Opel GT (Saturn Sky) and GM will become gods.
Yes the move toyota has made to bring smaller cars into the US market, the mini and the VW gti proves there is a market for affordable hatchbacks. Even mercedes Benz has an affordable rear-wheel drive hatchback.
Think about it.
J Bayus
Been writing to you even before you strated the blog. Have owned over 35 vehicles. My father worked at GM as a welder. I think GM is a great company.BUT… as with everybody else here, I also think your company needs a fix. Cobalt vs Astra. Astra would be an instant hit, same with the vectra. Use the same suppliers because the crap you have been buying from your subs is atrocious. Beyond pathetic. Look at the interior of the Astra and the Cobalt. Which would you buy?
Engines… Why isn’t GM the number one engine designer in the world? There is no answer that you can provide that is logical. Your company should own the design/performance/
quality/durability/comfortand mileage race in every category. If that is not your goal, go make kerosene heaters, because GM will be bought by Toyota, which wouldn’t be bad if you played your cards right.
Good news is Saturn is going to lead the way. Bad news is Jan is still there, more good news is she will be marginalized. For you Camaro lovers, get real. The number of Camaros sold will be miniscule tot he number of Astras and other small confortable cars. If you want a Camaro, buy a vette.
Get rid of Pontiac, Buick, redo the Impala, bring the Astra, retune and fix the quirky corners of the Malibu,
allow the Pontiac and Buick Dealers become GM authorized repair facilties and certified used car dealerships,fire Waggoner get going.
jan
Benjamin
“Courting Gen X and Gen Y buyers”
On this topic one of the most important type of cars to X and Y buyers is the sport compact. Weather or not they buy a compact car from GM can depend on how good the sport version is even if there not buying the sport version. And there is a big problem with the drivetrain of all of GM’s sport compacts.
Sport compacts like the Honda Civic Si, Nissan Sentra SE-R SPEC-V and upcoming Caliber SRT-4 and Mazdaspeed Mazda 3 all come standard with a limited slip differential. Wall the supercharged Cobalt SS comes standard with an open diff. The ION Redline comes standard with and open diff. And an LSD isn’t even an option on the naturally aspirating version of the Cobalt SS.
You need to treat GM’s sport compact buyers with the same level of respect as Corvette buyers. You wouldn’t try to sell Corvettes with an open diff and you shouldn’t be trying to sell Cobalt SS’s with an open diff. I know there is some bean counter at GM that thinks sport compact buyers are dumb and they will buy Cobalt SS and ION Redlines weather or not they have an LSD and it’s this type of bean counter BS that has put GM in the position they are in today.
A limited slip differential needs to be a standard feature on of GM’s sport compacts. Making an LSD standard on all GM sport compacts is something important that GM can do right now. And make shore to advertise that you’ve done it.
Ethel O
Bob,
I beat you to the mail box this time.
Sent my comments out around 8am the same day by snail mail before this blog was released; however, those comments are coincidentally relevant to this blog.
You should get those comments by week’s end.
I am sure you and the group will find them “enlightening”.
I actually picked up another “not so subtle” slam dunk idea in these blogs that you and the group will get some feedback on soon.
Just remember my words…….TurnAround. TurnAround.
I’ll be back!
Ethel O
uvaeeman
Hopefully somewhat on-topic. The E85 might be great PR for GM. I know people who thought they have to buy a VW to be able to do E85. But look at this article:
http://nikkeibp.jp/wcs/leaf/CID/onair/nbe/features/423970
GM better get moving on having more vehicles E85 ready from the factory (which I believe I heard the new SUV’s are). People like me will want an E85 sedan - you don’t want to let Toyota/Honda/Nissan beat you to E85 sedans when the market is shifting back that way!
kurt
Bob, all your remarks about comments from here are appreciated. I hope you and the GM crew will continue its mission of vehicle improvements, and, for real, offer an improved GM “owner experience”.
It’s also appreciate you/GM redesigns many of your Euro imports for american roads and climates without “dumbing them down”. Take the Epsilon body Malibu; Unlike the Saab/Opel Euro source, GM gave the Malibu a longer-travel, retuned suspension to better handle our “road-challanged” environment. But the Malibu still retains the aluminum suspension pieces and structural rigidity that was in the Euro versions!
GM also offers some choices for those who want the “Euro” flavor in a GM vehicle. Do Euros offer “USA-izing” choices so their imports better handle potholes in Philly, rough slabs in California, etc.? Not really.
That could be another unique marketing point for GM.
Mike D
You give 6 bullet points (probably from a meeting with mainly marketing exects)
· Offering extended warranties to emphasize our improved quality
¬∑ Providing a dealership experience more like Saturn’s for our other brands
· Creating advertising that compares our vehicles with our competitors
· Putting employees in our ads
· Courting Gen X and Gen Y buyers
· Using our employees as ambassadors for our cars and trucks.
However, It’s really only 3 points (The last 4 are the same):
The bullet points should be:
· Better warrenties
· Better dealership experiences
· Better marketing (The last 4 are all markeing in some way)
What I find funny, is that the you (or the people in the meeting that came up with these points) spend so much effort on marketing (4 of the 6 points). That’s the easiest to throw money at, and yet it’s the last thing that will actually make your product more desirable for the consumer.
The most important thing would be to offer better warrenties (of course this will only work once we’re sure you won’t be going bankrupt). Once I (or any consumer) sees that you’re offering 10Yr/100K or similar warrenties, they’ll think “Hey, GM believes in their cars, I’ll give it a try” or something like that. This is the hardest for you to implement because you’ll need to build cars that *actually* last. I know it can be done, and as a ton of other’s on this forum have said, you need to let engineers engineer without interference from the accountants.
The next step would be to improve the dealership experience. I won’t reiterate what others have said, but anyone who’s dealt with a GM dealership for sales *OR SERVICE* knows the pain.
Once these two hard steps have been accomplished, then it may be worth the money to market the cars better. This is the first time I’ve posted on fastlane (but I read a lot), the reason I wanted to write is that I can see a big mistake getting ready to happen. Since the marking is so heavily represented on your list, I get the feeling (maybe i’m wrong) that marketing is going to be the first plan of attack. If you spend all your time (and money) telling people GM cars are better without actually making them better, people won’t believe you when you to get around to making them better. I know you have all these consultants and whatnot telling you to make sure you keep your brand identity and keep advertising so that people stay aware and all the stuff that marketdriods say, but that’s hasn’t been working.
Please, put your effort into making good (or even great) cars that can be bought through a pleasent dealer experience (and are later serviced with no hassles). If you can do this, you won’t need to market your cars - people will come to you!
gotsmart
The amount of research & development, manufacturing and marketing dollars that are spent to build undifferentiated products for brands that compete against each other in the marketplace must be staggering.
