General Motors
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Motor Trend: Buick will Replace Saturn as Opel's Global Partner
Todd Lassa from Motor Trend says that the magazine will report in its January 2009 issue that "Saturn's connection with Opel styling is over. Following the current wave of Saturns, Opel styling will merge with Buick's." Why? The reasons Lassa says make a lot of sense. "First, GM wants to push Opel back upmarket. Buick, which was once a slight step below Cadillac in prestige, has countered Cadillac's edgy Art & Science styling with more rounded, voluptuous sheetmetal... like on the new Opel Insig...
NY Times: GM Had Considered Selling Saturn Earlier this Fall, May Now Buy Out Saturn Retailers
Bill Vlasic from the New York Times reported yesterday that GM is exploring the idea of "a significant shrinking of its North American operations, including shutting more factories and streamlining its sprawling brand lineup, according to people with knowledge of GM's deliberations. One move under discussion, for example, would have GM buy out dealers that exclusively sell Saturns and market the cars through its Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealers instead." GM confirmed the notion that it needs to right-s...
'GM Has Its Product Mojo Back,' Exec Lutz Says
The 99-year-old company is elbowing its way back into the highly competitive auto game with new vehicles such as the Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia crossovers, the Saturn Vue small SUV, Cadillac CTS midsize sedan and the Malibu.
At the New 'Design-Driven' General Motors, Smiles on Wheels
It's too early for General Motors to declare "mission accomplished." The company still has a long way to go in its expensive, product-intensive turnaround. There are obstacles aplenty, including a credit-crunched national economy that could slip into recession and crush new-vehicle sales. And competitors, of course, aren't sitting still while GM forges ahead. But there is a discernible note of confidence in the voices of GM's top executives today. And there are smiles on the faces of the company...
Big 3 Raise Prices Again
As spring arrived, the Big 3 vehicle makers raised their truck prices a sales-weighted average of $171, while their cars climbed $144, according to an Automotive News analysis.
Brand Management Was A Tough Sell At GM
Ron Zarrella arrived in December 1994 on a mission to shake up General Motors' stodgy culture with a dose of brand management. Seven years later, the president of GM North America has resigned, and brand management has left only a modest mark on the company. Brand managers became mid-level executives at GM, with limited clout in marketing and product decisions.
Can Dowdy GM's Young Stylists Create Cool Cars?
Dave Smith heads the Saturn studio at 37 and is excited about trying to revitalize the struggling GM brand.
"Saturn is trying to get back to its roots," said Smith. "You're going to start to see a different type of product coming from Saturn."
Cars Target Youth Market
GM says it plans to introduce seven youth-oriented vehicles in the next two to three years. To lead the effort, GM formed a team called iSYS -- for innovative smart youth strategy. The Pontiac Vibe and the Saturn VUE mini sport-utility vehicle will debut first.
Chevrolet Leads in Web Visits
How many customers are automakers catching in their Net? Chevrolet attracted the most browsers to its site in the first quarter of 2002.
Escalade Scores With Athletes, Rappers
How did Cadillac, which usually attracts 62-year-old white guys, create a truck that almost every black rap artist and rookie professional athlete wants to buy? It appears to be pure luck, and it took Cadillac by surprise.
Firestone to Supply Tires to GM
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reports about 2.5 million tiyres would be supplied annually for use on GM's remodeled Saturn Ion and Chevrolet Malibu.
Flint: Better Late Than Never
For years, GM executives overlooked the explosion in the truck market. Ford caught up and passed GM in truck sales. Now the situation's reversed again — GM is number one in trucks and its competitors.
General Motors: The Road Ahead
Key aspects of the organization as it undergoes a major transformation. The competitive environment is tougher than ever, but the company has the opportunity to maintain its position through improved products, processes, technologies—and managerial positioning and decision-making.
GM Aims to Speed Design Decisions
General Motors has restructured its design and product development team to speed up pre-production decision making. Mark Hogan, most recently president of e-GM, on Thursday was named to GM's newly created role of group vice president of advanced vehicle development.
GM Announces $1.5 Billion For Saturn Expansion
GM plans to bolster its Saturn line of cars by adding two new models and spending $1.5 billion to expand the Saturn factory in Spring Hill, TN. GM also said a future Saturn model would be the first GM product to use a Honda engine, and that all Saturns would get more stylish exteriors.