Chevy Leads the Charge for GM in February

"In time of peace, prepare for war."

Get ready NOW for the next gas price spike.

Dear Mr. Peper,

referring to the latest figures from the Kraftfahrtbundesamt in Germany, Chevrolet Deutschland also was gaining clearly. In February 2007 there was an increase in registrations of 46% in comparison to February 2006. Many other major brands encountered losses at the same period. As I could read today, the Chevy HHR and the 2009 Camaro will be on sale in Germany, either. This should prove as a right decision, even more, if this vehicles will be available with optional LPG-Systems like it's found at the already existing Chevy lineup from GM DAT. Please, don't miss this opportunity, as this would provide a tremendous advantage for Chevrolet against the competition, as we are paying 7$/Gallon. In my opinion GM urgently should bring over the 2-door Cobalt, even the SS-Version, since there's no compact coupe available within the portfolio so far. A sporty, affordable vehicle like this would simply be perfect to the lineup, beyond those models built by GM DAT.
Thanks for paying attention.

And how are Aveo sales compares to the Fit, Versa, and Yaris?
How are Impala sales compared to the Camry?
I dont see the Cobalt mentioned, could it be because sales dropped this year as a result of your refusal to improve vehicles before a complete makeover?
Perhaps you'd sell more cars if you treated customers better, such as actually fixing recall issues.

Congratulations and Keep up the pressure. You should add to the Silverado Billboard ads the "North American truck of the year award" along with the Motor Trend Truck of the year award which is currently on the Ads. Get that Saturn Aura Advertised more.

Ed, congratulations to the entire Chevy team for this wonderful news. It's great to see sales increases for a change!

Perhaps if the purchasing group was directed to focus on continued sales improvements instead of cost reductions, these results would become the norm instead of the exception. It appears that the beancounters are in constant fear of losing their jobs unless further cost reductions are identified to meet their excessive targets. Just what type of foundation is this to build upon? Will this activity lead to great cars and trucks and sustained growth for Chevy?

Please Ed, take a stand with your colleagues and stop the madness. Excellent product is the best way to achieve sustained sales momentum, growth and profitability. Continued focus on cost cutting will only leave you with more damaged brands.

Jack

Chevy and Saturn's success reminds me of the parable in The Good Book and I wonder if GM is familiar.

It's about business and investing in Luke 19:12-26. Now post this because you might learn something. I will summarize...

A nobleman is going to a distant country to appoint himself king he calls ten servants gives them each a mina. He tells them to put the money to work till he returns.

He is made king and then returns. The first servant investing well said, "Your mina has earned 10 more". "Well done good and faithful servant, take charge of ten of my cities." The second servant returns, and says, "My mina has earned you five more." "Well done, take possession of five of my cities. The last servant to return anything (the other seven return nothing and perish) he says, "I was afraid to lose it and put your mina away in a cloth, here it is." "Well you could have at least put it in the bank and gave me interest. Take the mina from you and give it to the one with ten, he knows what to do with it." The others argue "But sir, he already has ten."

There is the lesson and it pertains to GM and those servants of GM that are returning nothing.

"...to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away."

I won't dispute the truth but perhaps we can differ as to how it pertains to GM.

Short and sweet, a business needs its own stuff to invest and survive. Like Saturn and Chevy what GM gives it multiplies. Yet some brands, GM is content to spoon feed and they don't have anything of expertise, independence or self-fertilizing to return to GM that mina -- with interest.

But like a government hand out, GM is content to let some brands atrophy, like a cadaver or leach that cannot feed itself or make a profit or make for itself a name.

And this parable is precisely what it seems everyone is calling GM to do. Everyone on this forum and others have pleaded time and again to let those dying things die and let those that are producing reap the spoils. The point is grow it or blow it, plush it or flush it, cuttle it or scuttle it, make it or break it, fill it or kill it, boom it or tomb it, run it or shun it.

If Buick or Pontiac is not given their own stuff, their own individual boss, their own business model and strategy of survival, there will be no revival, and no revival no growth, no growth no profit and no profit then they are history. And they will continue to slide and the sad thing is the customers know it, even better than GM seems to know.

Another GM employee says too many mouths to feed, another blogger laments, let her die give her spoils to Saturn and Chevy and finally even her most staunch alies will eventually give in and let them go the way of AMC and Eagle, of AMC/Jeep/Eagle fame or Plymouth of Chrysler/Plymouth fame.

You can widdle the back offices down to the bone, fold every dealer into the triplicate, give them all one big head and call it efficient. But what you simply have done is buried the mina. You took the heritage, you took the independence, the business model, their unique and individual expertise and buried it. And there are millions of people and dozens of companies that would love to help you bury those names and their heritage forever. And that little bit you left her, and gave her will indeed be taken away when that fish she begs for, the host just gets tired of feeding her.

In short?

If GM wants to be king of its domain don't let anything that is dead, dying, atrophying, or leaching be aloud to enter your walls. Truth and good business dictates and demands you give them something and you demand something in return.

Fastlane short.

Otherwise when they prune the vine the next time those dying limbs will be cut off.

Ed:

Congratulations to you and the whole Chevrolet team! Keep up your efforts and never let up on beating the competition.

Respectfully,

Eric Matthew Vest

I'm glad to see GM is turning the corner. Attention to design (interior and exterior) is starting to pay off. The next round of cars (Malibu, CTS, G8) is gonna really set things in motion for GM to start regaining acceptance among current import buyers that have sworn off domestic products.

Now when's that Camaro gonna finally be available?? ;)

CONGRATULATIONS!

Maybe the message is getting out that Chevy (and GM) make excellent vehicles. Keep it going.

I think the fact that of your biggest sellers, a large chunk are still of the massive SUV/truck type vehicles shows that Americans still want gigantic, large vehicles despite the fact that fuel prices are still going up and up. I attribute this to your improvements in their fuel economy. Though 22 MPG for a full size truck doesn't have me jumping up and down with glee, it's still better than most of the competition, and way better than what Toyota has to offer. As anyone can see, it didn't take a monumental change in these vehicles to get sales jumping again.

Then again, I'd like to see further pressure and improvements made to your small and mid-sized cars. I'm sure the New Malibu will sell well once it is released. But I would think it would be wise to eventually turn the equation around and start seeing the car segments at least match, if not outperform the large truck and SUV segments. These SUV and large trucks are liabilities. It would be good to round out the sales a bit.

If improving the fuel economy of a big truck by 5-6 MPG is enough to improve sales, then perhaps reinventing the wheel for your cars might not be as giant a feat. I will say I am really looking forward to the new Malibu. I think this car will possibly outsell the Camry if it is as good as it has been touted to be.

But... if I were a farmer/construction worker/ etc etc, and I had to have a full size truck, the Silverado would be my choice. So if Americans still demand huge trucks even if gas shoots into the stratosphere, then you're in a good position.

I am again looking out the window at the gas station across the street.

Regular: $3.07.9

Mid Grade: $3.25.9

Premium: $3.43.9

Steve G, 3/7, 8:54 PM:

As to the Aveo/Yaris/Fit/Versa, absolutely right. Show me an Aveo with the same mileage as a Yaris and I buy it tomorrow. The Aveo actually appears to be a bit lighter, so what's the problem?

As to the Cobalt, I think that, with a smaller European (1.4?)and a better transmission it could get close to the above cars' mileage as well. I could get really interested in that, and it's made in the US last time I looked.

SteveG: Even at $3.50/gal. houses won't get built, and trailers won't get towed w/ a Yaris, Fit or Aveo. BTW, Chevy missed out on outselling THE ENTIRE TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. by a mere 200 units-yes, that includes Scion AND Lexus. So, clearly, they are doing something right.

And how are Aveo sales compares to the Fit, Versa, and Yaris?
How are Impala sales compared to the Camry?
Posted by: SteveG on March 7, 2007 08:54 PM

Feb 2007 Sales (Automotive News)
Aveo 4,646
Fit 2,566
Versa 5,125
Yaris 5,702

The Aveo is holding it's own.

Impala 26,925
Camry 24,990* (Domestic)
* Includes Solara

I only count domestic sales since Toyota makes such a fuss about being American.

A better number would be:
Impala/Malibu
/Monte Carlo 39,917

Avalon/Camry 37,731*
*Includes Import

Seems Chevrolet is doing OK.

Mr Hayes

Above all, Did Jesus teach us to LOVE one annother or to genocide the weak?

Should GM abbandon North american poduction, and focus soely on China?

