Anyone who wants something, something it costs. Although in the case of GM, we could be talking about a very high price: perhaps several divisions complete previously considered safe. The case is now more than ever, the U.S. group is between a rock and a hard place, a situation that can only escape by taking drastic decisions and even against his own will.
As you know, Rick Wagoner and other executives of General Motors are doing everything we can to get that elusive economic aid package that allows you to stay alive after years of losses and a stock market decline that last sent the head of the flag intensive care. Is the wrong thing, but worse still if you will, can not convince the U.S. government that it is worth leaving to his aid. Although previously been assumed that Congress would approve a loan of 12,000 million dollars in the last minute was withdrawn to wait for manufacturers to explain how they spend that money, and what strategies they think it take to make that injection of millions serves to more than prolong their agony today. According to sources from Bloomberg, the plan is to start with the pruning of brands. Pontiac, Saturn and Saab have all the papers to leave.
Currently, none of the three is in top form. Although Pontiac registered significant sales within the group, has lately developed a serious problem of personality, more powerful models are falling on the lists, and being the sports division of GM, can not survive with hatchbacks or highlighted Japanese products that are the antithesis of the mark. Saturn ... Saturn was born bad and ends worse. In the beginning was to become the "mata-Japanese" of the group, but the lack of flashy cars until very recently and the decision to launch the Astra with one machine (which is not above enjoying a lot) has happened bill . Finally we have a Saab, most recently as an important workshop and laboratory as a manufacturer of cars. Their models are becoming increasingly obsolete, to the point where we do not dare to mark the launch of the new 9-5 in the calendar. Last year only 125,000 units sold, and the figures of 2008 are expected frankly bad.
Is this what General Motors needs to survive? Chevrolet does not move, it is essential Cadillac, GMC sells a lot more than you might think, to get rid of Opel would be a very creative way to commit suicide in Europe, and Buick, although none in the United States, is a sure value in China, where General Motors is making an interesting case.
If the United States Congress as a condition that puts General Motors reduced its size to purchase up to a size more manageable, it is likely that it is no alternative but to confront the dealers and crossing their fingers that all goes well. If the information from Bloomberg is correct, the board of GM will make a decision between November 30 and December 1. We'll see who they say then.
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