[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Depends how its done.

I'd say that a company with a diverse portfolio of excellent products, all of which make money for them, is healthy.

But selling SUV's to cover the losses of your small cars is not a healthy way to run a car company. Its even less healthy to be in a position where you are forced to sell cars at a loss, because it would cost even more to not sell them. Why? Well ... what happens when people stop buying those profitable SUV's? Whats the backup plan for when gas prices go up?

General Motors Deliveries in North America
Cars & Light Trucks
1996 1997
Buick 427,350 438,064
Cadillac 170,379 182,624
Chevrolet 2,541,773 2,484,945
GMC 424,416 423,215
Other-Isuzu 0 0
Hummer 0 0
Oldsmobil 331,287 304,759
Pontiac 551,107 608,623
Saab 28,439 28,447
Saturn 278,574 251,099
Total GM 4,753,325 4,721,776

Cars only 1996 1997
Buick 427,350 438,064
Cadillac 170,379 182,624
Chevrolet 1,045,172 980,554
Oldsmobil 306,486 251,663
Pontiac 529,710 556,662
Saab 28,439 28,447
Saturn 278,574 251,099
Total GM Cars 2,786,110 2,689,113

Trucks only 1996 1997
Buick 0 0
Cadillac 0 0
GMC 424,416 423,215
Chevrolet 1,496,601 1,504,391
Hummer 0 0
Other-Isuzu 0 0
Oldsmobil 24,801 53,096
Pontiac 21,397 51,961
Saab 0 0
Saturn 0 0
Total GM Light Trucks 1,967,215 2,032,663


Total Vehicle GM 4,753,325 4,721,776

Same figures from 04-05

2004 2005
309,639 282,288
234,217 235,002
2,763,238 2,669,932
602,064 566,322
15,707 15,787
29,345 56,727
28,851 1,866
474,179 437,806
38,159 38,343
212,017 213,657
4,707,416 4,517,730

Cars

2004 2005
223,329 186,140
141,948 160,859
917,887 866,212
20,417 1,400
419,962 395,312
38,159 36,071
123,497 105,927
1,885,199 1,751,921

Trucks

2004 2005
86,310 96,148
92,269 74,143
602,064 566,322
1,845,351 1,803,720
29,345 56,727
15,707 15,787
8,434 466
54,217 42,494
0 2,272
88,520 107,730
2,822,217 2,765,809


GM grew far more reliant on trucks and SUVs in the 00s than in the 90s. Far, far more. From financials, sales, management, all projections, etc. In every aspect, GM was extremely solid in the mid-late 90s, arguably more solid than ever.