I'm keenly aware that some readers believe that I'm a spinmeister's evil twin, viewing all stories involving The General through a Death Watch prism. But I know it's possible to read this story from Automotive News [AN, sub]– detailing a shift in GM's design responsibilities from the rest of the world to Motown– as a sign that the artist formerly known as the world's largest automaker is finally rationalizing its sprawling, overlapping, inefficient infrastructure. At first, it seems that way. "We have had a couple studios where some projects have been canceled," Ed Welburn, GM's design vice president, told AN. "We have other studios that are totally overloaded. We just need to level that work around the globe." But then… GM's small-car programs are based at the Adam Opel R&D center in Germany and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. in Korea. With the change, vehicles for Daewoo, Holden, Opel or Vauxhall may be styled in Michigan. So what the Hell happened to GM's "regional centers of excellence" idea?
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If GM really believes that it can design cars for Germany or Europe in the US, they will be sacrificing Opel shortly, without nearly any benefit. Europeans, and especially Germans, have a special expectation of cars. This is why US Exports never gained any real market share here. We do not take most of the cars from the US seriously. Opel has in the recent years just rebuilt their image as a reliable manufacturer. In case the R&D is relocated to the US, doom looms.
I don’t take most of the cars from Europe seriously.
Do you people have kids?
Don’t you got any “stuff”?
I know they have a sport called soc…footbol, but don’t they pick-up and deliver kids to these games?
Seen the streets there…or are they alleys?
And your safety…you are more concerned that a hit pedestrian will be safely propelled over the car and not about the passengers.
Here, the pedestrian has no more rights than do …bugs.
No, you can’t design cars for Europe here, anymore than they can there for here.
That’s why, in my humble big butted opinion, I can’t buy a German car.
The back seat is only there for two kids, or three adult Italians…and hopefully they like hard leather.
I really don’t know why they sell so damn well here.
Its just me, likely.
As to the photo:
OMG AZN!
Not the car, either.
Europeans, and especially Germans, have a special expectation of cars.
Yes, they expect them to drive well, get good mileage and be packaged intelligently, but don’t seem to care if they’re actually reliable or not.
I have no idea why VW, PSA/Citroen, Renault or Fiat/Alfa owers in Europe put up with the crap they do. Yes, the cars are more reliable now, but it still amazes me that European makes have repeat buyers at all.
Do you people have kids?
Don’t you got any “stuff”?
I know they have a sport called soc…footbol, but don’t they pick-up and deliver kids to these games?
And yet the Ford Crown Victoria (or hey, the Honda Accord or Chevy Suburban) seems to be designed for someone five-foot-five and three-hundred pounds. I know this, because I’ll be damned if any North American cars I’ve looked at have any leg- or headroom, but they have hip and shoulder room galore.
Something is screwed up when I can fit better in a Toyota Yaris than in a Crown Vic.
Seen the streets there…or are they alleys?
Been though Michigan or Quebec? Are those streets, or the results of urban warfare?
I don’t take most of the cars from Europe seriously.
Do you people have kids?
Don’t you got any “stuff”?
I know they have a sport called soc…footbol, but don’t they pick-up and deliver kids to these games?
Seen the streets there…or are they alleys?
High taxes and high fuel prices relegate most Europeans to driving small cars they can actually afford. As for the kids, they can walk/ride public transport just as well as anyone else, amirite?
Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic
One thing I will defend GM on is its styling.
Although GM has had its definate blunders (Aztek) its current line up has some definate lookers. The current gen ‘Vette is the best looking since the Singray IMO, and the Malibu looks like Tyra Banks when compared to the current Accord and Camry.
They will lose their share of Euro and Asian markets quickly under this plan.
Read the article properly its not doom and gloom its utilising space and resources where current resources are fully engaged. Correct me if i’m wrong but isn’t that good business sense? There is no where in the article that it claims that Opel/Holden etc are shutting.
As for regional excellence centres, maybe they need expanding, but hey how long does it take to build buildings these days? oh i don’t know maybe its just easier to utilise studio space elsewhere, especially in the current financial climate. A professional designer will be able to work on different vehicles for different markets thats why we’re professional and can wear different hats. It happens everywhere, its up to management to lead it successfully, which these days they are.