More from LaNeve.....
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More from LaNeve.....
From TCC:
I think I'm liking what I'm hearing.
Which 3-4 products for Pontiac though. Certainly Solstice and G6, but what else?
LaNeve: GM Wants MINI Marketing
GM's sales and marketing chief Mark LaNeve said Thursday he is trying to make the struggling Pontiac and Buick brands more like MINI and Porsche.
What's that?
LaNeve doesn't want dealers to get nervous thinking he is going to take Buick and Pontiac down to one model like MINI. But what he does aim to do is focus the two brands like MINI and Porsche by limiting them in the future to maybe four models apiece. "In a few years, MINI will have three or four models and that's where Porsche is now. Nobody doesn't understand what those brands are about," says LaNeve. Dealers shouldn't be too worried, he says, because over 80 percent of GMC and Pontiac dealers are dualed now, and 50 percent of Buick dealerships are teamed with GMC-Pontiac stores. That will go above 90 percent over the next few years.
"We aren't going to grow market share with Buick and Pontiac, but we can increase profitability by focusing each on a smaller number of models that truly reflect the brand images we are creating, and that frees us up to channel engineering resources to Cadillac and Chevrolet where we think we can grow share. GMC, Buick, and Pontiac will be treated as one product portfolio going forward without the costly overlaps the brands have now.
"We'd never approve the Buick Rainier going now," said LaNeve, addressing the International Motor Press Association in New York. He added that Cadillac and Chevrolet need to be able to better compete against Toyota and Lexus. "If we have $900 million to spend on four barely differentiated models or on two segment breaking models we will choose the two models - that's where we are going."
"We think our eight brands are an asset we can leverage, but we have to manage it better," said LaNeve. "What I am talking about is Marketing 101, but we have to keep learning it over and over again." -Jim Burt
GM's sales and marketing chief Mark LaNeve said Thursday he is trying to make the struggling Pontiac and Buick brands more like MINI and Porsche.
What's that?
LaNeve doesn't want dealers to get nervous thinking he is going to take Buick and Pontiac down to one model like MINI. But what he does aim to do is focus the two brands like MINI and Porsche by limiting them in the future to maybe four models apiece. "In a few years, MINI will have three or four models and that's where Porsche is now. Nobody doesn't understand what those brands are about," says LaNeve. Dealers shouldn't be too worried, he says, because over 80 percent of GMC and Pontiac dealers are dualed now, and 50 percent of Buick dealerships are teamed with GMC-Pontiac stores. That will go above 90 percent over the next few years.
"We aren't going to grow market share with Buick and Pontiac, but we can increase profitability by focusing each on a smaller number of models that truly reflect the brand images we are creating, and that frees us up to channel engineering resources to Cadillac and Chevrolet where we think we can grow share. GMC, Buick, and Pontiac will be treated as one product portfolio going forward without the costly overlaps the brands have now.
"We'd never approve the Buick Rainier going now," said LaNeve, addressing the International Motor Press Association in New York. He added that Cadillac and Chevrolet need to be able to better compete against Toyota and Lexus. "If we have $900 million to spend on four barely differentiated models or on two segment breaking models we will choose the two models - that's where we are going."
"We think our eight brands are an asset we can leverage, but we have to manage it better," said LaNeve. "What I am talking about is Marketing 101, but we have to keep learning it over and over again." -Jim Burt
I think I'm liking what I'm hearing.
Which 3-4 products for Pontiac though. Certainly Solstice and G6, but what else?
Last edited by Z284ever; May 20, 2005 at 08:39 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: More from LaNeve.....
My guess:
Solstice
G6
Grand Prix (or "G8" :rolleyes)
GTO
That means Vibe goes, though I think it fits Pontiac to a degree, Chevy could have this type of model, and that makes the yet to come out Torrent a lame duck already.... but then again, we already have Equinox and VUE. Montana is gone. Bonnie we know is gone. Sunfire won't be replaced.
Solstice
G6
Grand Prix (or "G8" :rolleyes)
GTO
That means Vibe goes, though I think it fits Pontiac to a degree, Chevy could have this type of model, and that makes the yet to come out Torrent a lame duck already.... but then again, we already have Equinox and VUE. Montana is gone. Bonnie we know is gone. Sunfire won't be replaced.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,958
From: Kansas City, MO
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by Darth Xed
My guess:
Solstice
G6
Grand Prix (or "G8" :rolleyes)
GTO
That means Vibe goes, though I think it fits Pontiac to a degree, Chevy could have this type of model....