GM should redirect its energies toward making ONE best-of-class vehicle in each class. We don’t need a Solstice AND a Sky. We don’t need a Tahoe AND a Yukon. We don’t need a G6 and a Malibu and a 9-3. Make ONE of each kind of vehicle and make it the best it can possibly be. Eliminate the redundancy and waste. That’s the only way you’ll compete with the Civics, Corollas, Camrys and Accords. Take them on, one on one. Full frontal assault.
Get rid of the brands. All of them. With the exception of Cadillac, which is the only one that really means anything any more.
Make *GM* the brand people should be proud to own.
C. Douglas Knapp
I worked for GM as a pilot from 1948 till I retired as Chief Pilot for GMATS in 1977. During that time I flew all the VP’s including Harley Earl, et al.
What is wrong with GM now? I think you need a new Harley Earl to liven up the looks of your products, I have had 33 Cadillacs over the years and have currently sold a lot of cars through the GMS program, but I may have made a mistake in staying loyal to GM. I also have more stock than most of the Directors and have lost most of my nest egg because of my loyalty. What can you do to get the workers in the plants to have a little loyalty and purchase the products they build. nuff said!!!
Doug Knapp
Some of the things I don’t understand are why the worker who is laid off is paid 95% for a year and up till last year made no contribution to their health funds.
Peter P
How about actually building some exciting cars for Pontiac? Ironically, Cadillac has laid out the blueprint for how to do it…dedicate one plant to production of the division’s vehicles and base as many of them as possible on a single flexible architecture.
Begin with the premise that all Pontiac vehicles will be RWD, with nary a minivan or SUV in sight. For discussion’s sake, the platform of choice will be zeta. Pontiac has some of the greatest vehicle names in history…ditch the alphanumerics and revive the names.
Start with a pair of sedans (Grand Prix and Bonneville, perhaps?) the former sized between the current G6 and Grand Prix, the latter sized between the GP and Bonneville. Next, build parallel-sized sport wagons (think Magnum, but perhaps taller and more aggressive) called Torrent and Tempest. Then add two coupes, the Firebird and GTO, with the former having a convertible version and the latter a convertible hardtop version. Finally, a Solstice coupe and convertible top it all off.
Produce no base versions of any Pontiacs (no steel wheels or low rent interiors. Chevrolet exists to serve the entry level buyer) and make manual transmissions available across the board. As for powertrains, start with the 4.2 L-6 (add VVT to the intake side), progress to the 5.3 V-8 and then to the 6.0 V-8 in GXP versions (except of course for the Solstice).
Because virtually every Pontiac dealer also carries Buick and GMC, the lack of trucks, luxury vehicles or snow-friendly vehicles is offset by these other divisions.
Viola. An entire division based on a single platform and two engine families, plus the Solstice. Such a plan would cement the performance image of Pontiac and differentiate it from it’s fellow brands. I currently own a GTO (and have owned no less than 5 Firebirds), and this is the future of Pontiac that I want.
Sheth Jones
Obviously some of the comments being made here are useless and it’s a shame that people are wasting your time (and mine) with far fetched ideas that have little chance of being implemented.
My suggestion is to extend the warranties of the brands by one year, launch an AGRESSIVE incentive program directed at current import owners ONLY. You need to try something dramatic that gets in the face of import owners and tells then you are confident in your products. It could be a special warranty offer or a large cash incentive if they trade in their import vehicle. Also, speed up the use of 6 speed transmissions so that the press can stop having a field day with your 4 speeds.
I do not have a problem with the styling of most GM models and I think overall GM is doing a better job than Toyota, Honda, Nissan or Ford when it comes to styling and I believe that vehicles like the Enclave, Escalade and Aura prove that you are getting better. Killing Pontiac and Buick would be stupid and I’m sure you already know that. If Olds had stayed around they would have had the best non- Caddy products within GM by now. Make all future Pontiacs what Olds vehicles would’ve been if they were still around. I understand Saturn is kind of doing that already but there is no reason that Pontiacs couldnt aim for the same type of customers but offer higher performance. It would be wise to give Saturn a flagship vehicle to compete with the TL and Maxima. I think a $30K Saturn would sell if it offers a lot of equipment and 270+ hp.
DesignerMike
Bob, congratulations on stealing the show with Saab. Brings back some of the fun quirkiness of lore. I also think you guys are doing a good job of promoting FlexFuel- great, realistic alternative- just get us some stations! Now, about other stuff, whatever happened to “if everyone else is doing it, don’t!” (Camaro, Saab SUV). I realize there are markets, but please don’t sell your soul on these. Also, it seems like you have your best talents shifting around the design studios- first Cadillac comes out looking good, then reverts back to a design clearly used in another brand (new Escalade). Apparently, the designer moved to Buick and designed the Enclave. Point is, it’s ok if some parts are the same- just don’t shout it out to us! I know you can do this (you personally did this at Chrysler) so please stop holding back.
GM Worker
You’ve already done one thing that a lot of management needs to do.
You read this blog and let people talk to you.
jon
After reading the scathing report by Edmunds.com on the recently redesigned Colorado and Canyon pickup trucks, does GM have any plans to redesign those trucks?
getalifeagain
The Hispanic population is the second largest in the U.S. And they buy Japanese! Try and offer tuner cars from the factory. Take GM cars to the streets and show this group of people your cars. I don’t even know if they’re aware of GM. They just jump over American and go right to foreign (namely Japanese).
Ming
Here’s an idea of how to change GM’s image overnight, Mr. Lutz. Others have suggested it as well and its a great idea: GM converts one of the gas pumps at every major Chevy dealer in the country (I assume most if not all dealerships have a gas pump or two) into an E-85 pump on GM’s dime.
When GM’s customers tell their friends “I’m going down to the Chevy dealer to fill up my Impala” (or other E-85 capable vehicle), they’ll look at them funny at first and then you’ll have piqued their interest. E-85 word of mouth, right there, associated with GM and Chevy.
And without giving ToyoHondaSsan time to edge in on it first and get hailed by the media as our Green saviors again while overlooking and forgetting the groundwork GM has laid (think of the lost impact of the EV-1).
Please, please consider this, Mr. Lutz. I live NW of Houston, and there is NOWHERE for me to get E-85. I would get the no-cost option on a 2006 Impala anyway, but its not enough to offer the option if there are no places to get Ethanol.
Why not fuel this E-85 movement and be known as the leaders while Toyota and Honda stare stunned on the sidelines? Our President is opening the door, and all GM needs to do is take the steps to walk through it.
Make E-85 more than an image campaign of the month and a CAFE points thing. Make it a reality.
Make history.
- Ming
donedeal
Hey Bob,
GM should make all of it’s vehicles capable of running on E85 fuel.
