The mid to large-crossover segment is becoming increasingly populated – even within General Motors’ family of brands – but GM is confident that its newest Chevrolet Traverse can push its way to the front of the class. Although the Traverse has only been on the market for a couple of weeks, Chevrolet is aiming its newest crossover squarely at the segment leaders – the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.
One major advantage Chevrolet has over its Japanese competition is a larger dealer network. Although GM is currently trying to reduce the number of Chevrolet showrooms in America, the Bow Tie brand still has enough retail stores nationwide to support the kind of numbers GM has planned for the value-minded Traverse. Toyota sold 127,878 Highlanders in 2007, while Honda moved 117,146 Pilots – both numbers GM hopes to trump in the Traverse’s first full year on the market.
In addition to a larger dealer network, GM is also banking on cash incentives to help move the Traverse. An important part of that strategy will include offering cash rebates to non-GM owners. “We need to conquest,” Chevrolet head Ed Peper told Automotive News. “We need fresh people.”
GM faced a similar situation in the mid-size sedan segment. Before the launch of the all-new Malibu, GM was basically giving away sales to Toyota and Honda. However, GM went back to the drawing board and created an all-new entrant that delivered style and quality. GM is looking to build on that blueprint with the Traverse.
But some GM dealers are fearful that a fourth Lambda-based crossover will only cannibalize other GM sales. To differentiate the Traverse from its up-level siblings, many dealers are only ordering base model Traverse. “We have to price-point this vehicle so we can still sell our Envoys and Acadias,” Brian Boyd, general manager of Charles Boyd Chevrolet-Pontiac-Cadillac-Buick-GMC, told Automotive News. If Boyd’s strategy becomes a trend, it could deter customers from choosing a lesser-equipped Traverse over a Highlander or Pilot.
But with the Traverse only having a few selling days under its belt, it’s way too early to predict if it has what it takes to take over as the market leader in a very competitive segment.
09/29, 5:24 PM
posted by:
megeebee
Good luck.
09/29, 5:37 PM
posted by:
ktulu
Wvery1 who wants a lambda has 1 now.
the Highlander & Pilot have been around a long time. who will biy the chevrolet? I no its better, but will GM support it?
Cponquests R importabt. These #s look hugem but maybe it’ll help from people whu iused 2 buy minivanms and giant suvs.
the Malibu is gr8, nut i fdon’t now how it’s selling.
Brian Boyd should have a Chevrolet-VW-Lexus dealer, instead of selling lot of vehgicles that R very similar.
09/29, 6:05 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
As I recall, Ford was waxing poetic about delivering 100,000 plus copies of the Flex over its first year of production as well. I can’t tell you exactly how that program’s going but I’d bet there are some Canadian brothers in Ontario out of a job who would tell you the answer is ‘not well’.
09/29, 6:10 PM
posted by:
quiksilver180
And if I recall, the new car market is more heavily focused on efficient cars now? Even with the gas prices being a little lower, I highly doubt it will stay that way.
GM, you should return all your government bailout money or rethink how you’re going to become profitable. If Toyota and Honda can do it, why can’t you? Oh, that’s right… you’re holding out for the Volt.
09/29, 6:41 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I love the headline:
“GM eyeing number one spot for Chevrolet Traverse”
Anyone here think that GM won’t actually GET the Chevrolet Traverse? Is there someone else trying to get this car away from GM?
09/29, 6:55 PM
posted by:
megeebee
KTULU:
“Cponquests R importabt.”
.
So are typing skills.
.
09/29, 6:56 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
keep dreaming GM
09/29, 7:09 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
Sweet I can’t wait the, Trailblazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Escallade, SRX, Acadia, Envoy, Yukon, Equinox, Torrent, weren’t enough choices
09/29, 7:13 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Good vehicle, bad strategy
If the Chevy came out before the other GM knock-offs, they’d have a shot.
I think between the other 3 versions they still don’t sell 10k a month.
If they killed one version, and made 50% production for Chevy, they’d have a shot.
Forethought is not one of GM’s strengths
BTW, these full-size vehicles have little in common with mid-sized Highlanders and Pilots.
They call them mid-sizers because if they call them full-sized (which they are), truck-based Tahoe sales would tank, killing another Golden Goose.
