The choice is obvious... you keep building the vehicles.

Also, with the GMT-900's, as was pointed out in another thread, coming out in early 2006, do you REALLY want to start building up stock and part stock on the GMT-800s? Of course not...

Model Year 2006 for the GMT-800s, especially the SUVs, is going to be a shortened run anyway.

 

I would choose build 'em, but if GM's choices remain these long term, they will go out of business sooner rather than later. These handcuffs on their decision making powers are ridiculous.

Hey, I work at my university's dining hall - can I get paid during the summer? Perhaps we could cook food and then just throw 90% of it out.

 

I'm guessing this is directly related to things I've learned in the past few months here concerning union benefits and why we've got 4-5 very similar models from different brands.

I'm guessing you keep the metal moving no matter what.

 

The '06's are the GMT800 trucks (Tahoe, Silverado, ect...) The 2007 Tahoe comes out in January and is going to be much better than the '06. So why would some one buy an '06 instead of waiting for an '07? You got to move those "lame duck" '06's some how. I expect employee pricing on the '06 SUVs and pickups untill the 2007's com out.

 

what GM is doing, is restarting the buisness, they are a giant getting up from a long nap/sleep as hitler might have put it. and in order to start a business back up you need to take a loss for a while... it takes money to make money, and when everyone has lost faith in your buisness you must do something to give everyone a reason to put at least some faith back into you.

 

I may be speaking out of school because I don't know the Saab mindset, but if the 9-7x had a 6 speed transmission it would very likely replace our Envoy. It's the vehicle I thought GM should build when we got the Envoy in May '01 that I felt could compete with the BMW X5.

Based on everything I've read, and in discussion with our local dealer, the 9-7x is going to do very well for Saab.

As for the Saabura, IMO they should have started with the Forester instead of the Imprezza.

 

it is to my understanding, the mindset of a Saab owner is one that might consider lexus acura or infinity because the domestic guys cant build a quality product, so lets go with an import... "wait what!?, thats GM?! ohh excuse me let me check that off my list"

 

but then again, GM is saying okay so we got u into your saab, but did you know thats a GM product? dont you love your car? try some other cars made by GM, look at Chevrolet, look at Cadillac... they are even better cars!

 

Also, keep in mind that GM is one of, if not the, biggest employers in the US. Keeping people employed at GM is an important part of the US economy overall.

 

My concern here isn't so much the fact that the last of the GMT800s has to be priced low, but rather how they're doing it. Employee discounts on '06 models runs directly contrary to the "Total Value Promise".

 

That's the first legitimate complaint I've read about putting the Employee Discount on the 06 trucks and SUV's.....

 

Here's the problem, even with fantastic new products GM will continue the downward spiral. Until the marketing is corrected GM's image will not improve and sales will suffer. GMS was good in it's simplicity, but wrong in the long term damage to brand equity and strained dealer relations. Once again the incompetent leadership looked to short term results and created numerous difficulties beyond their short sighted comprehension.

 

If the dealers don't like having 2 record months in a row and don't like making money on everything they sell then they can tear up their contracts and go sell some Toyota appliances and try things that way for a while. I know one thing I don't think GM would miss a few dealers who are upset because they couldn't bend the customer over the haggle barrell, I know I wouldn't.

 

Who says we dont like that?

The GMS is not just hurting GM's profits but also the dealerships profits...

sure we make money on everything but not much... when a dealership sells a 50k$ truck and only makes 300$ you can understand why July and August many GM salesmans have quit... commissions are almost non-existant...

sure there might be GM kick backs but from what it looks like on paper, the dealerships shouldn't last long with profits like that...

 

So GM makes a little money, the dealers make a little money, the auto workers are working and producing things, and commisioned sales people are selling more cars than the normally would per month, albeit they don't make as much per car.

There is a first rule of sales called "CLOSE THE SALE" Perhaps you have heard of it. Look would you rather sell 30 cars at $300 profit and make $9000 or sell 15 cars at $600 profit and make $900? The real answer is it doesn't matter because you made money. If you make money then "Hey I just made money" Be happy about it and stop bitching.

The real reason that dealers are complaining is that they are having to do more work for the same profit. They have more customers to wait on, more inventory to order, more to prep. So you have to work a little more. SO WHAT! If it means GM keeps the factory workers working and the iron is moving and everyone is making money, then DEAL WITH IT!!!

About the dealerships getting kickbacks, in addition to direct profit. Hey guess what you should consider that a bonus. Lots of jobs you deal with what profit you get directly off of stuff and that is it. Dealerships have had to much free reign for FAR to long. They have driven off more customers than the lackluster designs of GMs cars. They are the public face of GM, not GM. When Chevrolet has a bad public image of not caring when someone's car leaks it is the DEALERSHIPS responsiblility to make the customer happy, that (unforunately) has not happened enough.