Yes, I know there aren’t enough gas stations that provide E85, but so what? Let the marketplace take care of that. It doesn’t seem hard to imagine companies wanting to provide E85 if GM, a car company with 25% of the market, suddenly decided to make all of it’s vehicles capable of running on the fuel. It would be a market with virtually no competition at the moment.
Maybe GM and Costco can team up and GM can pay Costco to install E85 pumps at some of there locations?
I’m excited about the direction GM appears to be moving in. Keep up the good work. And please give the Cobalt sedan a new rear end.
Vazir Fatehi, Bombay
I’ve always been of the opinion that Saturn is a sort of b****rd brand that happened thanks to Roger Smith’s wasteful ‘makeover’ of GM. If there’s a brand that needs direction, its Saturn and the way to go is right up against Toyota’s Scion.
Since the majority of your consumers seem to want to “Be American Buy American”, and yet drive the kind of cars that have a ‘European feel’, it should be pretty elementary for you to conclude that you give just that to them.
Case in point - the Camaro. I hear it’s being developed in Australia and may be built in Canada - where’s either the ‘American’ or ‘European’ quotients in that?
Your new strategy of making Chevy the basic brand all over the world is paying off rich dividends at least in India and Europe - that’s the way to go then. Give people what they want. People in Asia want ‘all things American’ and Chevy symbolises just that. Forget that the cars may be rebadged Daewoos - atleast they’re good. So if people in America want diesels and European feel, then you got to get Saab and Opel into American showrooms alongside Saturns - so you simultaneously push ‘no haggle pricing’ along with superior product.
And for heaven’s sake - GM needs an Aurora back, even if it now needs to be under the Buick brand. I know how you feel about the Oldsmobile brand, but as you’ve stated before, the decision to kill it was takn before you got there. So go ahead build a decent Aurora then.
V@z!R…..
bleso
c.wyatt: please don’t be so ignorant towards the Camaro possibly being built (if ever) in canada, the the previous camaros were built in Canada aswell and if it is built in Canada it will be built at the top ranked plant in the Americas what more could you ask for? I certainly doubt the dodge fans will be running away because the challenger won’t be built in the States.
J. Wellauer
Mr Lutz~ It is good to see GM starting to take the word of its critics to heart with the likes of the Camaro concept and GTO program back on track. In the view of many of us “Baby Boomers” out here, we want the kind of cars we couldn’t afford, or couldn’t afford the insurance on when we were teenagers. In other words, smaller inexpensive sporty cars with BIG engines. With today’s technology it would be nice to be able to get a “true” (vs EPA) gas mileage in the 25-30 mpg hiway too! GM has always been able to meet a challenge, show us you haven’t forgotten that!
New_Mexico_Sunset
Bob,
I frequent the pages of http://www.GMInideNews.com on a daily basis. For an idea of how I feel, check out http://www.GMInsideNews.com, for an unabridged discussion on all things GM, and ALL things automotive.
I’ll just leave with this one comment: “subtle Heritage, subtle Heritage, subtle Heritage”.
Nomad, yes, or at least elements of it. SS concept, yes, or at least elements of it (except maybe massage that rear end a little).
Like Chip Foose is able to “evoke emotion from curves” as quoted from ‘Overhaulin”.
The Solstice, SSR, HHR, Sky and G6 are ALL geared with the “sexiness factor”.
I think you guys are figuring out, that we don’t want ‘focus group’ Camry and Accord wannabes. That ‘egg shell’ shape has got to go.
You’re all right, man. You got some guts, some passion. I like that. That’s how I am.
Man, I wish I could design cars. For now I’ll have to stick with my “preservation” projects like my ‘72 C-10 Custom Deluxe and ‘79 K5. I gotta work on my neighboor down the street with this ‘72 Chevelle, just aching to be restored. It’s his grandma’s or something. Jackpot!
Rob
Jason Zebersky
Turn lefter,er
No Camaro, americans do’nt deserve one. Austrailians buy V8 rear drive in a high enough percentage to justify them. Insted reinvent affordable american muscle, LS2 power for Colorado and Canyon with 6sp and TrailblazerSS 4link rear. Or maybe Kappa based Chevy Nomad with 260+ direct injected turbo horses, but get ready to do 3 shifts at the delaware plant because the Chevy Nomad is the second coming of not only the 1954 showcar, and 1955 through 1957 production models; but the Camaro and BMW 2002 as well. It’s a trifecta and would appeal to yong people as an only car, unlike Camaro,Solstice,Sky,SSR,XLR,Corvette. Also a kappa based Opel Ascona, Saturn VEGA (show some pride in GM’s past why do’nt you), 4 door coupe could make driving fun againe. If demand for a second Kappa plant justifys(brownfield US or Cannadian only please)you can add Chevy Chevette and Buick Skylark. Oh yeah and one more imposible task, the top of the line Colorado or Kappa super car must be under 25 grand with tax tags and union labor. WE NEED NATIONAL HEALTH CARE
And if William Clay Ford runs for president in 08 on the democratic ticket…………Vote for him da**it.
Stanley Shih
This is in response to those of you who are trying to make GM’s problems a U.S. vs. Japan thing:
Many of GM’s current problems were caused by the “Buying American” mentality. Think of the millions of of Delta 88, Cavalier, Park Avenue, and Bonneville buyers in the 80’s and 90’s… We bought those cars partly out of “duty” - it certainly wasn’t the quality - and look what it got us… GM complacency and more mediocre cars. Tough love from us here in the Fastlane forum and the rest of America is the only way GM will get out of this mess. It’s working. GM’s making the best cars that I can ever remember now, but it’s only because of the competition and people NOT buying GM cars out of duty any more.
No more free pass for GM, means GM having to make good cars, means GM will eventually turn around the business or fail trying.
It’s 2006 folks, wake-up and do not buy “American” if it doesn’t make sense for you and your family. Auto manufacturing jobs will be lost whether you buy GM, Toyota, or Hyundai. I can’t save them and neither can you. A final thought:
“Technology, not necessarily outsourcing, is displacing American workers…Even China is losing manufacturing jobs because the number of people required to make goods is decreasing as a result of technologies that make factories more efficient” - Frank Reich Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
James
Bob
A few years ago you had a 16 cylinder Cadillac show car. That car could do for Cadillac what the Viper did for Dodge. A low volume supercar could change Cadillacs perception and image by the public. Buick should get arts and science styling to associate it with Cadillac. Cadillac should slowly move upscale to more
v-8s and be more of a status car. There are a lot of well off people in the U.S. but most dont consider Cadillac.
They buy BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Infinity. Buick should fill the gap of near luxury quality vehicles associated with Cadillac.
