Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Saturn
GM's new ad campaigns focus on small cars, SUVs
With oil hitting $100 per barrel and customers clamoring for more fuel-efficient vehicles, GM is dropping coin to showcase its smaller transportation. Now is a good time for the General to tout its lighter fare, as the Detroit automaker has some real winners in its stable. The new Chevy Malibu and Cadillac CTS have received critical praise from the automotive press, and early sales receipts show that both vehicles are a hit with the public as well. In fact, GM is looking to increase Malibu production in a soft market due to brisk demand at Chevy dealers around the country. Saturn will also receive ad dollars, as newer products like the Vue could use a boost, and the hot new Astra will benefit from a coming out party. GM is also concentrating more of its cash on web advertising, and it will also pony up ad dollars to tout Chevrolet as its environmentally friendly brand. While automotive enthusiasts know GM has come up with a string of solid vehicles, the general public may not be as informed. Nothing spreads the word quite like money.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pete 10:07AM (1/03/2008)
YAY!
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MemphisNET 10:07AM (1/03/2008)
""While automotive enthusiasts know GM has come up with a string of solid vehicles, the general public may not be as informed.""
Unfortunately the fanboy will still be biased.
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meshies 10:21AM (1/03/2008)
preach.
JIM MBONGO 10:08AM (1/03/2008)
Good move GM !
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Bananas 10:21AM (1/03/2008)
That new Malibu and cts are HOT!!!! Way to go GM!
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Avinash machado 10:32AM (1/03/2008)
What about the even smaller cars like the Aveo and Cobalt?
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Polly Prissy Pants 7:19PM (1/03/2008)
Exactly. I saw this title and thought "What small cars? GM makes a good small car?" Then I saw they were talking about the CTS and the Malibu, which while both are outstanding vehicles, neither of which are small cars. In my opinion this is the single largest hole in GM's entire line-up - No truly competitive small car. I hope they get cracking on that because as higher MPG standards approach that segment is just going to get hotter and hotter.
the law 10:41AM (1/03/2008)
where is the corsa,beat, cobalt, 9-1, trax, groove
these are the small vehicles that are needed.gm's smallest car is still too big 2.4L in these Gm's only give 20+ MPG.
Give us 2.0 or smaller with 32+ MPG.for sporty models add turbos.big engines died with higher gas prices.Big three has caught up yet.I would also love to see corsa sized 4x4 or AWD options.
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Travis 10:59AM (1/03/2008)
Wait, car manufacturers are going to be advertising SUVs in a desperate attempt to prop up a market that's in a free-fall due to higher gas prices and waning consumer demand?? Say it ain't so... The Cobalt commercials that coincided with its release were good, and would've persuaded me to look into it if I were shopping for a new car. Since then I've seen SUVs, SUVs, more SUVs, etc. And now it's going to be focusing on mid-size cars, and... SUVs. yay. The Astra is about the only thing I'd be looking at right now, and it's either 300lbs too heavy, or 30hp to weak. Couldn't they have at least dropped the 2.0 ecotech in it??
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C. McFeeny 11:01AM (1/03/2008)
Did someone say diesel? Can I get this with a diesel? Why not diesel? Maybe we should sell this with a diesel? I'll have cash in had if I can get this with a diesel! Chevy Malibu Diesel? Diesel. Diesel. Diesel. Diesel. Diesel.
Just saving you folks some trouble.
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Hans 12:11PM (1/03/2008)
No one needs diesel at this point, especially GM. Effort needs to be centered on improving gas mileage from conventional gasoline engines. Not tyring to place dirty diesel in as many American cars as possible. Diesel lovers should take a trip to Europe.
DarkKnight67 12:57PM (1/03/2008)
The most important thing at this point is to make sure the public is aware that this is no longer the GM of the past decade. The product being delivered is of such high quality and reception that it can't speak solely for itself ... they need word of mouth to go along with new ads.
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BILL 1:31PM (1/03/2008)
I do not consider any of the vehicles being mentioned to be light. When we are talking about 2,000 to 2,500 pounds we are talking light. 3,000 pounds and up does not represent light unless we are doing a comparison with a 6,000 pound SUV.
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msm 3:35PM (1/03/2008)
No other manufacturer has more cars in their stable then GM that get 6.5 l/100 km's or better.......nobody
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