THE CAR COACH REPORTS: Feb. 8, 2013
GM CAN IMPROVE ITS STOCK EDITION
With the increase of market share from the German car manufacturers, especially the VW group, GM has noticed that its own market share is not returning to where it was before the bankruptcy.
The first step is to get the government out of their daily business and pay back their loans as quickly as possible to improve stock value as well as consumer perception and brand equity.
Secondly, see what the competitors are doing in order to regain market share. Start with diesel: No US, Japanese or Korean manufacturers have delivered diesel-powered cars, only the Germans.
The last time General Motors offered a diesel passenger car in the US; it was the 1.8-liter 1986 Chevette. Fast forward nearly three decades to the 2013 Chicago Auto Show and GM is unveiling the much-anticipated diesel-powered Chevrolet Cruze with a compact 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that boasts 148 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter diesel engine can return up to 42 mpg (highway) and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, matching its main competition, the VW Jetta TDI. The Cruze 2.0 TD can also handle up to 20 percent biodiesel (B20).
The Cruze's diesel engine will be built in Kaiserslautern, Germany and the car will be produced starting in April at GM's Lordstown, OH plant. The Chevy Cruze 2.0 TD will start at $25,595.
This is a departure for GM as they have put all their money in the past into EV and hybrid cars like the Chevy Volt. Obviously, based on sales results, consumers are not purchasing them at their expected sales levels.
Diesel cars are generally 20-30 percent more efficient than their traditional gas counterparts but haven't caught on in the US even though more than 50 percent of Europeans drive them. Is it time for a change? I think so.
I personally give GM a great deal of credit for offering a diesel alternative in a marketplace where other manufacturers haven't dared to go, and I firmly believe this can and will help their market share.
What are your thoughts?
Post your comments at http://laurenfix.blogspot.com/
My Final Thought:
While this article about vehicle depreciation isn't based on scientific studies, it certainly is an interesting read. http://jalopnik.com/5982789/the-most-depreciated-cars-of-the-past-ten-years
Perhaps you're in the market for a high-end vehicle but don't want to shell out the big bucks? This could be a solution for you.
Have you ever practically stolen a car or truck due to depreciation?
Tell me at http://laurenfix.blogspot.com/
See you next week! Love your car!
--Lauren Fix
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