For the last week we have had to endure endless yammering by the mdia about Consumer Reports and how they picked all Japanese vehicles as best in class. Consumer reports has an anti-American bias and will never choose American cars. The way to counteract this is to build high quality cars that are charismatic. Cars that the tbuyer falls so much in love with that he forgets about consumer reports.
For my part I cannot understand why the American automakers allowed all their coups to atrophy and disappear. The coup is the most seductive bodystyle next to the converible. A coupe is a personal car while a sedan is a people hauler. The coupe is the most likely to be a seductive impulse buy.
Surely there must be some way to make it cost effective to build some coupes based on existing sedans. I am not suggesting spending a lot of money on seperate models but for example why cant Cadillac
build a 2dr sts and call it an Eldorado? Why didnt Cadillac build a 2dr cts? Coupes have a sexier perception and could help change the image of some brands. I have somewhere the old production figures of American cars and I am sure that in the 1970s Cadillac always sold more coupes that sedans. How expensive is it to make a 2dr off a 4dr model? Cadillac and Buick dont even have coupes and I have yet to see a ad for the Pontiac G6 coupe. Its as if the automakers dont even want to make coupes. What about a Grand Prix coupe. The Monte Carlo has become stale and allowed to atrophy just like the Thunderbird in the 1990s.
I realize that nowadays coupes are low volume but part of the reason for that is that the automakers allowed these brands to atrophy by investing little money into them. Coupes are always more glamorous than sedans and I am sure that the great looking coupes of the past had a halo effect upon other models. Most cars I see on the road have only one passenger. It is rare to see a car with four people in it. I dont think coupes declined because of practicality, I think the SUV boom of the 90s combined with
a lack of updating caused coupes to fade from the public conciousness. Surely there must be a cost effective way to bring coupes back now that SUVs have peaked. I think cars like the cts, sts and Grand Prix could have coupe versions assuming it wouldnt be too expensive to build them.
Finally regarding the perception of GM. It seems to me that GM took the biggest hit in perception in the late 1980s when it switched all its larger cars to front wheel drive. Look up GMs market share for the early 80s and then see what happened in the late 1980s.
Look at the combined sales
figures for the Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass, and Regal from 1978-1986 and then see what happened to the successors in the 1987-1994 period. In the late 1980s Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile handed over the luxury and near luxury market to competitors on a silver platter. Look back to GMs lineup during its glory days in the mid 1960s. All rear wheel drive and every model offered a coupe and many also offered a wagon and convertible. GM needs to get the public excited about charismatic exciting cars. Part of this formula is coupes. Look at the excitement over the Camaro.
GM needs to create simalir excitement over a whole range of Pontiacs, Buicks and Cadillacs. Both coupes and sedans. If Buick shares more platforms with Cadillac and adopts arts and science styling cues I do not think it will cannibalise Cadillac as long as Cadillac makes the status cars it used to. When someone buys a luxury car like a BMW they are making a statement about their status. This used to be Cadillacs arena but it gave it away on a silver platter. In the early 1980s GM should have taken a Mercedes and said this is waht Cadillac is going to be, except it will be better looking. In short GM lost its way in the 1980s because of CAFE. It was so concerned with higher gas mileage that it castrated all its cars. The result was that the consumer loyal to American brands rejected cars and switched to rear wheel drive v-8 trucks. If GM wants to at least partially recapture its glory days and possibly its market share and profitability it must build high quality reasonably fuel efficient high profit margin seductive and charismatic cars based on the model linups that worked before GM threw everthing out the window to meet CAFE.
inline6
I agree with the posts about the Pontiac alphanumeric system. With a few exceptions, alphanumerics are becoming a huge, confusing trend in automotive naming that requires no more marketing skill than that which is required to look up what’s already been copyrighted.
However, I wholeheartedly disagree with those who think that GM should stop spinning cars off the same platform. With flexible production systems in place these days, the only thing GM cars need is meaningful and confident differentiation between platform mates. GM needs to decide what it wants Pontiac, Buick, and Saturn to be and go unabashedly in those directions.
I don’t think it’s wise to repeat the mistakes made with Oldsmobile when it comes to the Saturn product line. Buick and Pontiac don’t need more competition. And it’s hard to change public perception about a lower-priced brand. Launching it in a higher eschelon of the market and expecting volume is going to be tough. Look at VW if you want a frame of reference, or American Motors in the ’60s.
Saturn should be a hip, young, cool American youth-oriented brand. While Pontiac should be good enough to turn an average motorist into an enthusiast. And Buick needs to have the confidence to be something more than sedate. The brand needs bold, confident, beautiful styling and powerful engines to match. Buick needs to be the attainable status symbol. Not the compromise brand for heptagenarians that gets squished between Cadillac and Chevrolet/Pontiac.
And when it comes to Pontiac, the brand needs meaningful performance and execution upgrades from its Chevrolet stablemates. Rebadging an Equinox and putting higher spring rates isn’t gonig to cut it, especially when that vehicle makes only 185 horsepower out of a cost-cutting-is-Job-1 Chinese-built 3.4L “cam-in-block” V6 that was behind the times in the ‘97 Venture and is now simply silly when the 3.5L is more economical and more powerful. I mean, I’m sure there’s a business case for the 3.4 to some extent. But when it’s standard in both the Apple Pie Equinox and the “Action” oriented Torrent, the promise to deliver meaningful differentiation between the brands rings a little hollow. I understand that the Torrent is probably something of a stopgap measure to fill the void left by the unloved Aztek. I hope the G5 and the next Grand Prix have truly worthwhile attributes that clearly differentiate them from their platform mates.
And then there’s Buick. The brand that’s supposed to drip prestige, class, beauty, and power in its presence. And the LaCrosse is still a rental queen with 197 horsepower and a standard cloth interior. It’s a marked improvement over the Century/Regal, but those cars ran twice as long as they should have with NO updates whatsoever. If that was the standard, it wasn’t very high And having a nearly full-size car with a 240hp engine being optional in this day and age at close to $30k is not doing the Buick name proud. The Enclave looks to, though. Just give us that V8 option you’re working on, and soon after its debut, not when demand begins to slacken.
Refresh rates need to improve, too. If Hyundai can continuously improve each product in their expanding portfolio throughout each model’s life cycle, GM can, too, and can do it better. It’s GM! You guys used to redesign or re-skin your whole portfolio every 2-3 years with notable facelifts and updates in between. A balance between that system and the present one would be perfect.
By the way, the GTO, Impala, Monte Carlo, Statesman announcement indicates exciting things in store. It’s a shame that Holden will be doing the major work on these vehicles, however. I would think that only GMNA could provide a proper Buick flagship worthy of its lineage. Same goes for the next GTO. But we’ll have to see.
