Here's my PLAN for GM (FWIW):
GM doesn't need all it's divisions just like Ford doesn't need Mercury.
GM only needs 2 full divisions and the rest niche vehicles.
GM and Cadillac, period!

Cadillac dealers to sell 3 luxury cars.
Cadillac El Dorado (2 door coupe of the CTS, including a hardtop convertible).
Cadillac Seville (was CTS).
Cadillac Fleetwood (a large full size car that can also be made into a limo).

And GM dealers would sell 15 models under the Chevy name and the niche names Pontiac, Buick and GMC.
Chevy Nova (was Saturn and Opel Astra) fd
Chevy Malibu fd
Chevy El Camino (was going to be sold as the Pontiac ST next year) rd
Chevy Impala fd
Chevy Camaro rd
Chevy Volt (pure electric vehicle)
Chevy Corvette rd
Pontiac Sunbird (was Solstice/Sky) rd
Pontiac Grand Prix (was G8) rd
Buick Lasabre (midsize car in between the Impala and Seville) rd
Buick Roadmaster (wagon/crossover people mover) fd
Chevy Silverado and Suburban rd
Chevy Blazer ( a real 4 wheel drive off road vehicle, taken from what was learned from Hummer, H3 size)
Chevy van (including window van for passengers) rd
GMC Yucon and Denalli (luxury versions of the Silverado and Suburban) rd
Malibu, Impala and Roadmaster would also be sold as a hybrid
rd=rear drive fd=front drive

 

Doesn't adress GM's problems.

Cadillac is fine already.

Nothing but a bunch of name jumbling.

What's left is what GM has already.

GM's problem is bleeding money like there's no tomorrow and it's bureaucracy.

 

So...the vehicles that reach the public are basically the same as what's out there now, except instead of calling a buick, you call it a "GM"? And instead of calling it a GMC, you call it a "GM", and so on?

 

Not to pick on your idea but everyone out there has an opinion and idea of how to "fix" GM/Ford/Chrysler. It seems like maybe because we drive their cars and listen to the media we know more than their own management as to what they need to do -including the Senate Committee.

It's interesting because almost nobody knows how to fix AIG or Citigroup. I guess that's how they got a big bailout check with far less fanfare.

 

Interesting.

I agree with your basic approach (streamlining the brands and products, and getting rid of dumb names), but, as Guy said, this doesn't really address GM's problems. Beyond that, there are some other problems:

I disagree with the move to eliminate the current STS from the line. IMO, Cadillac should have a midsize car. Current STS's styling is somewhat boring; it should be ditched and replaced with something new. The resulting car should be called Seville.

CTS should be called Catera, in couple, hardtop convertible, and sedan form. El Dorado's heritage doesn't match up with that role in my mind.

V-series versions of all Cadillac models should be available, to build/maintain Cadillac's image as true competition for Mercedes/BMW.

I disagree with the use of the following names: Nova, Sunbird, El Camino. These invoke memories of crappy cars from most buyers. Also, I'd prefer to call the midsize Buick a Regal rather than a LeSabre.

I would use the current Enclave to fill the Roadmaster position in your lineup. I would also take the current Saturn Outlook, rebadge it as a Chevy, and call it Caprice. Traverse and Acadia would be eliminated.

I think they need to keep the Tahoe in the lineup, including the hybrid. GMC equivalents (Silverado->Sierra, Tahoe->Yukon, and Suburban->Yukon XL) would be eliminated and higher trim levels would be available on the Chevy models. I'm assuming that you meant implicitly to include the Silverado HD as well -- that definitely needs to stay.

Chevy's small car should be the Cruze, not the Astra. It's on the same platform, but benefits from several newer developments. I agree that it needs a different name, but I don't think Nova is the right one.

Some other things that are missing from your lineup: smaller SUV (Trailblazer), smaller pickup (Colorado).

 

Looks like your plan is just give GM cars a bunch of retro names.

 

I don't agree with that approach at all. The proposed names are of cars who's "ships have already sailed." The Impala name has been beaten into the ground, ressurrected, beaten into the ground, and then propped up with another FWD V8 iteration in the current generation. Other nameplates have suffered the same -- a '72 Malibu and a '97 Malibu just aren't the same idea going down the drag strip.

My proposal is relatively simple.

1) Flatten the organizational structure
2) Renegotiate UAW contracts, or find a way to dump UAW all together
3) Get rid of Buick, Saturn, GMC, Saab, Hummer, Pontiac
4) Re-emerge under the Chevrolet, Cadillac nameplates where: Cadillac retains its upscale branding and unique product line. Chevrolet has three divisions -- Chevrolet Trucks, Chevrolet cars, and Commercial applications.

Maybe Pontiac could be saved, but I don't think it should share designs with the other two. It would have to incorporate maybe some of the new Buick platforms and put a unique spin on them--things like an AWD turbo LNF application with available NAV and leather. Basically, a car that would make Audi/VW buyers and entry level, young BMW buyers eyes twinkle when they drove it.

Chevrolet would still dabble in the affordable, pedestrian market, but continue to offer its muscle car favorite (Camaro) and long time supercar, Corvette. Cadillac will continue to offer cars dripping with luxury and detail with a performance edge (V series) and Pontiac will be a car that caters to the young 25-40 crowd that wants more than an everyday Camcordimabu. Turbo options, AWD options, tech and gidgets--much the same spot where BMW 1-series, higher end VW's, Acuras, low end Audis are currently slaughtering the market.

 

i'd say leave caddy alone. they are fine. Bringing back the "el doh", fleetwood and seville names is bad news. Just reminds people of all the wrong things.

 

If you want to fix GM, step one is get rid of the "job bank". (I heard today that it is being discussed with the UAW.) Under the current contract if a union employee gets laid off, their pension is 95% of their current pay... for life. And here I thought I had a cushy pension plan with my government job.

 

This was just for fun...like I could run the company any better than the knuckleheads that are in there now.
Hey as long as they build our Camaros, right!

 

Herer's my plan, and it's really pretty simple. Throw out all those bums in DC that have been crippling the Big 3 for years with useless mandates and breaks for the transplants. Whose only purpose is to put the big 3 out of business! DC is the big 3's biggest problem IMO.

 

Clearly you are misinformed. Government regulations are only a part of the problem. Remember, the government is also a large buyer of GM products.

And certainly you of all people should understand that our lame-duck prez Bushy has been winking and tossing quarters at big companies for the last 8 years. If they couldn't make it under his regime, that's just one more pointer to the fact that they are failing because of product and investment strategies.

 

Big oil and defense contractros yes. Domestic car companies, he most certainly has not. He's told them to go pound sand several times. There are a lot of regulations in place that have made the business plan of the domestic brands less productive than foreign counterparts with cheaper overhead costs. It's only in these severe recession times does the truly slim margins they work on come to light.