Solstice
G6
Grand Prix (or "G8" :rolleyes)
GTO
That means Vibe goes, though I think it fits Pontiac to a degree, Chevy could have this type of model....
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
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Re: More from LaNeve.....
I'm not really sure that Pontiac is going in the direction of adding V8 RWD cars. I think the GTO will be around as long as Holden continues some VZ variant production, though.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by Z284ever
I'm not really sure that Pontiac is going in the direction of adding V8 RWD cars. I think the GTO will be around as long as Holden continues some VZ variant production, though.
This dosn't add up though.
If they are going to focus Pontiac on performance.... how can you have a performance divisioon without a V8 in the mix somewhere?
Sure, you can have 4-banger fun cars... but they will Solstice.
They can have V6 fun cars... G6GTP... they will.
But, how can you have a true American performance division without a V8 car in the mix?
Disciple
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,479
Re: More from LaNeve.....
I like the plan.
Slap a GMC badge on it and it stays at the same dealership.
So you get a mushy lux Torrent Denali and a tight and crisp 'nox SS.
Originally Posted by Darth Xed
and that makes the yet to come out Torrent a lame duck already....
So you get a mushy lux Torrent Denali and a tight and crisp 'nox SS.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by poSSum
I like the plan.
Slap a GMC badge on it and it stays at the same dealership.
So you get a mushy lux Torrent Denali and a tight and crisp 'nox SS.
Slap a GMC badge on it and it stays at the same dealership.
So you get a mushy lux Torrent Denali and a tight and crisp 'nox SS.
Simple solution...
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,724
From: Hebron, KY
Re: More from LaNeve.....
And what of the other focus brands?
My Take...
Buick: LaCrosse, Lucerne, Park Avenue
Pontiac: G6, Grand Prix/G8, GTO (past '06?), Solstice
GMC: Vibe, Envoy, Yukon
Saturn: Ion, Aura, Sky, Vue
Hummer: H3, H2, H1
Saab: 9-2, 9-3, 9-5
Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer and Saab will exist as "focus brands" with more limited portfolios.
Buick: LaCrosse, Lucerne, Park Avenue
Pontiac: G6, Grand Prix/G8, GTO (past '06?), Solstice
GMC: Vibe, Envoy, Yukon
Saturn: Ion, Aura, Sky, Vue
Hummer: H3, H2, H1
Saab: 9-2, 9-3, 9-5
Thread Starter
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Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by Darth Xed
But, how can you have a true American performance division without a V8 car in the mix?
Last edited by Z284ever; May 20, 2005 at 09:13 AM.
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Posts: 423
Re: More from LaNeve.....
No market share growth with Buick? HERESY!!!
Give me a luxury two door, a mid size coupe, a RWD sedan that looks like what a Buick should, and a good wagon. No more warmed over Aztecs, Trailblazers, or Uplanders. GM has starved Buick almost to the point of death. Marketing a Mexican made, French named Crossover (Rendezvous) as "The Spirit of American Style" is how Buick got into trouble. Some examples of misguided marketing : on 4-1-2001 Annette Smith, Park Ave brand mgr, pulled the lease incentive off the car causing lease payments to rise over $150 per month. I personally lost over a hundred deals to people returning to Michigan from the winter out west and down south. These were the longest, most loyal customers in the Buick book of business. On St. Patrick's day in 2002, Buick discontinued green for the balance of the year. Coincidence? Also in 2002 the Century had a $500 savings package if the car was ordered in white, tan,or silver only. Across the country buyers were being bored to death looking at the bland inventory. Dealers of course hardly ordered red, blue, or and other attractive color. Add to the mix the effort to close stand alone Buick stores and you start to get the drift. Lucerne? A full size Buick with only 195 Horses? C'mon. Who are they trying to kid? Buickman sees through the deception. Was Olds really that poorly run, or did they close it on purpose? Get rid of old grandfathered divisions and open factory franchises. Build 'em overseas, sell 'em on the net (like Dell), and profit on the paper (finance penetration, credit life, disability, warranties, gap, etch, etc...) No one coulld be so stupid as to lose so much share so consistently. If it weren't for the strength of the dealer body, Buick would have folded long ago. GM learned from their experience with Olds. Combine 'em, then fold it out. Less legal entanglement. Where is the Skyhawk, Skylark, Century, Regal, New LeSabre (why kill the best selling Buick), Park Avenue, Roadmaster, Riviera, station wagons, coupes? Let me assure you GM has its motives. Forget the fact that they haven't dealt in good faith with me regarding A Return To Greatness. Ask yourself this, if you owned a company and were struggling to survive, would you listen to your top salesman, or blame your employees for collecting what you agreed to pay them? GM is a great company with a rich history. It's just being destroyed by egotistical, self-serving, insolated, incompetent, fork tongued excuses for management.