Mr. Lutz, I appreciate what you’re doing with GM. What you’ve done already brings hope to a formerly bleak situation. But more needs to be done. Lots more. Especially with Pontiac and Buick. Don’t give up. I’m sure it isn’t easy. I’m rooting for you. You don’t want to lose this 23 year-old.
Frank
Thanks for listening to us Bob, Keep up the good work!
Andrew
To improve people’s perception on GM; GM needs to be bold and industry leading. There are several examples where this has not been the case. Until this happens I think it might be tough to change people’s minds.
Quality: People do not automatically assume quality has improved simply by advertising or a few people saying so. To show that GM stands behind their products they need to change the warranty. If Hyundai and Kia can offer 10/100,000 warranties, why can’t GM? A warranty speaks volumes when trying to say that you have a quality product.
Design: GM needs to be bold and industry leading with its design. As long as GM continues to produce ugly and boring vehicles, people will shy away. Mazda and Nissan have done an excellent job of making their vehicles look exciting. However, GM continues to pump out ugly vehicles like the Malibu, Aztek, and most recently the Uplander/Relay. Cadillac is a good example of being bold and industry leading; each division should get the same treatment as Cadillac and each should have their own identity and purpose.
Vehicles: GM is the largest auto maker in the world, but still is late to the party on seizing opportunities. For example, GM was one of the last auto makers to offer “quad cabs” and diesel engines. GM is going to miss the muscle car revival because they won’t have a product available until the craze is almost over or gas prices make it unattainable.
I have been a loyal GM owner all my life and I want to see GM succeed, but the competition is getting tougher and tougher. If GM wants to stay in the auto business, it cannot remain business as usual — things need to change!
Bob, I appreciate you giving us the opportunity to speak and more importantly that you are willing to listen. Thanks!
joe l
Mr.Lutz, go bankrupt, clean house, stop paying workers for no work, run it like a business. Until you do that it will be the same old thing, lousy product because you won’t have the money to do a proper job. I also know you don’t read these posts, you have designated reader to give you a summary.
James
Bob
I have noticed refererance to a possible future Buick called the Statesman. This is a terrible name. It sounds very old. The Statesman name was used by Nash in the late 40s and early 50s. The name conjures up images of an old
Diplomat. Diplomat was antother ill concieved name once used on a Dodge which exemplified everything wrong with the U.S car undustry. GM has so many great names in its portfolio. Electra, sounds like electricity, Riviera, the French Rivieria
should be reserved for coupes only, Wildcat an exciting beast. Statesman……sounds like an old peoples car. If you need some names for future Buicks how about Allegro…means very fast or Legato….means very smooth.
Bob if you were still at Chrysler would you call the Charger a Diplomat or a Magnum a Dynasty?
Jay
From Detroit News today:
>>The past six months — the Delphi and Dana bankruptcies, restructurings at GM and Ford — illustrate a painful truth of today’s auto industry:
What’s broken isn’t the car and truck business, because Asian rivals like Toyota and Honda are making huge profits here. What’s broken, irrevocably, is the Made-in-Detroit model that public equity and debt markets increasingly consider irredeemable.
….. The financial troubles of suppliers can be visited upon customers like GM and Ford, imperiling turnaround strategies that depend partly on price reductions from suppliers. >>
Further proof that GM is leading the way in killing the auto industry in Detroit.
What GM has been doing for the past 10 years is not working - so why stop now - right?
Time to step it up Bob and show some guts. Completely overhaul the company. Reorganize engineers into cross-functioning teams, not cost reduction Bo-zo’s. Promote individual freedom and creativity, and attack the bureaucracy.
Sound familiar? - maybe it’s time to re-read your book!
Big Picture Guy
Bob, I think GM could improve their television advertising by simplifying it. Every ad should focus on the vehicle and feature panoramic views, close ups of the interiors, and highlights of the cars features, not cheesy plotlines or special video effects. (eg the “fishtailing” car hauling trailer full of Chevys, the Cadilacs-as-rockets, or the uber-arsty Hummer ads.)
All the high-tech video production and editing only makes it harder for potential customers to get a decent look at the vehicle, so by and large, its counter-productive.
The cars and trucks should be the stars in all the commercials. The cheesy gimmicks belong in beer ads.
John Brown
If you don’t trust your products enough to offer 10yr/100,000 mile warranties, why should your customers trust your products? Guess what - they don’t. And your ex-customers are now driving Kia’s and Hyundai’s while you bury your head in the sand and cry foul.
The Koreans and Japanese are getting fat eating your lunch. You guys in Detroit seem content on trying to survive on their scraps and reveling in the good ol’ days….
You want market share back? Build a no-excuses car - and leave the GM Purchasing nay-sayers at home. Just try one, something you haven’t done for about 37 years. What do you have to lose -your company?
Shaun
Bob
Thank you for listening.
André
Bob, some options for GM’s future that must be thought:
1) Expand the sporty options in Pontiac (remember, the excitment division). You have the Solstice and above, the only other RWD car is the GTO. Isn’t it time to make a new Firebird that, instead of a rebadged Camaro, would be an independent car, maybe riding on a stretched Kappa platform, using the 3.9 V6 and the 5.3 V8? Hey, Mallett Cars proved that is possible to put a LS2 into a Solstice (http://www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm) and their car is only a bit heavier than the 4-banger factory Solstice. Making a Firebird this way would even mean to style it differently than the Camaro. Use the second-gen style as reference, so you would call people to know it. If in other times people buy Firebird because of the Pontiac engine in the bay, now you have to show a difference between it and the Camaro.
If not a Kappa platform, why don’t develop one smaller than Zeta, as shown in the Torana TT 36 concept? Maybe something like this would even allow other countries to do cars for their markets. In my country (Brazil), a Beta chassis (as I read in some rumors) would be a perfect fit for the ressurrection of Opala nameplate, filling the slot of size and price between our Vectra and the Aussie Omega (which will grow when released in its VE Commodore form). As I said other times, the same Beta platform could be stretched a bit to create a Buick below the Lacrosse and away from all retired’s ride fame of this brand (maybe being an excellent house to bring back the Gran Sport legend…). Wouldn’t it be nice?
- A Pontiac Firebird (not a rebadeged Camaro) between the Solstice and the GTO
- A Buick sedan below the LaCrosse, aiming younger audience (maybe with Gran Sport trim in a coupe version)
- A new Chevrolet Opala for us Brazilians and CKD exported to other places (GM do Brasil is the biggest CKD exporter of the group).
- A real world version of the Holden Torana TT 36 (hey Bob, it’s a waste not develop this nice concept. GM doesn’t have in the world any RWD platform by the size of a 3-Series)
- Maybe the next-gen Cadillac BLS (as the first one uses Epsilon, it’s not a problem doing the next on a basis shared with non-luxury divisions, since you use only the DOHC units in its bay)
2) If you want to turn Pontiac into the exciting division, change all of their products to RWD (AWD optional). If Chrysler can make the affordable LX cars, why can’t GM?
