[DeTomaso] NPC Re: Pontiac to shutdown

[Asa Jay Laughton]

Wondering what all falls under the GM brand name?  How much will 
shutting down Pontiac really accomplish?

This list doesn't necessarily count all versions or sub-models of GM 
products available, but it's an impressive list:
84  models just in this list, and this doesn't count their overseas 
operations in Australia, Britain or the orient.  Many of these simply 
have different branding on the same basic design, but that list would be 
limited.  And it seems to me they've all become so expensive that there 
really isn't a big difference between buying a Cadillac and a Chevy 
anymore.  I imagine you still pay a little more, but even many of the 
bottom of the line cars are as much as I paid for my first house.

84 models (not counting sub-models).  I wonder how many of each they 
make in a year (I'm not going to look that up), average it across all 
models.  How many new drivers are introduced each year?  How many 
drivers retire (too old or die (old or young)) each year?  How many 
older cars are retired each year (scrapped or otherwise unusable)?  Does 
the production of just this one manufacturer supply enough to cover all 
those conditions?  Oh yea... probably so, but I don't know for certain.  
Now multiple this by:  Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan.......  I 
think you get the idea.

To me, rail against unions as I might in some circles... this smacks of 
corporate and shareholder greed more than anything else.... too many 
models, too much diversity, too much dilution of product lines, and 
over-saturating the market.  I don't know how to fix it, but I tell you 
what I think..... if GM ends up in Bankruptcy, I see a few gems in here 
that a third party could probably pick up, and if trimmed right and 
managed right... could become a strong brand on it's own.  Same story 
for Chrysler.  What I mean by trimming, is removing some models from a 
lineup, not nuking the entire brand.

Here is the list:

Buick (probably the most conservative, but two of the three are nearly 
identical, maybe trim the whole brand?)
    Enclave
    LaCrosse
    Lucerne
   
Cadillac (What the heck happened here?  10 models?  Get a freakin' clue)
    CTS
    STS
    DTS
    XLR Roadster
    V-Series
    SRX Crossover
    Escalade
    Hybrid
    ESV
    EXT
Chevrolet
    CARS (not too bad, could use a trim though)
        Aveo
        Cobalt
        Corvette
        HHR
        Impala
        Malibu
    TRUCKS (how many trucks to you need?  ONE, with different options)
        Avalanche
        Colorado
        Silverado
    SUV/CROSSOVERS (Is it a truck, an SVU or a car?  Nobody seems to 
know, could use some major trimming)
        Avalanche (again?)
        Equinox
        HHR (Again?)
        Suburban
        Tahoe
        TrailBlazer
        Traverse
    VANS
        Express
    UPCOMING (Assuming they don't go bankrupt)
        Camaro
        Cruze
        Spark
        Orlando Concept
        VOLT
    COMMERCIAL RIGS
        Light Duty
        Medium Duty
        Fleet
GMC (Take a Chevrolet, put a different badge on it, make a few design 
changes and BAM, it's like a company puking up vehicles)
    Acadia
    Canyon
    Sierra Hybrid
    Yukon Hybrid
    Sierra 1500
    Yukon
    Envoy Denali
    Envoy
    Yukon XL
    Savana Cargo (van)
    Sierra Denali
    Yukon Denali
    Yukon XL Denali
    Savana Passenger (van)
    Sierra 2500HD
    Sierra 3500HD
Hummer (Diluted, needs trimming, FOCUS PEOPLE, FOCUS)
    H2
    H2 SUT
    H3 Alpha
    H3x
    H3T (truck)
    H3
Oldsmobile (probably a decent line up... killed in 2004)
    Last ones built in 2004
    Intrigue
    Aurora
    Bravada
    Silhouette
Pontiac (Rest in pieces, another example of diluting your own brand, 
should have been trimmed)
    G8
    G5
    G3
    G6 Sedan
    G6 Coupe
    G6 Convertible
    Soltice
    Torrent
    Vibe
Saab (confusing really, should be trimmed)
    9-7 Sport Sedan
    9-3 Convertible
    9-3 Sportcombi
    9-5 Sedan
    9-5 Sportcombi
    9-7X SUV
Saturn (Had a good start, still a decent small lineup, possible best 
chance at individual survival)
    Astra
    Aura
    Outlook
    Sky
    Vue
    Hybrid



I usually use Jeep as my favorite example of Brand dilution:
    Commander  (now this is just dumb, trim it and go buy a freakin' 
Suburban)
    Compass  (Trim it, it's dumb too)
    Grand Cherokee (Bread and Butter)
    Liberty (replaced the regular Cherokee, why?)
    Patriot (Supposed to make you feel good because it's named Patriot?  
Give me a break... trim it)
    Wrangler (Bread and Butter)
    Wrangler Unlimited (four door hard top, WTF, buy a Wrangler OR a 
Liberty (I'd say regular Cherokee but they don't have that in the lineup 
anymore) trim it)

    So basically, to me, Jeep should have four vehicles in their lineup;
    - Grand Cherokee
    - Liberty (should be the regular Cherokee)
    - Wrangler
    - Pickup (not listed, not seen in the wild for some time, but makes 
decent sense, why is it not there anymore?)

2-door
4-door
Station wagon
Truck
Jeep
Throw a convertible in and that's all you need.  What the heck happened?

... and then there are guys like me who don't even buy new cars but just 
rant about them.  Geeeez shut up already...

okay, shuttin' up.
Asa Jay

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired

& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA

1971 Mach I Mustang  [ASA JAY]
1973 Pantera L 5533  [ASASCAT]
    
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