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GM vs. Toyota
Part of the Detroit bailout debate has been whether GM, in particular, has too many brands.
Courtesy of another great chart from the New York Times, you can decide for yourself.
About the author
Kai Ryssdal is the host and senior editor of Marketplace, public radio’s program on business and the economy. Follow Kai on Twitter @kairyssdal.
Let's see-
Nissan | Infiniti
Toyota | Lexus
Honda | Acura
It's not that hard to have a standard and luxury brand. Heck, before 2005 Lexus didn't even exist in Japan, and I still don't think Infiniti does. Why? Because their consumers are smart enough to realize "a badge does not a car make." The know an "Infiniti" is a nicely equipped Nissan, a Lexus is a pretty Toyota.
Please explain the difference between a Chevy Tahoe and a GMC Yukon? How bout the Suburban and Yukon XL? What about the Denali models? Oh I get it, it's the luxury version from the budget name with options and prices that rival the Cadillac brand for the same SUV. Clear as mud.
I've never understood the role of Pontiac in GM's lineup. Chevrolet occupies the value nitche, Buick is in the near luxury segment, while Cadillac is in the almost-there luxury catagory; where does Pontiac fit in?
When GM shut-down Oldsmobile, I thought they closed the wrong division. Olds occcupied a postion just below Buick, but with a sportier image. Pontiac's role as the Performace Division ended in the late 1960's and should have been shuttered then.
Let's see, Toyota has the Camry and Solara on the same chassis (saving money)
GM has: Impala, CTS?, Lucerne? possibly sharing common parts. OK, maybe not totally correct, but you get my point. (trying) to save money.
If they can change a headlight here, fender there, and have a new line. More power to them.
The scary part is if we shake up that corporation because they can create innovative products, what about the rest of the larger corporations in America?
You did not show the profit or loss for each vehicle. If a car or truck is losing money, they should stop making it. Detroit has to downsize and only make vehicles that they can sell profitably.
If gas gets down to 99 cents per gallon, they can sell those high margin SUVs again.
In 1994 GM bought SAAB. At that time SAAB was one of the foremost R&D companies developing powerful low emissions engines. Sadly, instead of embracing this progress, GM shelved all of it. Then, in less than ten years, GM was passing off other brands as SAAB. What a sham. Just another case of the rebrand. GMs way of cutting cost. If they sell off SAAB, someone will get the future of car manufacturing if any designers and engineers are left.