3) Bring back the station wagons, not only there, but in other markets. Here in Brazil we had the Caravan (derived from the Opala), Suprema (from the Omega A), Maraj√≥ (from Chevette), Ipanema (from Kadett E) and the last one, the Corsa Wagon (from the Corsa B). Caravan did well in its career from 1975 to 1992 (my father is a former owner of a 1982 unit, which we had for 13 years, serving very well. We still miss that nice vehicle today). The others that I mentioned didn’t do so well. Suprema, as the natural successor of Caravan, didn’t do so well because of the posture of the dealers, that practally pushed Blazers for everyone who was looking for a Suprema. Maraj√≥ didn’t do well because it simply desappear when put side by side to the first-gen VW Parati (in U.S known as Fox Wagon) and Fiat Elba (the SW version of the Uno, known in Europe as Duna Weekend). The Ipanema was too bland and it wasn’t well explored. The Corsa Wagon was bland too and had less trunk than the second-gen Parati and Elba’s successor Palio Weekend. Know, we only have minivans from GM (Meriva and Zafira). Are they good rides? Yes, but when fully loaded, you can’t take the same amount of luggage that you can in a wagon. You also have to deal with huge blind spots in the front, due to the placement of the A-columns and a higher center of gravity (minivans shake more when you pass in bumps, also because of their higher H-point). SWs are also cheaper than minivans. Why did Toyota bring the Fielder instead of the Corolla Verso? Well, because not everyone wants minivans. And they’re doing well, having only the Fiat Marea Weekend as competitor (but soon Renault will make here the Megane SW…). Even in the small wagons you have space for a GM’s try, since you have good product. Why Peugeot sells the 206 SW, which carries less luggage than the Corsa Wagon, but is a lot better designed? Why VW still sells the Parati (which pays very high insurance rates) and will soon bring the Spacefox (SW version of the Fox)? Why Fiat is still in the SW market, even now when they entered the minivan niche with the Idea, without phasing out the Palio Weekend? Stop, look and listen to the market. If here in Brazil we sell all this variety of wagons, why can’t GM make a comeback? You have always sell wagons in Europe and Australia, but let other markets without them. Well, the motive isn’t because public don’t want them, but because GM didn’t do a good job.
4) Invest in more modern powerplants and replace the old ones. As I said before, here in Brazil, the Family I and II engines are the gas-guzzlers of their classes. They’re nice, but the competition has better options, more economical and powerful. DOHC 16 valves, now only in Vectra Elite bay, but its 2.4 engine has less specific power output than the 2.0 8v of the Elegance trim (also used by Astra and Zafira). Why don’t make the Ecotecs here. If other brands can make very modern powerplants here (Renault and PSA, for example), why can’t GM? You would even unify the engine lineup, cutting the world redundance and having very competitive options (why the Corsa C is a so slow-selling vehicle, even using only flex-fuel engines?).
5) In US and everywhere, invest in the dealers. A lot of people is going away not because of the cars, but of the way they’re recepted in the dealers.
6) Make the same about warranties. If you trust your cars, make in my country at least 2 years for a humble Celta and 3 for Astra and upper rides.
7) You can share platforms, engines and transmissions, but isn’t time to allow a little more independence between the divisions? Look at what Renault and Nissan are doing now. Look at what Peugeot and citro√´n do for almost 3 decades. If so close in purposal brands live together and successful in a same group making theoretically redundant product, there must be something that they do that GM is missing…
Hey, you faced other challenging moments in the history of the firm. Where is Harley Earl’s spirit? Will you need another Zora Duntov to tell what to do? I guess no, but one of the functions of history is learning with the past to make a better future.
Roger Corner
Bob, Some things should be so easy and inexpensive to fix. I would love to buy a Buick LaCrosse. Can’t you freshen it up so it doesn’t look like yesterday’s news. It would just take a fresh grill or different headlights.
Philip Gene Colling
if GM goes so does the American economy it would be a domino effect. I love your cars and trucks. If I was able to I would buy one now. I recently had a 1992 s-10 blazer with over 200k on it but sadly it was stolen. No complants here! Tell the country to buy AMERICAN! Quit sending your hard earned dollars to JAPAN!!!
Eddie
First things first, get Camaro to market ASAP!!!
This car needs to be “FastTracked.” GM seems to have a difficult time getting product to market quickly.
That being said I would also like to see advertising that reflects that GM is an American Company. Let the masses know that buying a domestic does support the American economy and American jobs. Directly target Toyota and Honda!!!
fred dzlsabe
Bob-
First-you and Jay(h**l bring Rick too) go to Scandinavia and get some of that “Cadillac-weenie” washed off. Then call me to arrange a test-drive of a three-year old obselete GM concept car. Finally, ya gotta do something with the bloated dealer network. I saw a map of GM dealers in the Chicago 15 county area the other day…83 Chevy, 44 Buick, 40 Pontiac, 39 GMC…geez! In the immortal words of RodneyD…why do tigers eat their young?
Al Giguere Jr.
Dear Mr. Lutz,
I am so glad you’re turning the ship around and I honestly believe you havn’t hit the “Bankruptcy ‘Berg” just yet. 8 billion dollars in one year is catastrophic though. Hopefully, Congress will get off their butts and you help out with your healthcare issue.
Anyway, I agree that Pontiac’s alphanumeric names are terrible. Solstice, Grand Prix, Bonneville, GTO, and Torrent are memorable, even if the actual car it’s attached to isn’t. Pontiac’s Solstice is HOT, the GTO is much better since the facelift, and the Torrent is decent looking, compared to its’ Chevy sibling.
Pontiac should really revive it’s 60’s performance car vibe, add-in its’ 80’s “..We Build EX-CITE-MENT…PON-TI-AC!” slogan, and create a constant TV Ad campaign that shows Pontiac’s performance cars in action with a humorous edge to them. The late 90’s Trans Am commercials were exactly this, but were very short lived.
Mr. John DeLorean,(Yes, that one!), and his team of Pontiac rebels created the GTO by breaking the rules: Put the “Big” Poncho 389ci into the “small” Tempest A-body for the 1964 model year. The Pontiac Division Team made it work, not GM’s. It started the Muscle Car era. It had forward thinking engineers, racing inspired performance, and bread and butter pricing. Delorean’s personal luxury coupe concept….”the 1968 Grand Prix”, was another hit and started another huge trend in automobile development. It was THE car to own until 1978. Throughout the 80’s, it was slowly stripped of all luxury, performance, and masculinity. In 1988, it became a cookiecutter V6 front-wheel-driver for the masses. Today, it has some life to it, but by no means is it a leader in its class, nor does it even rank amongst any similar sized luxury performance coupes, and sadly doubles as a four door, too. It’s readily found as a bottom tier, mid-sized rental. That won’t sell Pontiac as a performance car to anybody.
