“We think in some markets Chevrolet dealers will be able to improve their sales and profitability by 20, 30, 40, even 50 percent.” GM’s vice president of U.S. sales made his promise/prediction/delusional rant to GM’s remaining bow tie-branded store owners, as reported by Automotive News [sub]. The remark comes hot on the heels of Chevy supremo Brent Dewar’s pronouncement that the U.S. new car market will grow by 15 percent next year. I suppose LaNeve reckons Chevy stores will capitalize on this fantastic rising tide. “GM expects each surviving dealership to increase sales next year by at least 25 percent over 2009.” Yes, well, will Chevy dealers’ [theoretical] sales increases match the overall market? In other words, NOW how much will they get paid? But wait, there’s more! “Over the next 18 months, GM will boost advertising spending for each division well above amounts in the first half of this year. LaNeve said advertising that starts next month will be a ‘creative breakthrough’ intended to quickly change consumer perceptions.” Hey, wasn’t Cadillac the break on through brand? And wasn’t LaNeve its head? How did that turn out, then?
Find Reviews by Make:
Read all comments
“LaNeve said advertising that starts next month will be a ‘creative breakthrough’ intended to quickly change consumer perceptions.”
It took GM, what, 30-40 years to run themselves into the ground, but all they need is a creative ad campaign to quickly change my perceptions.
Yeah, I think “delusional” is about right.
lol, ya……Honda, Toyota, Hyundai have the most boring adverts and they manage to do ok.
VW does indeed have creative, memorable ads but the ads haven’t helped their “perception gap” on VW’s dealership experience and reliability.
Only good design and engineering will get GM back on track.
Do they get this by assuming that every single would-be buyer of a Pontiac, Saturn or Saab will go to their nearest Chevy dealer for the next car? It wouldn’t surprise me.
It will be interesting to see tomorrow’s figures to see how it all starts out.
He (LaNeve) opens his mouth and the crap flows out.
Simple as that.
O.T. Scheduled for Camaro and Impala. Why? The buyers know value when they see it.
Simple as that.
Sales in US to grow 15% compared to 2009 actual+forecast? So back over 10mil….
That’s not outrageous to expect such an increase compared to a crappy year. However, I would be careful about making ANY forward looking statements if I were GM, other than when the taxpayer money will be paid back.
“Change” sure seems to be the buzz word these days. I only thought politicians had a lock on the market of making bold promises that are never fulfilled.
In ’57 I learned to drive in an olive drab ’40 Chevy 4dr. Even took & passed my driving test in the Chevy. My father & I overhauled the engine the summer of ’58. Good memories!
If you are a surviving Chevy dealer in a market in which GM cut a third of their dealers… and Chevy is able to sell as many cars as last year… you would be justified in estimating a 33% increase in sales volume, no?
The comments do seem optimistic as GM/Chevy would need to do a lot of things right that they haven’t been able to in years to make this happen, but the statement doesn’t seem totally nuts to me.
OK, what’s he supposed to say – “I think business is gonna stink”?
And trash Caddy if you want, but if not for LaNeve, would it have even survived GM’s BK? Give credit where it’s due.
LaNeve picked a song, the models had already been developed.
I’ll lightly borrow what LaNeve dreamed up for Pontiac…
LaNeve is Failure.
Chevy will rise again for sure. Just think of all the hillbilly rednecks who won’t be able to buy Pontiacs pretty soon. They’ll just buy more Camaros.
And, think of all the rental car agencies who won’t be able to get Pontiacs either. They’ll be looking to stock up on more Malibus, Cobalts, Equinox’s and Impalas.
it’s a win-win situation for GM.