I've often wondered why GM doesn't just make Holden division here in the USA? I mean, don't get me wrong I'm loving the GTO, now the G8 and the soon to be El Camino and the support for Camaro. But I'm wondering why don't they just make it a successful spin off here in the states? Seems to me that the product is popular enough to pull it off.

GM:
Caddy
Buick
GMC
Chevy
Pontiac
Holden
Hummer
Saturn

Sounds good to me!


Opinions?

 

In very rough numbers, it costs a billion dollars to launch an all-new mass-market automotive brand, it costs a billion dollars to close down an existing automotive brand, and GM probably has too many US brands already.

 

Too many divisions already - no need for it, and no money to be made by doing it.

 

They are doing it, just without the incredible fuss involved in launching a new brand. What's the difference if the Commodore sells with an arrow on it? It's still very much selling the Holden Commodore in the USA.

 

I asked that question a couple of years ago before the GTO came out. Would of been intresting to see how well a Holden Monaro would sold instead of a Pontiac GTO

 

maybe a little better, but it did pretty well. We have alot of divisions starving for product. Holden is closest to Chevy, but Pontiac needed a performance vehicle of its own. Globalization is going to save GM. You guys need our trucks and Vette and Camaro. I think a Holden Solstice might do nicely.

 

It's more cost effective to bring it over as Pontiac since they have the same formula..

 

It would mean some Serious overlap! As Drew said, just bring them over (or use the same method of madness) to be Pontiacs.

BTW: Isnt Saab kinda listed as one of the major brands now?

 

If anything GM should just convert Pontiac and Buick dealers over to the "Saturn" brand. GM should only do this if neither the Pontiac G8 or new Buicks can't lift those great historic brands out of their 'poor-perception' funk.

This way GM won't have to go through the horrors of killing off dealers like they did with the death of Oldmobile since Pontiac/Buick dealers would become new Saturn dealers (which GM needs to do if they want to rapidly expand the Saturn dealer network). GM could just take Pontiac and Buick top selling models and just make them next-gen versions (2011) Saturns when those dealers are converted over.

 

GM doesn't need another brand... but it could do with a Statesman for Buick.

 

GM doesn't need another brand here. But they do need some niche product and Holden fits the bill. So in effect I think over the next few years we will essentially have all of Holden's vehicles here but as different brands.

 

Build them in RHD and they will come