My Point: If you want Pontiac to do well, SELL the GTO and Solstice, don’t just put out press releases of them. TV AD Campaigns work! Race GTO body-shells in NASCAR and advertise them as the only real V8, stick-shifted performance car in the field. Race them at Pike’s Peak as a “fun” Media Stunt, and for Pete’s Sake, create a $25,000, stripped down GTO, Don’t force people to buy options they don’t want, or Allow your dealer’s to gouge us if we try to order one instead of buying their “Showroom Model”.
Chris F
Bob, first let me introduce myself as someone who is familiar with you and Detroit Autombiles, having been born and raised there and knowing abouit you from a video I had about quality in auto industry (Chrysler) in the mid 90’s for a QI class I taught.
I’m going to be direct and tell you what you don’t what to hear. First, between my wife and I we’ve purchased more new GM vehicles that anyone on earth. I don’t even want to know what we spent over the years.
Unfortunately, we gave that up two years ago and went over to chrysler. I looked at my wife at the time and said ‘GM is is deep trouble’. She looked at me quizically and I then explained that whenever a company loses a faithful,loyal customers like us, theres a reason for it and GM better figure it out.
Its not so much that because I was leaving but that if I figured it out and was disatified it wouldn’t take long for my younger fellow boomers to get it as well.
Heres the bad news. Saturday we looked at one of your GM vehicles thinking of coming back. We did our research on line and I decided the Saturn VUE may be the car for us: lots of power, size, style, towing and the price was right.
The Honda CRV, Rav 4, Hundai Tuscon didn’t come close to the Saturn Vue. I was ready to buy. All I wanted was fair trade in value for my suv and we were driving home in a new car.
The trade in I received was an auction price. It was beyond insulting and to make it worse the sales person said there was no market for suv’s even though I was there to buy another suv I pointed out.
GM not only lost a sale but the delema is there is ten’s of thousands of us potential buyers who are going to be shocked at the reality that there trade in is worth zip, and they can’t buy new.
I can’t fathom how GM can survive this. GM needs buyers. Buyers like me can’t buy do to the deal and thus its checkmate time. GM can’t afford checkmate time with the pension situation and union issues.
I hope things work out but I beleive one of the big three are going dowm and I think its GM. Its size alone doesn’t allow for a fast enough change in operation. Things just happen to slow for GM to react.
If I’m wrong car sale go throgh the roof this spring saving the company. If I’m right they don’t and GM ship starts to sink further.
Thomas
I think that the cheapness thing needs to go away. Why are there three assist grips on your trucks and SUV’s - what ever happened to the drivers assist grip? Don’t give me the cost cutting excuse that “they can use the steering wheel” - I think we all know that these modern steering wheels don’t lock. Also - this is unacceptable for those drivers who require that little bit of mobility assistance. I know of people who passed on the Chevrolet Trailblazer simply because the drivers assist grip isn’t there (and it WAS on the 2003 Trailblazer). These cheap details are what people notice believe it or not.
G. Robert
Hey Bob - gimme a call when your first RWD, V8 Impala comes of the line. I’ll happily buy it from you. To be honest, my ‘89 Caprice is getting a little long in the tooth and I can’t wait much longer - so please - hurry.
Adam
Hi Bob–
I have to say that I agree with others comments when they say that Pontiac needs to stop the “G#” naming convention. Why did GM kill off a great name with high brand loyalty like the Grand Am? I’m also not a fan of the Cadillac “I’m a luxury make too” naming system…I can’t wait to see how GM phases out the Escalade name (a great one, by the way)…good luck with that.
However, for someone like myself (a 22-year old college student), I still don’t think that GM offers anything that’s especially exciting to me, except for the Solstice: the G6 is slow and too jelly bean looking, the Cobalt looks like its rear end was borrowed from the G6, I won’t even talk about Buick–I don’t have blue hair yet, and all Chevrolets have a front end only mom could love.
In my opinion, the Solstice is the first car since Oldsmobile’s original Aurora that has a total purity of exterior styling–although the interior is a disappointment. I currently have a 1995 Aurora and still get many compliments from my friends on it today. The car really has a cult following among younger college students 11 years after its introduction–perhaps you should look into why.
This year’s Detroit (NAIAS)auto show was really a disappointment for me, not only at the GM exhibit, but nearly everywhere else–almost every vehicle looks the same today. All have round, integrated headlights, huge wheels, a long wheelbase with a long hood/short deck profile, smooth curves, and the general silhouette of a bath tub with nothing distinguishing about them. Why can’t designers come up with truly new styling? In my opinion, nearly all your top designers come from 2 schools within the country, so it’s hard to get any variety when everyone has been trained by the same professors.
The new Camaro looked OK to me. The side view is awesome; the back view quite nice, but the front is ugly (a la Chevy Nomad concept a few years back). Why must you put a squashed plastic grille on a car that otherwise has great proportions? Why didn’t anyone look at the 1982 Camaro/Firebird platform as inspiration for the vehicle? I think this would have been a much better starting point than the somewhat ill-proportioned first generation.
In any case, best of luck. I’d really like to see you help GM turn the corner! Tell Buick to stop making cars with quietness as their only key attribute, and bring back a bold Riviera in the 1964 vein (but no plastic grille, please).
Tom Ryner
Hello Mr Lutz.
The reaction on the Aero-X has been extremely well as you of all people know. According to http://www.trollhattansaab.net ther is a “dealer in the US who mentions that he’s already received three calls from people wanting to know when they might be able to get an Aero-X.
Please build the carbut with normal doors and sell them for 80000 dollars to the rich and famous. Give one to Tiger Woods to promote it.
When the car reaches the US autoshows I believe you will get a tremendous reaction to the car and a lot of peaople wanting to buy it. Journalists all over the world have been writing the same thing.
Please Mr Lutz and all the other executives at GM. Give Mr Jan-√Öke Jonsson the “go ahead”. Saab need this car. They need it to give the company even more attention and boost sales.
The world is watching- And wanting.
SY/ Tom Ryner
John
H.L. Mencken said a lot of pretty smart things in his day, but he said some dumb things too, and one of the dumbest was his statement that “No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.”
Now, you’d be surprised how many people think the average American is an idiot. This ranges from my blue-state friends that view the red states as bastions of inbred ignorance, to the psychologist Richard Lynn, who makes the claim that the IQ of the average American is 98, to well, unfortunately, a lot of major American companies.
Here’s the deal. All of those people are wrong. Americans are pretty darn smart. Think of all the cool stuff you have and enjoy, and then think about where it was invented. Sure, the Japanese can make unbelievable improvements to products, and the Germans can make products unbelievably complicated, but when it comes to sheer Yankee ingenuity, well, you pretty much need Yankees.
