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GM the next Apple?

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Khatir Soltani
GM seems to be recovering from 2009’s financial foibles, having recently supplanted Toyota as the world’s number one automaker. We can now wonder at what GM’s vision is for the future. Judging by what global marketing director Joel Ewanick said at the annual investors meeting, GM is looking to become nothing less than the Apple of the auto industry.

Such a source of inspiration should translate into elegant, cutting-edge products, a formula that has served Apple so well.

Ewanick said it’s time to “clearly differentiate” GM from manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai (his old employer) by “stepping out and addressing consumers and their needs in a way that’s never been done before.”

Though vague and questioned by several industry observers at the moment, the goal has been described as “interesting” by marketing and social media expert Kathi Kruse.

She believes GM could succeed by creating “visually stimulating” vehicles that give consumers the same great feeling they get when buying an Apple product. The thing is, she’s never seen anything like that roll off GM’s assembly lines.

We’ll have to wait and see if Ewanick’s lofty words will be reflected in future Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC products, and if so, when.


Source: Automotive News

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada