GM Sees Some Positive Signs on Bumpy Road

[ShnOmac]

GM Sees Some Positive Signs on Bumpy Road


As Thursday's sales figures indicate, no one can speak of recovery. Yet, if Jay Luebking is a sign, GM may have a detectable pulse as CBS News Correspondent Dean Reynolds reports. Luebking and his wife just traded in their Mitsubishi for a new Chevy Equinox. "I think it's a very quality car. I think it's right up there with the ranks of the imports," said Luebking. That bolsters what the car site edmunds.com is reporting. Traffic to GM's various vehicle Web sites is up 15 percent -- indicating interest or even intent -- perhaps spurred by the company's unprecedented two-month money back guarantee. So why the sales swoon? Dealers say they haven't had enough cars. GM had planned to build about 8,000 of the Chevrolet Equinox model this month, but dealers are asking for nearly 30,000 to meet demand. Dealers want almost three times as many GMC Terrains and Buick Lacrosses as are being produced this month. More than twice as many Chevrolet Traverses -- all models that hit the showrooms in the days after GM emerged from bankruptcy July 10. The new Camaro came out in May and lately has been outselling Ford's Mustang -- with some dealers selling all they have in hours - not days. Bill Stasek says his customers cite styling, mileage and price. "We certainly could use more vehicles, especially in the Equinox and the Camaro line."
GM feels confident enough to call back 2,400 laid off assembly line workers. But car industry analysts hesitate to call this a turnaround. "Although demand can be high on a few vehicles, you really need demand to be high across many vehicles," said Jessica Caldwell of Edmunds.com.
GM is also smarting after the deal to sell off its Saturn brand collapsed yesterday, and the stain of bankruptcy will be hard to erase. Some customers are undoubtedly turned off by the government takeover of GM. But to that, GM Vice-Chairman Robert Lutz offers a solution. "If the American public doesn't like nationalized automobile companies, the fastest way to make it private again is to buy our vehicles." In other words, put your money where your mouth is.


LMAO Good old Lutz right there... I love it!

[PQ]

I've been saying something similar to this.

There is a time to save and a time to spend. If we ALL save right now then the economy will TANK. I still save but I'm not gonna be scared to spend either.

[99-LS1-SS]

I've done my part for 2009 by buying the GXP now if they would come out with the Z/28 I'd buy another one.

[FenwickHockey65]

Oh Bob. Why are you so awesome?

[cliffy]

Right after 9/11 it was the same scenario, people were afraid to do anything.

Thing is, when you sit on your wallet, don't go to your local Pizza place you usually do on Fridays, it has a ripple effect.

Jobs are created by people consuming..............something.........whether it be homes, cars, pizza, hotels, you name it.

Cities and States are broke because their tax base is eroded, nobody buying anything

[Zabo]

Unfortunately the unemployment rate in the US kinda hurts the whole 'gotta buy' thing..

I can say this from expierence. Sucks.. seeing everyone I knew from school who has jobs picking up new cars, living their lives as they wanted to..

At least GM is rolling back into the minds of the consumer these days..

[DGthe3]

Fbodfather put it best, read my sig