FUTURE_OF_GM

Wrong... Toyota got where it is today by building an IMAGE of reliability. Toyota could sell a Chinese car in america and STILL get people to pay a premium just because of the name. It's not about the product, it's about the name and the image associated with the name. And that's EXACTLY why GM should not emulate Toyota. GM's division will NEVER be sold on names like Toyota is. So GM must focus on PRODUCT and EMOTIONAL attachment in order to beat Toyota. GM must offer what Toyota doesn't, they must one-up Toyota by offering quality vehicles that the consumer aspires to own based on design and emotional appeal. If you give the average consumer the names Chevrolet and Toyota on a piece of paper and ask them what they'll buy, most will probably go with Toyota. If you sit a Malibu beside a Camry in a room and ask them the same question, I'm willing to bet you'll get a much more varied response and much more hesitation on the part of the Toyota fans. that's because the Malibu does exactly what I said GM should do. Offer the same quality, with a lot more personality and appeal. If GM waters down it's product line up, they don't have a chance in hell because the default choice for consumers is Toyota. Not affordable. Not affordable and in serious jeopardy of either not existing or REALLY not being affordable. Short run, and then ruined when it moves to Alpha. Don't forget about all of those Mini sales... Those people are SURELY ignorant redneck gear heads like us, right?

It's perfect!

Chrysler was doomed/is doomed a long time ago. they'll never be the automaker that they once were and if they ever are they'll be sold. Ford was, for all intents and purposes, destroyed last year and continues to bleed. GM is the only american manufacturer left with the presence and might to really compete with the asians. And as I've said before, the media tirade won't stop until that is no longer the case. Give it another year or so and GM will be in ruins as well and the drumbeat will stop. that's why everyone makes such a fuss about Toyota surpassing GM in global sales, because in media speak that's a big "Job well done!" speech. I agree 100%. Just like all of the bad times, GM is doing nothing to reverse the perception. They just sit there and take it. I agree.

Such is life... I live in the southern U.S. and our manufacturing industry DIED when NAFTA was signed. If states "south of the border" are already willing to pay more for GM to produce there, then instilling a law such as this will only give GM added incentive to abandon Canada altogether IMO. Unfortunately, such is life as well... Toyota and Honda have enjoyed a free ride here for years, yet we can't even touch their market. now it's Hyundai/Kias turn. The great west... As always, enslaved for the benefit of the far east.

"poster brand for insensitive consumption" Give me a f*cking break... Talk about stereotyping. Hummer is also for people who NEED the vehicles. I don't think GM should sell, but as I touched on in my recent post, Hummer does not fit in with the "new GM"

Europe is not america. Different geography, different mentality. My standard of living is decreasing because of OTHER countries. Because people in India can't use birth control, I now have to eat less. Because people in China can't pay attention to the environment, I have to use less resources/drive a $h!ty car. (China builds a NEW dirty coal power plant EVERY 6 DAYS! How's that for global warming?) Because people in Mexico work cheaper, I no longer have a good paying job. I, as an american (as the number 1 country in the world) am seeing a decreased standard of living because of other countries. I never wanted to be a part of the global two tier society (and neither did MOST people here) because it does not benefit me. And ultimately, like it or not, as human beings all EVERYONE ultimately exists for is BETTERING themselves. We were FORCED into this global society by capitalists controlling our economy and other countries striving for OUR lifestyle (which they have now stolen) And sure, it isn't fair. But, nothing is fair in life and america fought it's way to being the best. Do you KNOW anything about our government? LOL. Gas has increased 200% in the last 4 years and you think we have 20 years to build a mass transit system? There are certain things that we cannot get around here, such as geography. Why should I? Why should I care anything about people that I don't know, have never seen and people that I already hate for stealing my lifestyle? Of course, I see your point. But I'm playing devils advocate because this is how a lot of americans feel. And I'll admit, that while my feelings aren't as severe as I make them sound, I do feel that way.

And... Why exactly couldn't they be V8 hybrids? See, all of the doomsday people have this idea that we can't innovate and that things HAVE to be a certain way with NO OTHER OPTIONS. To me, that's a defeatist attitude.

I agree... The option should be there. But alas, I'm afraid the FUN of the car enthusiast is over thanks to everyone being bored and worrying about what everyone else does/purchases/consumes. Maybe I'll buy a suburban and drive it everyday... That way I could maximize my use of resources and my production of CO2... It's BRILLIANT!

