Product changes
According to GM, 4 of their 8 nameplates account for 83% of total sales: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. The automaker will concentrate on those four brands in the future.
In the U.S., GM will continue their efforts in combining Pontiac, Buick and GMC under one dealer network, which already exists in Canada. Pontiac's vehicle line-up will be reduced, and will simply complement Buick and GMC's line-ups with specialty or niche models.
GM announced a few months ago that it's interested in selling the Hummer brand, and the same has now been announced for Saab. Saturn, initially GM's import-fighting division, has been performing poorly from the very start and will either be discontinued or sold.
In 2004, General Motors had 63 nameplates in their line-up, and that has been reduced to 48 in 2008. By 2012, GM will trim its vehicle offering to 40 different models. The number of dealerships will also decrease, from 6,450 in the U.S. in 2008 to 4,700 in 2012. In the year 2000, GM had 8,138 dealerships.
In the turnaround plan, GM announced it will launch a small four-passenger vehicle that will use less gas than a smart fortwo. V6 engines will replace V8s, and 4-cylinder engines will replace V6s. Six-speed automatic transmissions will spread across the line-up, covering 90% of sales by 2012. A derivative of the European Opel Insignia will be built and sold in North America.
In addition, the Chevrolet Volt will be launched in 2010, as planned. GM is depending heavily on their new extended-range electric car, having invested over $750 million on it. In total, 22 of the 24 new vehicles that will be introduced in 2009 to 2012 will be cars and crossovers.
photo:General Motors
According to GM, 4 of their 8 nameplates account for 83% of total sales: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. The automaker will concentrate on those four brands in the future.
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In the U.S., GM will continue their efforts in combining Pontiac, Buick and GMC under one dealer network, which already exists in Canada. Pontiac's vehicle line-up will be reduced, and will simply complement Buick and GMC's line-ups with specialty or niche models.
GM announced a few months ago that it's interested in selling the Hummer brand, and the same has now been announced for Saab. Saturn, initially GM's import-fighting division, has been performing poorly from the very start and will either be discontinued or sold.
In 2004, General Motors had 63 nameplates in their line-up, and that has been reduced to 48 in 2008. By 2012, GM will trim its vehicle offering to 40 different models. The number of dealerships will also decrease, from 6,450 in the U.S. in 2008 to 4,700 in 2012. In the year 2000, GM had 8,138 dealerships.
In the turnaround plan, GM announced it will launch a small four-passenger vehicle that will use less gas than a smart fortwo. V6 engines will replace V8s, and 4-cylinder engines will replace V6s. Six-speed automatic transmissions will spread across the line-up, covering 90% of sales by 2012. A derivative of the European Opel Insignia will be built and sold in North America.
In addition, the Chevrolet Volt will be launched in 2010, as planned. GM is depending heavily on their new extended-range electric car, having invested over $750 million on it. In total, 22 of the 24 new vehicles that will be introduced in 2009 to 2012 will be cars and crossovers.
photo:General Motors