2007 GM SUVs off to strong start
Early reports indicate that the new redesigned
GM SUVs are off to a good start.
There has been a lot of criticism in the automotive press as to whether GM should have spent so much time and money in a market segment that's on the decline. My personal feeling is yes, they did the right thing, as there will always be a market for these types of vehicles. The market for "traditional" SUVs will certainly be smaller, and GM knows this—but it won't disappear...
My only criticism with the new GM SUVs is with some of the features, or lack-there-of, such as fold-into-the-floor seat and IRS.
The other thing that is oft missing when discussing GM full-size SUVs, is that these vehicles—be it good or bad—are very much a part of GM's long and storied history. Heck, the Suburban has been around since 1935! I think it would be about the biggest mistake GM could possibly make, if they were to abandon this market segment. Once you toss out "history," it's very hard to get it back. There's a huge amount of corporate GM image equity invested in those vehicles, and that would evaporate if these vehicles were to disappear.
I guess the real test will be to see whether this demand will sustain itself, and we won't know that for some time to come.
- Permalink | Comments (3)
- Posted by: Bob Holland February 7, 2006, 8:56 AM
- Categories: Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, General Motors, SUVs, Trends
They have to sustain sales. Right now they're getting all the folks that want whatever is new. It's too soon to judge.
It's not getting into the SUV market that hurt GM, it's assuming that they should stake their market share on the continuing popularity of large SUVs.
The put all their eggs in that basket, that was a big mistake.
GM now has the smooth looks to match the smooth driveline it has always had. They must not waver to their critics, most of which are not objective and have other motives such as their outright hatred of anything and everything American. I had a Nissan SUV as a loaner and it was course and loud compared to my GM SUV. GM's problem is that they wait to long to make changes and their products grow long in the tooth. That seems to be changing for the better with all the new quality products that they are now manufacturing. They need to continue with their current management team that seems to get it.