Chevrolet vs GMC

[PAUL SS]

Does General Motors need to have both Chevrolet trucks and GMC Trucks?

I am guessing that GMC trucks are more upscale than Chevy trucks, but don't they both have the same models with different names?

Considering the recent restructure, what are your thoughts on this?

[bobbybottleservice]

Yeah, I always wondered what the delineation was between the two. The difference between Cadillac and Chevy is apparent, and of course both have several different models.

The prices suggest that GMC offers a little more although I rarely see them on the road.

I really do like the Terrain though, just over the Equinox.

[Black5thgen]

I remember hearing that GMC was the most profitable division at GM. Most GMC owners I know have deep brand loyalty.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by Paul SS

Does General Motors need to have both Chevrolet trucks and GMC Trucks?

I am guessing that GMC trucks are more upscale than Chevy trucks, but don't they both have the same models with different names?

Considering the recent restructure, what are your thoughts on this?

From what I understand GMC sells more than enough trucks to justify having both nameplates.

[MikesZ]

Well the web chatter is that GM's board has approved a 1Bil program for the complete overhaul of GM full-sized trucks, so perhaps going forward into 2013 and 2014 there will be more design separation between the brands.

[FenwickHockey65]

GMC is moving away from Chevrolet in the coming years as evidenced by the Equinox/Terrain.

[cam5]

all we run is gmc trucks for the business. there really isnt a big difference but a lot is just history. some people prefer chevy.. some gmc.. we've always gone gmc. got about 15 of them right now.

[2000v6]

GMC happens to exist for no reason whatsoever, the only reason why it was kept is because GM is in the name. But honestly, gm f***** up when they decided to get rid of pontiac and keep gmc.

I mean just take a look

Chevrolet GMC Cadillac
Avalanche Escalade EXT
Tahoe Yukon Escalade
Suburban Yukon XL Escalade ESV
Trailblazer Envoy
Colorado Canyon
Silverado Sierra
Traverse Acadia
Equinox Terrain SRX
Express Savana

I mean all of the cars that GMC happens to have are basically the same as Chevrolet trucks (and the van). I mean especially the Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban line being the same as the Yukon and the Yukon XL, which both are the same as the Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT line.

Also, the Colorado and Silverado are basically the same as the Canyon and Sierra. This also happens with the Trailblazer being the same as the Envoy, and the Express being the same as the Savana. At least, GM was smart enough not to rebrand these cars as cadillacs.

And yet, this is also going to happen again in the future with the Orlando/Granite.

The problem with the avalanche, tahoe, suburban, yukon, yukon xl, escalade, escalade esv and escalade ext is that chevrolet happens to be the downscale brand, whereas cadillac happens to be the upscale brand. In my opinion, GMC should get rid of the yukon and yukon xl as it happens to be complicating things, if people want the downscale version then the customers can buy the chevrolet models, and if customers want the upscale verion then they can buy the cadillac models. The yukon and yukon xl happens to exist for no reason at all at this point and should be done with.

When it comes to the trailblazer/envoy; colorado, silverado/canyon, sierra; and express/savana lines, on the other hand, the GMC versions are indeed the upscale models. So when it comes to these lines, then the cars could indeed stay.

At least when it comes to the traverse/acadia, and equinox/terrain/srx lines, while different each model happens to be somewhat different in their own respective rights

Sorry, don't know how to set that chart up, I tried putting spaces in, it's not working

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by 2000v6

GMC happens to exist for no reason whatsoever, the only reason why it was kept is because GM is in the name. But honestly, gm f***** up when they decided to get rid of pontiac and keep gmc.

One word.

Profit.

[shank0668]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

One word.

Profit.

If I had a branch of my company making profit, I surely would get rid of it, don't want to make money.

[TahoeCamaro]

Originally Posted by 2000v6

And yet, this is also going to happen again in the future with the Orlando/Granite.

Umm... I'm pretty sure those are completely different.
And Fen is right. GM makes more profit with GMC than they did with Pontiac and Saturn, so it would have made no sense to get rid of the high profit company.
You, sir, have a lot of catching up to do.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by 2000v6

GMC happens to exist for no reason whatsoever, the only reason why it was kept is because GM is in the name. But honestly, gm f***** up when they decided to get rid of pontiac and keep gmc.

I mean just take a look

Chevrolet GMC Cadillac
Avalanche Escalade EXT
Tahoe Yukon Escalade
Suburban Yukon XL Escalade ESV
Trailblazer Envoy
Colorado Canyon
Silverado Sierra
Traverse Acadia
Equinox Terrain SRX
Express Savana

I mean all of the cars that GMC happens to have are basically the same as Chevrolet trucks (and the van). I mean especially the Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban line being the same as the Yukon and the Yukon XL, which both are the same as the Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT line.

Also, the Colorado and Silverado are basically the same as the Canyon and Sierra. This also happens with the Trailblazer being the same as the Envoy, and the Express being the same as the Savana. At least, GM was smart enough not to rebrand these cars as cadillacs.

And yet, this is also going to happen again in the future with the Orlando/Granite.

The problem with the avalanche, tahoe, suburban, yukon, yukon xl, escalade, escalade esv and escalade ext is that chevrolet happens to be the downscale brand, whereas cadillac happens to be the upscale brand. In my opinion, GMC should get rid of the yukon and yukon xl as it happens to be complicating things, if people want the downscale version then the customers can buy the chevrolet models, and if customers want the upscale verion then they can buy the cadillac models. The yukon and yukon xl happens to exist for no reason at all at this point and should be done with.

When it comes to the trailblazer/envoy; colorado, silverado/canyon, sierra; and express/savana lines, on the other hand, the GMC versions are indeed the upscale models. So when it comes to these lines, then the cars could indeed stay.

At least when it comes to the traverse/acadia, and equinox/terrain/srx lines, while different each model happens to be somewhat different in their own respective rights

Sorry, don't know how to set that chart up, I tried putting spaces in, it's not working

Mmkay. Longer explanation now that I'm not sitting in Biology lecture.

No, GM did not screw up by keeping GMC over Pontiac. Pontiac had no future. Besides the G8 and Solstice, Pontiac sold a bunch of rebadged Chevys. How is this different than GMC? The rebadged Chevys sold under Pontiac were cars, not trucks. Trucks have historically been GM's most profitable products. As such, it's self-explanatory that GMC rakes in profit by the boatload.

In addition, Pontiac had no overseas market outside NA. GMC has one in the Middle East.

The Orlando and Granite are two completely different cars on two completely different platforms aimed at two completely different demographics.

In addition, the Escalade (unless Whitacre gets his way) is moving off an SUV/truck platform and onto the Lambda platform, making the Yukon/Yukon XL Denali GM's luxury SUVs. Market demographics already support this as Yukon/Yukon XL Denali owners are generally more affluent than Escalade/Escalade ESV owners.

Now that Pontiac is gone, the Buick-GMC dealership network appears to be moving towards selling vehicles aimed at professionals (doctors, lawyers, etc). This is obvious in the marketing efforts shown in the new LaCrosse.

Chevrolet is moving towards a value-based lineup, offering affordable products without compromising quality and style, as noted with the launch of the Malibu and Equinox, both of which have been described as looking much more expensive than they actually cost.

The Cadillac brand is moving more upscale to compete with BMW and Mercedes with the introduction of the 3-series/C-class fighting ATS in the near future, along with the recently introduced XTS flagship. The CTS will be growing in size to match the 5-series and E-class.

[The_Blur]

GMC makes money. Who are we to argue against the dollar signs?

[PAUL SS]

Nice work Fenwick, you sure know your GM. It paints a much clearer picture for me. Thank you.