What about the lessons of Marx about owning the means of producton? The Japanise are tought Marx and can apply it to the cornering of markets in the west, westerners are too afraid of annything even remotely related to socialism to even bother to try.
I bet the moneychangers in the temple thought our LORD,to be a left wing radical.

Jason Zebersky

SteveG:

Here you are again with your insistance that GM's doesn't fix recall issues. I posted in response to your previous posts about your supposed recall on Fuel Injectors for you 2006 Cobalt. Number 1: You said that you got a recall notice about 2006 Cobalt Fuel Injectors and Number 2: You said you took it to a dealer and they said they didn't know anything about it. So my response to you was give me your information and I would take it on personally and get the appropriate action taken. Well you never responded and there doesn't seem to be any recall on 2006 Cobalt for Fuel Injectors.

I ask you again - give me your information and show me the recall notice you apparently received and I'll get to the bottom of it. As for GM not notifying dealers of recalls you should know that GM dealers are GM customers they are, for the vast majority, not GM company owned. They are notified of recalls just like other customers are notified.

This is an offer to take care of your reported problem. If you don't want my help then you can take your 2006 Cobalt to any dealer and if your VIN is part of a recall then any Chevy dealer will take care of it. If there is no recall then obviously there is nothing a dealer can do, and honestly there is no indication I can find that there is actually a recall on 2006 Cobalt for Fuel Injectors. I would like to see this recall notice you received.

Great news Chevy and GM!!

Now go make a commercial to combate those stupid Toyota truck ads. What fullsize truck is still five lug?...nothing maybe that joke of a pickup, Honda. Also, what truck uses a ring gear that size?....maybe a 1985 Toyota. Come on, this is false advertising, what does Toyota think America is stupid?

John C, 3/8, 4:56 PM:

I own 2 Chevy trucks, a 2004 3500 crew cab and a 2006 1500. Both tow trailers all the time. They are excellent vehicles. I would never consider any other brand.

I want to buy a segment leading, high mileage CHEVROLET for city use It does not exist, and I am disappointed. At least once a week the press states that the reason GM is losing market share, and billions of dollars, is that the Japanese brands, Toyota in particular, have read the market better and are offering the fuel efficient smaller cars that consumers now prefer. I am not making this up. You have seen it yourself.

If GM keeps losing $10 billion a year, it will not be making the trucks we need very much longer either.

Robert Wilson, 3/9/07, 8:18 PM:

We have had 3 recalls on our 2004 3500. In two cases, they were for little stuff that I could hardly believe merited a recall. The third was for a clip on a fuel rail, which was a two bit item but, I guess, potentially dangerous. In each case, I got a letter, and then a bright red follow up postcard after I had procrastinated for several weeks. I think once I even got two postcards.

Each time, when I finally went in, they were handled quickly and courteously by our local dealer, George Chevrolet in Bellflower, CA.

The last time, I mentioned a looseness in the steering. Afer about 5 words from me, the service advisor said, "Oh yeah, it's the intermediate steering shaft. We'll fix it under warranty."

Years ago, going in to try to claim under warranty was about like going to the dentist. In recent years, these issues have been handled in a highly courteous and efficient manner. Chevrolet has clearly turned a huge corner on this issue.

Morning report from the gas station across the street:

Regular: $3.13.9

Intermediate: $3.31.9

Premium: $3.49.9

Rick:

Well, Lutz was proud to say that GM was first to the B segment with the Aveo. I can read this Aveo 4646, Fit/Versa/Yaris 13393. Give us an update in a month or two if this current gas price spike holds up. Note that crude has gone down the last few days. What a world.

What do you think is up with Honda and the Fit? Can they not supply the cars, or are the dealers packing them up to where they don't move?

Mr. Peper,

So don't let up so soon. Ask the rest of America to "come and see" why Chevy is leading the way.

>I ask you again - give me your information and show me the recall notice you apparently received and I'll get to the bottom of it. As for GM not notifying dealers of recalls you should know that GM dealers are GM customers they are, for the vast majority, not GM company owned. They are notified of recalls just like other customers are notified.

This is an offer to take care of your reported problem. If you don't want my help then you can take your 2006 Cobalt to any dealer and if your VIN is part of a recall then any Chevy dealer will take care of it. If there is no recall then obviously there is nothing a dealer can do, and honestly there is no indication I can find that there is actually a recall on 2006 Cobalt for Fuel Injectors. I would like to see this recall notice you received.