Jim Dollinger
Founder
www.GeneralWatch.com
Give me a luxury two door, a mid size coupe, a RWD sedan that looks like what a Buick should, and a good wagon. No more warmed over Aztecs, Trailblazers, or Uplanders. GM has starved Buick almost to the point of death. Marketing a Mexican made, French named Crossover (Rendezvous) as "The Spirit of American Style" is how Buick got into trouble. Some examples of misguided marketing : on 4-1-2001 Annette Smith, Park Ave brand mgr, pulled the lease incentive off the car causing lease payments to rise over $150 per month. I personally lost over a hundred deals to people returning to Michigan from the winter out west and down south. These were the longest, most loyal customers in the Buick book of business. On St. Patrick's day in 2002, Buick discontinued green for the balance of the year. Coincidence? Also in 2002 the Century had a $500 savings package if the car was ordered in white, tan,or silver only. Across the country buyers were being bored to death looking at the bland inventory. Dealers of course hardly ordered red, blue, or and other attractive color. Add to the mix the effort to close stand alone Buick stores and you start to get the drift. Lucerne? A full size Buick with only 195 Horses? C'mon. Who are they trying to kid? Buickman sees through the deception. Was Olds really that poorly run, or did they close it on purpose? Get rid of old grandfathered divisions and open factory franchises. Build 'em overseas, sell 'em on the net (like Dell), and profit on the paper (finance penetration, credit life, disability, warranties, gap, etch, etc...) No one coulld be so stupid as to lose so much share so consistently. If it weren't for the strength of the dealer body, Buick would have folded long ago. GM learned from their experience with Olds. Combine 'em, then fold it out. Less legal entanglement. Where is the Skyhawk, Skylark, Century, Regal, New LeSabre (why kill the best selling Buick), Park Avenue, Roadmaster, Riviera, station wagons, coupes? Let me assure you GM has its motives. Forget the fact that they haven't dealt in good faith with me regarding A Return To Greatness. Ask yourself this, if you owned a company and were struggling to survive, would you listen to your top salesman, or blame your employees for collecting what you agreed to pay them? GM is a great company with a rich history. It's just being destroyed by egotistical, self-serving, insolated, incompetent, fork tongued excuses for management.
Jim Dollinger
Founder
www.GeneralWatch.com
Last edited by Buickman; May 20, 2005 at 10:03 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by Darth Xed
My guess:
Solstice
G6
Grand Prix (or "G8" :rolleyes)
GTO
That means Vibe goes, though I think it fits Pontiac to a degree, Chevy could have this type of model, and that makes the yet to come out Torrent a lame duck already.... but then again, we already have Equinox and VUE. Montana is gone. Bonnie we know is gone. Sunfire won't be replaced.
Solstice
G6
Grand Prix (or "G8" :rolleyes)
GTO
That means Vibe goes, though I think it fits Pontiac to a degree, Chevy could have this type of model, and that makes the yet to come out Torrent a lame duck already.... but then again, we already have Equinox and VUE. Montana is gone. Bonnie we know is gone. Sunfire won't be replaced.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,472
From: South Bend, Indiana
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by Darth Xed
This dosn't add up though.
If they are going to focus Pontiac on performance.... how can you have a performance divisioon without a V8 in the mix somewhere?
Sure, you can have 4-banger fun cars... but they will Solstice.
They can have V6 fun cars... G6GTP... they will.
But, how can you have a true American performance division without a V8 car in the mix?
If they are going to focus Pontiac on performance.... how can you have a performance divisioon without a V8 in the mix somewhere?
Sure, you can have 4-banger fun cars... but they will Solstice.
They can have V6 fun cars... G6GTP... they will.
But, how can you have a true American performance division without a V8 car in the mix?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Re: More from LaNeve.....
Originally Posted by Buickman
No market share growth with Buick? HERESY!!!
Give me a luxury two door, a mid size coupe,
Give me a luxury two door, a mid size coupe,
Think they'd do enough volume? What architecture(s) would two different Buick coupes be based on? Why would Buick want two coupes? How much would they cost? What features/powertrains would they have? What would differentiate them?
Let's hear the business case.