Autoblog

David S @ Dec 18th 2005 10:59PM

I think GM made the wrong decision a few years back when they axed Oldsmobile over Buick. They both target a similar range of older buyers, but Oldsmobile at least had some reach to the younger crowd with the Alero and Intrigue. However, I think these came too late to save the old brand.

Here's how I picture their current brands.
Low end: Chevrolet, Saturn
Mid Range: Buick, Pontiac (Oldsmobile - dead)
High End: Cadillac, GMC, Hummer, Saab

I don't think they can afford to kill off the Chevy brand name, but they could "reinvent" it in the spirit of Cadillac. Cadillac is doing a better job of moving their target age lower, those in mid-life crisis as apposed to end-of-life crisis. They should sell off Saab, and they would both be better off.

One last idea, create an actual demand for the product. Lose the incentives and actually sell whats on the lots. If this means cutting back production, so be it. The G6 had demand after the whole Oprah thing, but now they're kicking in with the incentives. You don't see many imports or high demand cars such as the Mustang with incentives on them. Then again, what would GM advertise on commercials, their lovely plastic interiors?