Lately, General Motors has been working hard to bring Buick back from the brink of collapse. But prior to new models like the Lucerne and Enclave, GM didn’t seem too worried about creating a competitive product. And according to one industry researcher, it was sheer arrogance that caused GM to neglect Buick. “I remember being told by a GM executive … that they’d never worried about Buick because as people got older and richer, their asses would get fatter and they would always buy Buicks to sit ‘em in,” said Dan Gorrell, vice president of San Diego market research firm Strategic Vision, which has done consumer studies for GM. In the mid-1980s, a Burbank market research firm hired by the automaker warned that European and Japanese rivals were getting ready to leave GM in the dust. “The sounds of heavy armor can be heard in the suburbs, in what may be the final assault on General Motors’ long-time stronghold, the luxury car market,” the report from Vista Group said. If GM didn’t satisfy car buyers’ tastes for better cars, Buick would start losing customers to the new competitors. The Vista report proved prescient.
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04/04, 10:37 AM
posted by:
Dave. T
except Buick seems to be doing well with the lucerne and lacrosse and their car sales did not go down in March. Even their SUVs were up in total for March. Once they add the Enclave and the next gen of cars I think Buick will be doing what cadillac did.
So while they may have neglected Buick in the past the turnaround seems to be heading upwards.
04/04, 11:46 AM
posted by:
Joel A
I agree with Dave T. Overall arrogance on GM’s led to a drop in many of its vehicle sales. Seems they finally realized that and are striving upward and there are people out there willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
04/04, 11:54 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
Buick is dead already. Just look at their sales figures.
04/04, 12:00 PM
posted by:
JCwhitless
“Give me a four-holer and fender chrome on a Chevy, call it a Buick, and it’ll sell dag nabbit” -GM exec, 1988
“Give me an SUV with curved fenders and fender chrome, call it a Buick, and it’ll sell dag nabbit” -GM exec, 2003
“Give me another bag of fries down, I have two Toyota Avalons who want number sevens!” -Former GM exec, 2007
04/04, 12:37 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
A collective shout from GM tower: “What means ‘prescient’?
jim
04/04, 12:47 PM
posted by:
Mike
Enclave… Statesman.. BUICK WILL BE BACK SOON
04/04, 3:02 PM
posted by:
Ahk-Med
Your welcome for the story submission LLN:
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/03/gm-sells-financial-unit-will-get-14-billion-in-cash/#comments
04/05, 8:16 AM
posted by:
felix ramsey jr.
I grew up believing that detroit had “the standard for the world” as far as design and quality…but that was the sixties,seventies and in the eighties, the detroit “junk” I brought from ford, gm, chrysler and even amc…proved the fact that I had been had. I’ve never looked back and brought german, japan and even korean cars and been thoughly impressed with the quality, RELIABILITY, economy and price! Now IF, if detroit would just wake up and realize now to win back american respect is to give us GREAT CARS WITH GREAT DESIGN…or we WILL buy them somewhere else…hmm…maybe…CHINA….