Posted on 11/26/2018 4:47:20 PM PST by Eddie01
General Motors will end production of six sedans by the end of 2019.
North American customers want SUVs, crossovers, hatchbacks and trucks. Sedans have fallen out of favor.
As GM (GM) adjusts to changing customer behavior it is also planning ahead for the future. The company announced massive layoffs and is closing five North American facilities as it transitions to self-driving, electric cars of the future.
The soon-to-be closed plants mean GM will no longer make these cars:
Buick LaCrosse January - September sales: 13,409, down 14.2%
The LaCrosse is a large car built by a brand that was a pioneer in small crossovers. Buick is still shifting heavily toward crossovers: Sales of the Encore and Enclave crossovers are both up this year. But Buick is struggling after turning itself around a few years ago.
Cadillac CT6 January - September sales: 7,270, down 10.6%
The only surprise of the bunch, the CT6 is an unusual choice for GM, because it serves as the tech halo for Cadillac. It's still the only car that has GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology. But it's also the least popular Cadillac.
Cadillac XTS January - September sales: 12,664, up 15.9%
Most XTS cars are sold to limousine and taxi companies. GM recently updated the XTS' design to keep customers happy, helping drive sales higher. It's the only car GM is killing that has performed better in the first nine months of 2018 than in the first nine months of 2017.
Chevrolet Cruze January - September sales: 109,662, down 26.5%
The bestselling Chevy sedan, the Cruze is highly regarded among auto reviewers and enthusiasts. The Cruze was the "Consumer Reports" top pick for compact cars last year. It was beat out by the Toyota Corolla and a handful of other small cars this year, and sales have disappointed.
Chevrolet Impala January - September sales: 43,952, down 13.4%
The recently redesigned Chevy Impala was the 2018 "Consumer Reports" top pick for large cars. But it's a large car in a market that seems to have forgotten that large cars exist. The Impala is among the worst-selling Chevrolets.
Chevrolet Volt January - September sales: 13,243, down 13.7%
The Volt is a plug-in electric hybrid sedan lost in the excitement of all-electric cars. Chevy has been promoting the electric Bolt hatchback, though Bolt sales have fallen too.
Imagine what the market would be for a new, affordable, compact truck like the Chevy Luv.
I won’t buy a GM car or a Chrysler product because of the bailout. Ford/Lincoln, for me. I am on my third Navigator.
Switching to Toyota or Subaru for the next round of vehicles.
I had one of those back in the day. No frills, very economical.
Now pickups are designed for suburban soccer dads who need every luxury item available.
“I won’t buy a GM car or a Chrysler product because of the bailout.”
#metoo
I refuse to buy a GM (Government Motors) product any more since Obama stole GM and gave it t the UAW.
I have to admit, I am disappointed in how badly the Volt has done. There is a lot of infrastructure that needs to get built to support electric cars, and the Volt, which is capable of using gas or electric, seemed like a good bridge until there is enough charging stations.
I have an 04 F150 with 185k miles on it. I am in no rush to replace it for the same reason you have for not replacing yours.
I think my parents had an XTS. It sucked for ingress/egress, so I'm surprised transpo companies would buy the thing.
I'd have to contort myself to get in it or out of it, front or back.
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My 03 Silverado has 295,000 miles on it. I see no point in spending 70k for a new one.
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You’re smart. $70,000.00 is outrageous. I know a guy who just shopped and got a nice 1998 GMC Silverado with 203,000 miles for about $6,000.00. He’s 70 and he says it should do very well.
Kentuckians make a superb car in the Camry. The main reason they are able to do this is you don’t have the UAW mucking up the process. The unions are responsible for most of the American auto industry woes.
If he read this from the article:
"...is closing five North American facilities as it transitions to self-driving, electric cars of the future"
he'd probably say I told you so.
[Of course, they are going pedal-to-the-metal with electric cars even though their electric car sales are disappointing. This tells me that PC is at work here.]
Ignoring the customer is always a great business plan - when agenda trumps profits.
Tony S. couldn't have fashioned it better...
https://jalopnik.com/the-cadillac-ct6-v-is-still-happening-and-will-go-out-i-1830663592
CT6 will go out with a bang, they’re still planning on putting the 550hp Blackwing V8 in it for 2019.
I haven’t seen a Chevy LUV truck in decades.
Dad had one in the early 80s.
It was fun to drive.
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