Comments on: JAJ on Saab – pt 2

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:37:30 +0000

I actually kinda like the idea of splitting Saturn and Pontiac off of GM along with Saab, but GM would have to be intelligent about it. What would make sense to me, especially if GM is to get bailed out by the fed who understandably wouldn’t want any bailout money going overseas, would be to split GM into two different companies. You’d end up with GM North America, and Opel motors.

GM’s ailing North American division is the most in need of a bailout, but it’s also pretty clear that it needs a major restructuring in order to stay solvent in the long-term future, there are just too many overlapping product lines. It’s not that any of GM’s North American brands are particularly bad, there’s just alot of overlap. Splitting Opel off into a separate company would allow GM NA to divest itself from some of those brands without having to pull off expensive Oldsmobile-style shutdowns.

If I were to split off any American brands to Opel, Saturn and Pontiac would be my first two choices because their lineups would work the best with Opel’s (and Holden’s since ideally Holden would be split off with Opel). Saturn would become a US sales outlet for Opel products, possibly using Mexican manufacturing to keep costs down and avoid overpriced fiascos like the Saturn Astra. Pontiac meanwhile would be sold alongside Saturn as the new, true “excitement division”. Instead of poor selling red-line sport editions of Saturns, the performance models would be sold as Pontiacs, along with the Holden-based G8 sport sedan and the Solstice which would be Pontiac-only halo models. While Saturn’s lineup would consist of Honda and Toyota-fighting basic transportation appliances, Pontiacs would be the brash, aggressive performance machines. Take the insignia; Saturn would get the 4-cylinder and V6 fwd models while the 2.8T XWD version would be the new Pontiac G6. Likewise, the basic Astra would be a Saturn model while the 250+hp turbocharged Mazdaspeed 3 killer would be a Pontiac. This way the brands would have strong, new identities that compliment each other and really draw buyers into dealerships.

Obviously Saab would also be part of this split off, but I’ve said what I think about that one before. Now that I’ve heard the latest rumors, the idea of splitting Opel, Holden, Saab, Pontiac, and Saturn off of Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, and Daewoo seems like a good one to me.

By: Nate9-3

Nate9-3 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:45:39 +0000

Thanks for the translation, CTM.

By: Markac

Markac — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:55:32 +0000

Some nice words and if you believe them, encouraging. But I guess he’s just toeing the company line? As far as GM is concerned, I threw away the rose coloured glasses about four years ago.
It’s funny there hasn’t been an official GM denial about a possible sale of Saab this time. I guess they are leaving all their options open at the moment. I’m sure they will do just what they have to do to secure a government bailout. If that includes selling Saab and shuttering Pontiac and Saturn, that’s what they’ll do, as long as they don’t shutter Saab! I don’t like or trust GM but if they do that, I’ll positively hate them.

As some others have said, why don’t they just sell Buick to the Chinese which would be beneficial for all parties concerned. Maybe GM just has too much pride to do that?

By: saabista63

saabista63 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:16:21 +0000

This sounds pretty good.
I have to say that I was not so sure what GM was going to do with Saab;
however, JAJ doesn’t leave much doubt about Saab being a GM brand in the years to come.

I don’t think Saab would have made much of a stand outside of GM.
I just can’t see any other partners out there right now – so I guess, GM is as good as it gets.

But come Monday – and then Dec 5, and we’ll see what’s really going to happen.

Yours

saabista63