Posted by: Robert Wilson >

I tired posting the recall email here but they wouldn't post it.
I also tried to post my email address for you and they wouldn't post it.
I checked another dealer and my car is actually not listed in the system for some reason. So, it isn't the dealers fault.
I'm not sure why GM emailed me that my car was recalled yet didn't add it into the system, but it isn't a good way to retain badly needed customers.

I don't see myself buying a new car for quite a few years because good used cars are cheap. However, if I could buy a "plug in" hybrid such as the proposed Chevy Volt I'd might buy one new. It would be swell to plug the car in at night and get gasoline once ever other month or so. I only hope I will be able to fit my 6'3" body and size 15's feet in it. It's a problem, I'm a tight fit in my Lincoln Mark VIII!

Ed,

Chevy is living proof that enthusiasm and drive for great product starts from the TOP of any organization and flows down through all its personnel then on to the products and finally on to sales success.

Nice to see the improvements across the Chevy line, and best wishes for the Mailbu Sedan next year!

A pity the Maxx was dropped, though - a little refinement could have given Chevy a real Euro-competitor. Then again, perhaps that sort of product is best left to Saturn?

Rick:
Well, Lutz was proud to say that GM was first to the B segment with the Aveo. I can read this Aveo 4646, Fit/Versa/Yaris 13393. Give us an update in a month or two if this current gas price spike holds up. Note that crude has gone down the last few days. What a world.

What do you think is up with Honda and the Fit? Can they not supply the cars, or are the dealers packing them up to where they don't move?
noel park on March 9, 2007 11:59 AM

Noel:
Not sure about the Fit, It is getting to the end of it's run (globally) so I don't know if Honda is just cutting back or if the Fit/Jazz is selling in Asia. European sales were 5,945 (Dec '06) and actually down 79,566 ('06) to 82,793 ('05)

To me the Versa will be the strongest competitor with the best interior room and IMHO styling.

You mentioned the "B" Segment; GM is a major player in this segment in Europe with the Corsa with 27,828 sold in Dec '06 while still ramping up production (283,688 total '06). It is one of the hottest cars in Europe and its platform mate Fiat Grande Punto sold 400,996 in '06 but the Corsa outsold it in Dec.

Corsa 27,828
G. Punto 24,753

So the Corsa should sell over 400,000 units in 2007.

Maybe the Corsa is a victim of it's own success and GM does not have enough capacity for more; too bad it would make a great Saturn and complement to the Aveo.

GM needs the 1.3L Turbo-Diesel in the Aveo ASAP.

At least the new 115HP 1.6L VVT for better power and MPG or a nice Aveo Sport with 1.6L 180 HP Turbo.

Rick:

Amen on the Aveo engines.

Too bad we can't get the Corsa.

I have to agree with you on the Versa. I think it was Autoweek that said the other day that their CVT is the best on the market.

I always have my eyes opened by your comments on what is available in Europe. We always used to moan about the cool sporty cars from Europe which were not available here, but who knew about these cutting edge mass market cars, let alone from the General? It's pretty frustrating.

Rick:

Come to think of it, wasn't it you who said that there was a 1.4L Ecotec in Europe?

That would seem like a natural for a high mileage Aveo. I'm thinking maybe the Daewoo engine is just getting past it in terms of technology and that's why the mileage is so mediocre. It isn't really that much better than the larger Cobalt with the Ecotec (2.2L?)

Also, doesn't Opel have some sort of a trick semi-automatic type transmission? Maybe they could co-opt that design.

I mean, it isn't rocket , is it? The Yaris is about as simple as they come. If I remember your numbers, the Aveo is a tad lighter than the Yaris, isn't it? So what's the problem?

GM still doesn't honor their warranties ..... SHAME ON GM, they are not the American Way. I finally understand why it's so important to buy Japanese.

SteveG:

You can email me directly @ robert.wilson at gm.com. You can forward this email to me.

To be honest with you there doesn't seem to be a recall action on Cobalt for fuel injectors. Another issue is that GM would not be notifying you of a recall activity via email - it would be through alerts in the US Mail. It is interesting that you haven't posted anything and then there is this blaming the issue on the blog administrator. Send me the information directly and we'll see what is going on. At this point I'm having a hard time trusting your sincerity.