I had a 1990 Lumina... 250,000 miles and everything still worked, still ran EXCELLENT and got some of the best gas mileage I've ever seen. Even rode well. There are so many GM midsize cars STILL on the road despite their less-than-pampered existence, yet these cars have a terrible rep. It's all about psychology and the NEED to feel wanted/accepted. It is no longer accepted in our pop culture to drive a gass guzzler or a domestic. And due to deceit by the media and ignorance by the consumer, those two terms OFTEN mean the same thing. It's like our mindset hasn't progressed any since the 70s. /// Oh, wait, this country HASN'T progressed any since the 70s. (Unless you count the paper dragons that we built and that our dear friend Osama pointed out)

Naturally... Global warming and our 'need to stop killing the planet' are MUCH more important than the future of a few thousand people that nobody knows. I agree... I say, apply the Volt technology to the Silverado and see if people "really want" fullsize trucks. But then, you'd have some hippie/greenie coming out of the trees policing you purchasing decisions and whining about some other reason why we "shouldn't drive such horrible large vehicles" Probably something akin to GLOBAL CROWDING And FWIW, I'm getting so tired of the term "gas guzzler" being so LIBERALLY used (pun intended) It's a sad day when people are saying that a Ford Edge or a Chevrolet Impala are gas guzzlers.

Because that's what people have been conditioned to think. Yessir... It is this HOMOGENY that scares the $h! out of me as a car guy. With the rise of Japan Inc and Detroits immitation of their emotionless designs, CAFE, rise in fuel, electric cars, increasingly scarce OPTIONs/CHOICE for different powertrains and trnasmissions, the automotive world will not even be worth batting an eye lash at in under 15 years IMO. Agree 100% It's almost a cultural problem as opposed to a corporate or product problem. And that's why I've ALWAYS asserted that GM needs to hire TEAMS of social psychologists. GM needs to assess the CULTURE in this country to figure out how to sell to these people. Some people get it... It's all a mind f*ck. The imports have a loyal legion of anti-domestic followers (for societal and corporate reasons) and those followers have been specifically TARGETED as a clientele because they are typically the HIGHER CLASS, MORE SUCCESSFUL, LOUDEST people. Once japan Inc got all of these people in their camp, the blue collar "american people" (who are seeing drastically reduced livlihoods anyway, thanks to the same people) that GM and Detroit catered to don't matter anymore because 1) They have no money 2) They're widely accepted to be "lesser" than the 'pop culture' crowd and thus can be openly ridiculed for their decisions and 3) because of that will CONFORM to what they're told to do. Pop culture is now controlled by the coasts and all of the people on the coasts have been anti-Detroit, anti-'blue collar hick' for years. Therefore, pop culture dictates to these 'lesser' people that driving a domestic is wrong and they start to believe it since they know (subconsciously) that 'they're lesser people'. So you have 3 types of buyers in the market. 1) Mr 'pop culture' college educated import driver that has been specifically targeted and marketed to (By Japan Inc.) so that he will become and ambassador of the import brand. he would NEVER be caught dead in a 'rustbelt' car and as a result will inform all of his friends and everyone that he can get access to that they should not buy domestic. Unfortunately, these people often control the press, pop culture, media and corporate. 2) The 'lesser - true american' traditional buyer. these are the honest, simple people that make up the heartland and rural areas. They bought domestic either because they've never had a bad experience and are loyal or they have the mindset to support the country. One example: This buyer is like your grandmother... Probably not college educated, traditionally drove domestics. But then, the kids come in (Boomers/Gen X) and say "You should buy a Toyota because it's more reliable and you're too old to have an unreliable domestic" Likely, because of the kids increased status and "education" the grandmother will give in because she feels 'lesser' Example two: Your parent is a small town boomer that has always bought american. Yet gas prices are scaring her and she wants a smaller car. She keeps hearing on the media that Detroit sucks at life for everything and even killed a baby last night. Yet Toyota is the wave of the future with oh-so-excellent-amazing products. Your mother 'gives in' to the rhetoric and doesn't even consider domestic small cars because she was 'told not to'. 3) Enthusiasts/Traditional buyers. That's us. We buy GM, fight for GM, get pissed off at GM, get pissed off when someone talks $h! about GM, etc. Buyers 1 & 2 are leaving GM in droves... Buyer 1 is a lost cause. GM would be better off to passionately engage his children to 1) stop the tide/family tradition of hating domestics and 2) Stop this anti-domestic void in the market from growing. To do this GM needs to hit the kids when they're starting the teenage years. When they feel they need to distance themselves from mom and dad and their habits, GM needs to focus it's marketing directly on them. MAKE the decision to buy domestic an emotional way to break away from the parents. Japan Inc. did this VERY well with Generation X. Boomer dad is tweaking on his new Corvette in the garage while son Steve is out driving his Nissan Z. Buyer 2 is abandoning GM at an alarming rate because pop culture is telling them to. This will be the real challenge. GM must change the image of the company in pop culture. how do you do that? 1) By introducing something absolutely revolutionary (THINK: Volt) 2) By a PR blitz the likes of nothing ever seen before, which probably still wouldn't erase ALL bad memories. 3) You put out good product and 'ride out the storm' while HOPING the media gives you a break. GM is using strategies 2 and 3. 3 seemed to be the best strategy and it seemd to be working. But time was ALWAYS a crucial factor and GM didn't have time 2 years ago and certainly doesn't have time now. So all they have left is 2. If the Volt fails in ANY way, I think GM will die a very fast and horrible death. So, as always, it looks like the company has a HALF WAY decent plan that hits the "over all" mark. However, as always, it isn't a complete plan. As GM focuses on bringing out the Volt, they will prep the rest of the company for it's new 'environmental' image. this will capture buyer #2 if it is successful, which is A MAJORITY of the market. But at the same time, what will happen to buyer #3? Are we, the enthusiasts willing to accept the 'new GM'? Probably 50% of us are at best. And, with CAFE and rising prices/less jobs how much of the buyer 2 base will even be able to afford a new car, much less the coveted Volt?

