GM has rarely had stand out products. But that is something that can actually be fixed. Not cheaply, but it can be fixed.

The bigger issue is the fact that the unions have done just as much damage to the company as poor design, goofy engineering and inept management. IMO they demand too much for too little in return. Yet everytime a union contract has come up for renewal--and this is not limited to GM--management has ultimately taken a BOHICA approach (Bend Over, Here It Comes Again) and let the union win through intimidation.

Now they are seeing the problems and looking for a way out. I see them cutting a division, maybe selling off some or all of GMAC and doing some consolidation of products--but it will take 5 years. They can't kill a brand overnight (Olds took 3-4 yrs). But I also see them doing what other big corps have done and reducing retiree benefits. It is probably cheaper in the long run to spend money on lawyers to fight that battle and keep the company alive than to pay ridiculous bennies to retired workers who made a career out of doing mediocre work.

On the other hand, they can just go ask the federal government for a handout. Hell, it worked for Lee Iacocca and Chrysler. Or declare bankruptcy, which works for the airlines.

posted by 24.52.16...

• GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, dmz789, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 13:28:49
  • Why not manufacture everything in China?, Draken, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:51:02
    • Good question., dmz789, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 18:31:14
    • Re: Why not manufacture everything in China?, compaqted, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:30:20
      • Re: Why not manufacture everything in China?, Draken, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:18:21
  • need to be lean and mean, compaqted, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:11:35
    • sounds great, TML , Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:13:58
    • Now now... I'd agree with that, but fold Saab?, NateinAA, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:31:58
  • To a certain extent they get what they deserve, Noel, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:26:32 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Anti-union, eh?......, Blobakazeke, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 08:21:05
      • Re: Anti-union? Absolutely!, Noel, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:53:19
        • Anti-unionism and the corporate state..., Blobakazeke, Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:34:57
          • Re: Anti-unionism and the corporate state..., 2 9-5's, Fri, 25 Mar 2005 10:28:16
            • There are some times when you have no other option, RS , Fri, 25 Mar 2005 11:34:45
        • Re: Anti-union? Absolutely!, 2 9-5's, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:20:13
      • Zeke isn't totally off-base here, it is true that the, Drew in Houston, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:50:47
      • Re: Anti-union, eh?......, 2 9-5's, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 08:50:13
        • I think I should've been a diplomat ..., Urby, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:11:10
      • Re: Anti-union, eh?......, Urby, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 08:48:04
        • On Teachers..(and more)..>>>, PGAero , Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:31:32
  • Killing brands is just plain stupid IMHO....more, Mark, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 03:49:16
  • Things to consider REALLY LONG, Caarma , Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:17:25
    • Re: Things to consider REALLY LONG, mac, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:42:08
  • Buick?, Draken, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 21:58:26
  • I'd kill off more than two . . ., miked, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 21:50:12
    • it's a good point, Scott Paterson , Wed, 23 Mar 2005 23:54:42
  • Re: GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, Drew in Houston, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 21:23:06
    • Re: GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, dmz789, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:27:16
      • Re: GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, Drew in Houston, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 04:49:42
  • Re: GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, 2 9-5's, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:27:45
    • A Caddy with 120K miles on it is, Noel, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:11:41
      • agreed - caddy is safe too, Scott Paterson , Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:24:52
    • Kill the Impaler, nypb, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:28:51
      • Re: Kill the Impaler, Stan, Sat, 26 Mar 2005 16:27:27
  • Re: GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, Erik W, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 17:28:06
    • easy way to save money, Brian_in_MA, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 17:39:16
  • Buick is very strong in Red China, Sam, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:29:11
    • Chinese Buicks Different than American Ones?, Draken, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:06:46
      • Even the Chinese get better GMs then we do, Mark, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 23:29:22
  • Re: GM Says It May Kill Off One of Its Brands, dboone, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:58:03
  • No mention of Saab, but it's always possible. Still...., Noel, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:09:09
    • I like your ideas, but... (very long), MO, Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:13:08
  • If they kill Pontiac, Rafe, Wed, 23 Mar 2005 13:44:21

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