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.
Yes, the Super Duty trucks are enormous. Heck, my F150 FX4 Crew Cab looks really large when parked next to an older half-ton pickup, too. I think what was once the “standard” size pickup will be more closely represented by the new Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado and the new mid-sized Ram offering (Dakota?) slated for around 2022.
I am all in favor of returning to manual transmissions.
That would weed out a lot of drivers with no coordination, reflexes, or ability to chew gum and drive at the same time.
Amen to that. Never a UAW car for us.
Standard transmissions are probably one of the most effective anti-theft devices you can get on a car these days.
.
True, but to do it right we need to go back to asbestos in the frictions.
Texting soccer moms would be hardest hit taking away the auto trans, of course!
The new Impalas look like crap. If they built a 1960’s Impala people would run to buy them. Leg room, a good reliable engine, decent tail lights, head room, and a feel of safety in them.
I just wish I had my 57 Chevy again. Once had 8 girls and myself in it and was still able to drive in comfort and safety. Engine never needs any major maintenance (145 HP with overdrive, Chevy 210 - my mother’s but on weekend nights, it was mine).
I still have and old Packard Electric ashtray here from the Warren plant.
I now have a 2006 Camry that I bought new. odometer just turned 255,000 over the weekend. Wife drives a 2009 Camry, also bought new. it has 190,000 or so miles. the '06 needed a water pump a few years back - about a $200 repair. Other than that, neither has needed anything other than routine maintenance.
I will never buy another American car.
I bought a new 2001 Impala 17 1/2 years ago. It now has 21,600 real miles. It has a beast of an engine and is comfortable.
I’m ready for a much shorter car, as I have a rear entry garage that requires a 90* turn to or from the driveway and I’m damned tired of wrestling that long car around the sharp turn without hitting the fence along the narrow driveway.
It’s about 21’ in length, but I’m looking for a car about 15’ long. ....Several out there, but they’re ugly!
I’ve owned a few GM cars & the best were Olds & Buick, but with the stuff they have now & judging by what they are planning to build; I think that came to an end. An exception might be made if I could find an excellent used Park Ave. The stuff they say they are going to be building will probably not have much appeal for those wanting a sedan.
I’d like to buy a Chevy S-10 truck that is small, but they keep making trucks that wont fit my garage.
I wish I still had my 73 Impala..that thing was built like a tank!
I bought a new ‘64 Impala convertible that was bright red and had white leather seats and top. $3600. Wish I still had that one!
That plant is staying. According to local news Monday night, it is one of the most efficient and modern plants that GM has. ...Lots of pick ups and SUVs.
I have a current generation Colorado, and it’s a little bigger than the first generation.
Overall I’m not impressed with the quality, and I may go with the Ranger.
#metoo
Town Car has 130000+ and going strong, traded my rice rocket for a ‘17 Mustang GT 5.0.
I used to buy GM’s. Chevy Camaros. Would get a new one about every 5 years. They all had rattle issues. I wound up sticking match book covers in the vents to stop the rattling. One had the entire driver’s door panel just fall off. I switched to Toyota. I bought an Avalon and drove it 10 years. The day I sold it not one rattle. I have since upgraded to luxury cars and still no rattles. I hate rattles.
The hottest girl in my high school class drove a 63 Impala Convertible. It was a bright blue and I guess the top was white.
The fact that it was beautiful in my memory may have been influenced by the beauty driving it.
as it transitions to self-driving, electric cars of the future
* * *
Yeah right. GM is going down the tubes before it every releases a self-driving car.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.