*Fixed.

According to a friend of mine, the supreme court is supposed to rule in October on whether the 2nd amendment applies to the public or ONLY military personnel. True? I dunno... But it sure as hell makes me mad.

because he is part of the stupidity. Remember; he is not loyal to GMNA, but rather GME

More doom and gloom propaganda.... What most of these pieces fail to take into account is that things will change. Innovation will come along and replace oil, economies will collapse and re-adjust demand, etc. If we EVER get to $250-300/barrel, this planet will die. There will be such desperation that it will be untold war and killing. It's as simple as that, we will NOT sustain those prices. Do these analysts honestly think that the price of oil will not have an affect on demand? Do they honestly think that other countries aren't suffering along with our economic problems. It's very sad that oil companies are allowed to make profits 'hand over fist' at the expense of our economy and my standard of living.

...And GM isn't the only car company in town either. ...And I'd hate to see Chris stop giving you guys FREE positive publicity in a time where you apparently need all of the help you can get.

Awesome... We'll have an Aura that is the exact same as the new Lacrosse. It's just like the 90s all over again! I can't wait to see how low GM sales sink this time!

Innovating another fuel instead of forfeiting freedoms is arrogance. And, FWIW I don't have grandchildren, never will and don't really care about anyone else's. (Yep, I am arrogant)

Obviously, you don't live here if you think that $6-7/gallon won't DEVASTATE (With a capital D) our economy. And why should I have to change for the sake of other countries? Anything that I can compare the size of a Coke bottle to is not a large engine. Which would take YEARS and BILLIONS that we won't have if gas continues to go up. I have a truck, V8 and all. It certainly isn't "a waste" most of the time when I'm hauling farm equipment, or a camper, or classic cars, or livestock. Limiting freedom. I know, I know, it is my duty as a member of this "global economy" to exist merely by working and sleeping alone. (Much sarcasm implied) That's fine if you live in the city, which a WHOLE LOT of americans don't. Not to mention, with my size, carpooling isn't always an option. that doesn't even take into consideration differing schedules and the like. But living in the mountains where it snows a lot might. www.alreadyhappening.com Supply and demand have been steady this summer. Yet speculation on Wall Street and the drop in value of our currency has driven prices up by $1/gallon alone. America has enough oil in North/South Dakota alone to become energy dependent for 20-40 years. Sure, it's going to be tight. But oil companies are finding new sources every day. Now if they'd just stop screwing us over and actually do something about the 'new finds' we might not have as much of a problem.

Words to live by.

Nah... Europeans are too ignoarant to ever understand good business sense such as this.

I think it's the BRX... J/K

Why is that? I hate to be mean, but the world is far too competitive for us to congratulate our enemies for putting us out of jobs.

LOL.. As always, the voice of wisdom. But hey, I'm sure we as americans can take pride in our $22K per year service positions.

I mean... Why buy a more expensive Toyota in uncertain times?