To those who post that GM doesn't honor their warranties you really don't know what you are talking about. I once owned a 1986 Toyota Four Runner which was Toyota's first foray into the V6 with automatic transmission. There were sludging issues with these engines and mine blew up at around 7,000 miles. Toyota would not honor a warranty for this vehicle even though I could demonstrate impeccable service history.

To those of you who are following the posts that SteveG has made regarding GM not handling recall actions effectively, please see the following which is a copy of an email that I just sent to SteveG regarding the recall action he is concerned with:

SteveG:

I just got off the phone with Scott Lawson who is the General Director that issued that recall notice that GMCSonoma posted on GMInsidenews. Just as I suspected, your vehicle is not one of the VINS that is included although you are inside the "breakpoint". The recall notice specifically states that only certain vins are included in the recall. There are 2 main reasons why your vehicle is not included in the recall:

1. Only vehicles with emission NF4 and NT7 are included - your vehicle has emissions NV3 and NC7.
2. Only vehicles with the emissions NF4 and NT7 that were built prior to 3-1-06 and after 10-15-05 are included. Your vehicle was built on Aug. 25, 2005.

The only way you will get a recall notice via email is if you are an OnStar subscriber and you subscribe to the Monthly Vehicle Diagnotiscs report. You will not be notified of recall activity via email - you will be the recall notice letter signed by General Director Scott Larson via US Mail only.

Your dealer didn't have your VIN in their system for the recall because your vehicle is not included in the recall.

Robert, I appreciate you helping me with this matter.
Now if GM had been as forthright with this info I would never have had to go through what I did.
Hopefully you can let the powers that be know that the consumer needs to be fully informed about these things.
Thanks again.

Steve:

Is this really a matter of GM being forthright. The notice that prompted you to inquire at the dealership clearly stated that some VINS in the breakpoints were not included.

It was really the dealer that had the misinformation and told you that "GM didn't tell us" which is not right.

Most people don't realize that the dealerships are actually independent businesses and that they buy our vehicles and then sell them to you. GM works diligently to make sure that dealers are in condition to effectively service the end customers, but obviously that is not working out the way we would like in many cases.

Rest assured that you vehicle is not involved in the recall and we'll get you hooked up with someone from Chevy to discuss your other concerns.

We are working hard to make sure that people who purchase our vehicles are confident they've made the right choice.

Thanks.

Instead of sitting and saying you had a great previous month you guys can keep on working. Make your small cars better.

I have loved Chevy all my life and hopefully I can work for your Advertising/product development as I am a student at Michigan State University currently. Finding the GM Fastlane Blog recently made my day! It's great for the enthusiasts and new customers to hear information right from the top!!!

Great work in February! Everyone I know LOVES the new trucks!
I also love what your doing with the new cars, keep it up guys!!!!!!!

The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon need some masculine, aggressive type ad campaigning....more advertisements should help the sales.

Mr Peper:

I have been a Chevy customer most of my life, and currently lease a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. I really enjoy the comfort of this vehicle.
I do believe, however, there is a design flaw. Whenever I drive from a moderately inclined driveway onto the road, the front end spoiler scrapes the pavement. It also scrapes when I enter an inclined driveway from the road into a parking lot. The spoiler is definitely too close to the ground. I wish your engineers would address this problem. My daughter leased a 2004 Impala, and complained of the very same issue.

Another design change that needs to be considered is the location of the windshield wiper control. It is beyond difficult to use this control at night, because it is located behind the steering wheel and is very difficult to see. It is not at all fun adjusting the wiper at night in the middle of a rain storm. It seems Chevrolet has kept the location of the wiper control in the same place for the last 37 years, as my first Chrevolet Impala I purchased when I graduated from college in 1970 had the control located in the very same place. I disliked its location then, and still do. Don't you think it is time for a change?

I don't know about your vaunted turnaround but I can tell you after buying 3 new GM cars in the last ten years, I won't be buying anymore. The warranties I bought turned out to be absolutely useless and money wasted. My experience with my local GM dealer has been abysmal which is why I will probably never consider your product again. You guys are going to have to do better at the local level if you want to be successful. GM dealers represent your product and when they push bad warranties for accessories such as tires, it just sours the whole process for the customer.