GM banking on 15 new vehicles - 11/23/05

GM's "Wait 'til Next Year" Line-up
15 New Models and No Obvious Breakout Hits

The Detroit News has a chart showing the 15 new models that GM plans to introduce next year. None seem to offer the promise of a turn-around.

The biggest in terms of volume will probably be the full-size SUVs and the full-size pickups. The problem with using these models as the basis of a turn-around is that GM already leads the pack in full-size SUVs. These models offer the promise to keep market share, but I don't see them drawing new buyers into the fold. As for the pickups, pick-up buyers tend to be brand-loyal. New market share is hard to come by. Again, GM might hold its ground, but it's not going anywhere new.

The Saturn Sky? Nice little roadster, but it's a small market and GM already has a near-twin, the Pontiac Solstice.

The Saturn Aura. I saw a prototype. It looks like a competent mid-sized sedan, better than the L-Series, which was so bad it was given the boot early, but all of the competition is good too.

Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia Crossovers: I don't know too much about these. I don't know how big the crossover market is; but I do know that there will be new competition here as well. Ford will be coming out with crossovers at the same time. The Acura MDX is due for a makeover. Honda is hinting at a new "truck" coming out of its Ohio complex, a complex that now produces cars, so it sure looks like a crossover to me. I'm sure there are more.

The last one on the list is the Saturn Vue Green Line (hybrid) crossover. This can't be more than a halo or image car produced at a low volume.

The bottom line: there's nothing here that's going to save GM's bacon next year.



GM banking on 15 new vehicles - 11/23/05