The Speculator: GM's Mid-Sized Global Pickup
It’s not true. As much as we know about this industry, we can analyze, criticize, express opinions and make recommendations to the companies. Yet, we do not have the power to actually change anything.
It’s not true. As much as we know about this industry, we can analyze, criticize, express opinions and make recommendations to the companies. Yet, we do not have the power to actually change anything.
Since gas prices scaled up to $4.00 a gallon nationwide earlier this year, the North American automotive market saw a general shift towards smaller, more efficient vehicles. Benefitting from this downsizing shift is the small crossover segment. If you scour over the sales charts, you will notice the astounding growth in sales of these smaller utility machines.
Frankfurt? Why would I want to be in Germany, let alone Europe? I have not been to the old world…ever. Is that a bad thing to say?
In a single day, I met various GM executives, employees, interns and my main contact at the company. I also met some great people and vehicles at the three Twin Cities dealerships where GM was holding their outreach programming at.
This weekend provided a quandary for the automobile enthusiast. Should one head to Southeastern Michigan, making the pilgrimage to Woodward Avenue for the Dream Cruise? Or, should one live it up on the Monterey Peninsula at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance?
Normally, such an event is called a "cruise." By calling it a "cruise," it means a display of cars of yesteryear where you can expect brutal exhaust noise and the rumbling of very large engines. The vehicles on display are indeed impressive, from old-school hit rods to today's tuner specials.
In the middle of May, consumers witnessed petrol pump prices at its highest in history. In response to the extraordinary cost of fuel, the new vehicle market experienced higher sales for smaller cars, SUVs and crossovers.
For every person appearing in that video, there is always someone who will argue that people like myself do not matter. For the former New York Giants Super Bowl hero, the member of Congress in the north and east suburbs of the Twin Cities and the security person at Target Field, we are challenged with finding positive ways to overcome the negativity that pervades in every corner of our society. GM has done exactly that with their “It Gets Better” video.
For as long as the automotive industry installed pre-fabricated boxes to be placed behind a chassis-cab truck, Americans used the good ol’ pickup primarily as a work vehicle. If you built something, you used your truck to haul your tools and materials to your job site. If you’re a farmer, you used your truck to distribute hay bails or send needed items out to the far reaches of your property.
TweetLet me get personal for a moment: I miss Pontiac. General Motors’ bankruptcy forced the largest automotive concern in the world to make some sacrifices. Since one of the complaints by analysts and pundits had been the large number of brands on sale by the company, GM was forced to make some sacrifices. It had …