I mean, think of the stuff we enjoy and use each day that was invented in America: the hot rod, the musclecar, the telephone, the lightbulb, the computer, mass production, rock and roll, corn-flakes, bourbon, movies with sound, the car radio, the internet, the helicopter, contact lenses, etc. etc. etc.
And that’s only some of the stuff we’ve invented, the list of stuff we’ve made bigger, better, faster, and cheaper is almost endless.
And yet, people continue to agree with Mencken’s statement.
But here’s the deal. People really HAVE gone broke understimating the intelligence of the American people, and GM seems like it’s about to follow those people down that ignoble path.
If GM wants to survive and thrive and prosper the way many of us hope it will, it’s got to assume that it’s customers are reasonably intelligent. 1. Because it’s true, and 2., because it will keep them from being stupid themselves. The average new car costs about twenty grand, and the average new car buyer didn’t get to be able to spend that kind of dinero by being an idiot.
How do we know GM has underestimated the intelligence of the American people?
Well, let’s look at the evidence:
How many GM cars show up on the Consumer Reports list of the 10 best new cars? Oh, that’s right, none. There aren’t even any American cars on the list, although 5 of them are Hondas, and all of those Hondas are made in North America, 4 of them in the United States.
How many GM vehicles show up on the list of Consumer Reports Good Bets? Well, out of the 50+ cars on the list, there are 3, compared with 14 for Honda/Acura, 21 for Toyota/Lexus, etc., etc.
How many GM vehicles show up on the Consumer Reports Bad Bets list? 17 out of 34. That’s HALF THE LIST if you’re keeping score at home.
Of course, if we listen to the hardcore GM fans, we hear that Consumer Reports is biased, so let’s look at some of the other sources to see if we can find a benchmark there:
How about Car and Driver? Well, let’s look at the caranddriver.com comparison tests - “Rebellious Boxers”(HHR took 3rd place out of 4 vehicles), “$35,000 Sports Sedans” (Cadillact CTS and Saab 9-3 in 6th and 8th place, respectively, out of 8 vehicles), “Every Day Heroes” (Pontiac G6 GTP, 5th place, out of 5 vehicles), “Do-It-All Pickups” (Chevy Colorado LS, 5th place out of 5 vehicles).
In “Bahn Burners, Episode 39″ the Cadillac STS-V took 2nd place out of 3 vehicles, beating the Mercedes CLS55 AMG, and, luckily, GM’s Halo Vehicle, the Corvette Z06 did beat theDodge Viper (Motor City Bullies). Unfortunately, GM’s other Halo Vehicle, the brand-new Pontiac Solstice, took second place to the redesigned Mazda MX-5.
What can we learn from Car and Driver? If your GM vehicle is less than $50 grand, it’s not going to be the benchmark. In fact, you’ll be lucky if your car even makes it into the middle of the pack, as last place is a good possibility.
Well, some claim Car and Driver is biased as well (not me!), so let’s look at Edmunds.com.
Edmunds.com claimed that the new Pontiac Solstice was the Most Significant Vehicle of the Year, but despite it’s significance, it took second place to the Mazda MX-5 when they went head to head in the road test. The only other car on the Edmunds.com Editor’s Most Wanted list, was, surprise, surprise, the Chevrolet Corvette.
But let’s take a look at the other Edmunds.com comparisons: “2005 Midsize Truck Comparison Test” (Chevy Colorado placed 4th out of 5 vehicles), “2005 Economy Sedan Comparison Test” (Chevrolet Cobalt placed 6th out of 7 vehicles), “2005 Full Size Sedan Comparison Test (Buick La Crosse placed 4th out of 4 vehicles).
So, Edmunds.com thinks the Pontiac Solstice is significant but not as good as the MX-5, and loves the Corvette, but other than that, GM isn’t setting any benchmarks at Edmunds.
Well, that’s not good, and it’s not a conspiracy by automotive journalists! GM just doesn’t think enough of the car buying public to offer them benchmark vehicles.
And we haven’t even gotten to the legendarily awful dealer experience, where despite one’s education, experience, in-depth knowledge of the GM lineup and GM history, one will still be expected to go through the same sleazy sales tactics, haggle through the absurd dealer markups, and generally be made miserable in the process.
And then, should you actually buy the car, god only knows what fresh h**l awaits you should something go wrong, and what worse h**ls will appear after the warranty wears out.
To his credit, Robert Lutz mentions that they’re “working on” some of these problems.
But then he encourages us to go test drive one of the vehicles and spread the word through “word of mouth.”
GM’S NOT AT THAT POINT YET BOB! The word of mouth right now is that GM is improving, but unless you’ve got the cash to buy a Vette and are small enough to fit in one, or you just love the styling of the Solstice and don’t have any use for a trunk, you’ll be better off doing your homework and buying a better car from another manufacturer.
HEY GM! WE’RE NOT STUPID! Make a car that people who are smart but not rich can feel good about buying, and we’ll be more than happy to tell the world about it.
But if you’re not going to do that, you can’t blame us for not getting excited about a lineup of vehicles that are mediocre at best.
Make benchmark vehicles, not excuses, and you’ll sell plenty of cars. That would be the smart thing to do.
Continue to underestimate the intelligence of the American people, and contrary to H.L. Mencken, you will indeed go broke.
(Here endeth the rant, edit as you see fit, the whole thing’s available at http://www.gmcandobetter.blogspot.com)
Tom Ryner
Following up on my recently posted comment regarding the Aero-X.
I mentioned 80000 dollar as a pricetag. Make that 120000 dollars, keep the canopy adn everything. Let Magna-Steyr in Graz produce it in 999 units. The would sell and you would make a profite. Not only in short term but in long term. With the extremely cool entry into the car every star in music and film would want to be caught on picture with it. And they have money senor.
SY/Tom Ryner
Stan
Bob glad to see your responce!!Extending the Warrenties,Better dealership experience for customers will go along way to helping GM.May I add that as far as dealership experience goes develop a system of “CHECKS AND BALANCES.”Higher a firm or do it yourself but get them to investigate how dealers are treating there customers find problem dealers and deal with them.Develop a System that rewards dealers who have good to great customer service might also help.Also make commercials showing sales and mechanics saying were MAKING YOU NO1 AT GM and back it up with warrenties,a Saturn like atmosphere for all your dealers.Also if a customer has a problem with a car courtesy rides in ALL YOUR DEALERS.If a customer has many problems with a automobile they own “A PROBLEM CHILD” maybe giving him or her a replacement would also be a great thing.Well good luck and happy motoring!!
Brian Ripple
Well Bob, I see a lot of FireBird