a different twist on "the fix" for gm

**Disclaimer**
im not seriously suggesting this is done, just throwing it out there for discussion. I honestly dont know if i would want this done but it popped into my head a week ago or so when i was having trouble going to sleep. (i think of random stuff when insomnia is in full effect)

anyways heres the idea. To quote shakespeare, "What's in a name?" that is right now everyone is wrongly equating GM (General Motors) with bad quality cars because, you know, toyota is the ultimate company that has never done anything wrong and their cars go for 20 million miles with never breaking down and get 1000 mpg:rolleyes: so here it goes. what if GM changed names. i am aware that there would have to be a lot of legal mumbo jumbo to be done to do such a thing. but what if...

General motors became Higher Motors or something to that affect?



just throwing it out there for discussion. and at this point please reread the disclaimer

I think it would cause more bad then good….

There would be a huge backlash from the loyal customers and the media would just report everything just as biased as before except they would start every report “Higher Motors, formally known as General Motors….blah blah blah….”

The key to GM’s success is to get their “good name” back….

GM is like the girl who lost her reputation…..

It’s all about product right now. They have to continue to release exciting, innovative and high quality products. The public will come around if they continue this trend.

Not a bad thought though.....:D

It would seem shady to most people; 95% of the people out would sooner or later realize that they were one in the same company, and it could lose quite a few people who only buy GM because their dad always did or whatever reason - the historical buyers who associate well with that name.

I suggest instead, they raise their warranties to 100k miles and say, "We're more reliable than Toyota and Honda, and we're so sure of it, we're backing ALL of our vehicles with a standard 100k mile warranty from today forward."

I think a consumer survey would show that "Buick" and "Pontiac" are bigger reputation problems than "GM" is. Which is why those divisions have dropped all their traditional nameplates and product is going to Saturn etc.

It worked for Valujet

I agree with the warranty thing.
Oh and one more thing. You know what would bring GM back?
Building cars people wanna buy. :p

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4882128153611411233&q=%22UFO+Secret+Space%22+is%3Afree&pl=true

Sure. Lest call them Alein Motors Corporation.

It worked for Valujet

Valujet and GM are two very different companies.

General Motor's name is invaluable. Even though it has bad associations, it still has a ton of equity. GM, Chevy, Pontiac, etc are instantly recognizable and represent the result of 100 years of advertising. That's priceless. As Cadillac's resurgence has shown, people certainly will not refuse to buy a GM car simply because of the stigma of its name. In fact, imagine if GM had introduced the CTS uder a completely new name. Can you really imagine it being as effective?

As Stars said, it's really about product. GM gave people nice Caddy's and all the sudden no one mailgned it as an old-lady's brand. Give Pontiac an incredible looking, calss leading sports-sedan, and no one will mock it.

GM's recognition is something most company's would die for. If GM every did liquidate (not gonna happen), I can guarentee that its name brands would survive, because some really smart company would recognize their incredible worth. It's the product, stupid (not calling anyone stupid).

Valujet and GM are two very different companies.
I never said they were't, only that the tactic had worked before.

Imagine comparing Valujet to American Airlines. American has enough clout/history/size/ect to weather crashes, maintenance snafus and the 9/11 attacks. Airlines like Valujet on the otherhand, many times can't survive the backlash after a similar accident/incident. The auto industry equivalent would be GM vs Panoz or somebody. If Panoz started having suspension failures due to a faulty component, it might shut down. GM simply recalls a couple of hundred thousand affected vehicles, and it's wiped from the public conscience w/in th week. Different rules for different players.

GM is like the girl who lost her reputation…..

It’s all about product right now. They have to continue to release exciting, innovative and high quality products. The public will come around if they continue this trend.


Thats exactly whats gotta happen . Its already started to happen actually . Slowly but surely . A couple years from now perhaps perceptions will come around eh :)

Thats exactly whats gotta happen . Its already started to happen actually . Slowly but surely . A couple years from now perhaps perceptions will come around eh :)

I agree 100%. Products will change perceptions of GM, and it has already started... thanks to the HHR, Cobalt, Kappa cars, and now the GMT-900 SUVs.

If there are still doubts that image can quickly change, does anyone remember what Cadillac's reputation was like back when the CTS first hit the streets? :yuck: :no:

They changed their image in what? Just 5 years with 4 new models and essentially a redesign, taking quality far more seriously?

That's true. Nissan anybody?

Very going point. Nissan did do a total 180* as now they make a car that people want to drive. When the Altima came out, it was very radical compared to the boringness of the last one. It was different then anything else, it was bigger and now offered a powerful V6. Interior quality was and is still shoddy, but they are selling like gangbusters.
Its amazing what a little design can do for a company.

<snip> I suggest instead, they raise their warranties to 100k miles and say, "We're more reliable than Toyota and Honda, and we're so sure of it, we're backing ALL of our vehicles with a standard 100k mile warranty from today forward."

Dead on target!

The only potential problem is the issue facing some of the imports (i.e. Kia). Some think the are "compensating" for something and some of the 10yr/100k mile warranty programs are only for the original owners and are not transferrable- AKA a lure. They know full well most folks will get tired of a car in a few years and they won't have to back up the product.... which is also why the resale values suck on some.

If promoted properly, it would work and would speak volumes for the product. It would also make for solid resale values (if coupled with limited fleet sales).

Just my $.02

Allen