Buick planning to carefully control supplies of LaCrosse and other models
2010 Buick LaCrosse - Click above for high-res image gallery
Now that the new General Motors has been born out of the ashes of what's now Motors Liquidation Corp., management wants to avoid some of its past mistakes. One of those was letting inventory get out of control, requiring huge incentives to move the metal. That necessary evil was needed generate enough revenue to pay the bills every month, something that became impossible to do over the past year. This time around, GM plans to proactively limit production to prevent oversupply.
Traditionally, the goal has been to have a 60-day supply of a car on dealer lots. This level provides a good balance between minimal stock and having enough vehicles to allow customers to find the one they want and make a quick sale. During the launch drive of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse last week, Buick-GMC VP Susan Docherty explained that her plan is to have no more than 75 to 90 days of total supply of any model, and this particular statement has generated some confusion. Bloomberg reports this as 75 to 90 days of dealer inventory, an undesirably high figure.
In fact, after Docherty first stated that number, Motor Trend's Todd Lassa immediately asked her for further clarification. Docherty then explained to a group of journalists, including this blogger, that the 75-to-90-day supply number refers to total supply, including cars on dealer lots plus cars in transit and cars at the factory awaiting shipment. Thus, the actual corresponding dealer inventory number is really 45 to 60 days. Industry publications such as Automotive News typically report only the smaller dealer inventory numbers, not the total supply figure Docherty referred to in her media presentation.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Buick LaCrosse
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Sources: Bloomberg, Buick]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SNIFFDAR 10:05AM (7/19/2009)
Ok, the base version shown above looks a little angry and appliance-like. I hope the best for this new LaCrosse...
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jpm100 10:23AM (7/19/2009)
I don't know if its the marketing/PR forces at GM or whatever, but GM cars don't get the glamor shot treatment others seem to have.
AMcA 4:48PM (7/19/2009)
Yeah, the glamour shots of this car used in advertising, where they play up the deep modeling of the side panels, are awesome.
But these amateur shots aren't doing them any favors.
Jei 10:46PM (7/19/2009)
I was thinking the same thing. Toyota has the Venza in some slick city-bright lights setting and GM has pics of the LaCrosse in front of corn, wheat, or some overgrown foreclosed property?
SNIFFDAR 11:35PM (7/19/2009)
Oh heck, I'm not even complaining about the cornfields. It's that the fact that the above car for the story looks so... ...de-contented. The fog lights are missing on the base model and it makes it look as if something is missing. Invariably, you sort of know that these are the ones that we will see more often on the road. And that's not a good thing. Remember the 4 door Regal/Century models? The Regals looked good, while the Centurys looked... ...well, stripped. I would hate for this to be the case with this new comeback car for Buick.
sabyrne 1:05PM (7/20/2009)
I think that's canary reed grass in the background... its invasive or something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_canary_grass
sk 10:31AM (7/19/2009)
These shots are made by Autoblog at the last test drive:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/first-drive-2010-buick-lacrosse-looks-to-breathe-life-into-old/
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JDM Life 11:23AM (7/19/2009)
Man this car is ugly and huge. But its still the best i've seen from Buick anyway.
Old people are going to love this thats for sure.
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Taglane 6:49PM (7/19/2009)
Seriously, don't even talk about ugly with Honda still around.
Taglane 6:52PM (7/19/2009)
The average Lexus buy is older than the Average Buick buyer, btw....
so yeah.
Fyrewerx 11:27AM (7/19/2009)
That "75 - 90" isn't referring to number of days' supply. It refers to the typical age of Buick buyers.
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alex 3:31PM (7/19/2009)
Hardy har har har! what an original joke! how on earth did you come up with that one?
Let me guess.... when hanging out with friends, you're always dropping witty, original lines like "Git 'er done!" and after Austin Powers came out, you were the guy who said "Do I make you horny baby" every chance you got.
Don't care if the "joke" is true... it stops being funny when everyone posts the same damn joke every time there's a Buick article
Fyrewerx 3:46PM (7/19/2009)
I post it every time there's a Buick article. I'm 62 years old, and wouldn't be caught dead in a Buick (favorite car of the Chinese).
I firmly believe GM should drop Buick along with GMC. If they want to be successful, they need to get with the business model of one low end brand (Chevy), and one high end brand (Caddy). And, they sure don't need two truck brands.
alex 4:08PM (7/19/2009)
you're not funny, you're not clever and you're not pointing out something that people didn't already know. so why post it over and over and over?
PS - You wouldn't be caught dead in a Buick? Who freaking cares? Some of us care more about the car than the badge on the car. And some of us are also secure enough with ourselves to not be bothered if people see us in a crappy/lame car.
I hope that next time you leave starbucks, you hit a pothole which causes you to spill your mocha latte caramel frapaccino all over your Polo shirt (and it's probably the type with the 10" tall embroidered Polo logo). The icing on the cake would be if some of it splashed onto your Bluetooth headset and ruined it. Now go lay out by the pool so that the next time you look in the mirror you can compliment yourself on how tan you are.
PS - your wife is sleeping with the pool boy. just thought you should know.
Fyrewerx 4:13PM (7/19/2009)
Alex, you are so full of your pompous self. You must have woke up on the wrong side of the gutter this morning. Why don't you go for a ride in your Buick, and chill out.
ufgrat 4:21PM (7/19/2009)
People who believe GM should dump Buick are just showing their total ignorance of the global car market. Buick is outperforming last year's sales by a significant margin, in China.
Think of it this way... for every Buick sold in Asia, our trade deficit shrinks.
Fortunately for GM, they aren't nearly as ignorant as you are.
Fyrewerx 4:41PM (7/19/2009)
As I said, favorite car of the Chinese. I see no reason why GM should NOT continue to sell Buicks in China. Just like Opel is a fine global car, the Chinese built versions of the Daiwoo and Holden, branded as Buicks, are perfect for the Asian market.
Please forgive my ignorance. Alex made me that way.
Reno20k 11:28AM (7/19/2009)
As the boys on top gear would say "It's just some car". Nothing special, just some car. Considering the competitors, they've got to make something a little more interesting to draw new buyers.
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LoneWolf 11:32AM (7/19/2009)
..just as the BMW -3 series. And it sells well ;)
farmer0904 11:50AM (7/19/2009)
Well in all honesty, NGM will not move this car without at least a 1000 to 1500 dollar rebate in this economy, buyers are looking for bargains, not a low supply. Plus most buyers that New GM hopes will buy this car are not gong to leave their Toyota's, BMW's , Honda's, Hyundai's , Nissan's and such for a GM car at least with out a rebate. GM has sing the no rebate song before and once they see no body will buy this , the rebates will fly in the face of NGM words ;) Sorry NEW GENERAL MOTORS , but your thinking is still old ! buyers will go for the cars with rebates, heck even Toyota is having to use rebates to sell their cars, CRAZY NGM LOL
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