Many are taken by this shell game.
DrFill
09/29, 8:35 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Where’s Need more oil for GM? He’s missing the fun!
09/29, 9:24 PM
posted by:
jackdev73
The Traverse is by far the best looking when compared with the ugly and odd looking Highlander and the dull and boring Pilot. Since all three have top notch quality the Chevy is the clear winner.
09/30, 6:57 AM
posted by:
ricky_b
I’ve seen these in person and they look great. But, like others have pointed out, Lambda also includes Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. Worse is that these three already had good price points to begin with so if the dealers are buying the “base” Traverse to keep from competing with the other three, those Traverse models are going to be stripped. Look at the Highlander and Pilot to see how many of those buyers really buy the stripped base models. And let’s not forget that Highlander comes in 4 cylinder and Hybrid, which adds to their appeal.
09/30, 10:31 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Since all three have top notch quality?? When did Chevy have top knotch quality lol Nice try
As far as outselling the Highlander and Pilot I dont think there is a chance in hell !
The Toyota and Honda are PROVEN reliable and the Chevy is not.
There are also too many choices with the Lambda’s and none of them are better than the Japanese offerings.
Chevy best put the money into the Volt and the release the Cruze NOW
09/30, 1:02 PM
posted by:
TomF
Why is a large dealer network an advantage to the average buyer? It only matters if you intend to drive all over the country constantly.
09/30, 2:29 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
GM eats Honda and Toyota in quality and reliability. Americans would much rather drive a GM
09/30, 2:30 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
tripleonfive needs to move to Japan, you’re a disgrace to your country you ignorant fuk
09/30, 6:07 PM
posted by:
monte
Tom F, it helps when you don’t have to drive as far from home to purchase or service your vehicle
10/01, 8:14 AM
posted by:
oldraven
Tripleonefive, the Pilot is ‘proven’ reliable? You really don’t know ****. Pilot owners are having constant issues with engine failure. My brother owns one and he’s had no problems yet, but another fellow I know sold his for having to get the engine repaired repeatedly. This isn’t your average 90’s Civic we’re talking about here. Honda and Toyota have both had their fair share of unreliable vehicles over the past decade. Some folks (most) just choose to not hear any of it. Fingers in the ears and singing ‘lala’.
“I have owned a few different suv’s, but the only one on your list I owned was the 03 pilot and was I ever dissapionted lots of power it actually out runs most suvs on the market good on gas, but always broken from suspension to a coil pack melting and blowing the motor from it melting the spark plug and dropping it in the motor. I was a member on a pilot forum and it seemed like everybody always has issues with them.”
10/01, 8:15 AM
posted by:
oldraven
BTW, the Traverse just hit the market. How is it proven unreliable? I’d really like to get an answer to that, ****tard.
10/01, 10:16 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
03 Pilots have all but disappeared from the landscape. Honda built the Pilot to have a lifespan of about 2 years tops. Then it’s off to the scrapheap with the rest of the Japanese trash! Good luck finding one with 100k miles on it that hasn’t been rebiult entirely.
10/01, 10:17 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
The Traverse will be just like every other GM product, built to last for decades with nary a problem. That’s why GM is a consistant leader in quality and reliability and the reason why Americans choose GM over anything else
An American Revolution
10/01, 12:04 PM
posted by:
oldraven
Can you please just STFU?
10/01, 1:24 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Tripleonefag, do you have any data to support your notion that there are no reliable American cars on the road today? Of course not. You do have a choice but you have delued yourself into believeing you do not. It’s funny when people who haven’t owned a domestic vehicle in 15-20 years come on here (or anywhere) and preach about how they have no choice but to buy Japanese if they want a good car. Americans are so ignorant and the sad part is they revel in their ignorance.
10/01, 1:58 PM
posted by:
Nesodian
Isn’t the Nissan Murano the segment leader?
10/01, 2:21 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
“Americans are so ignorant and the sad part is they revel in their ignorance.”
LMAO! I don’t think I could have described NMOFGM better if I wanted to.
That’s why I think he’s a fake.
Fake: 2
Tool: 0
10/01, 4:25 PM
posted by:
oldraven
“Isn’t the Nissan Murano the segment leader?”
Only to the blind.
NMOFGM is totally a fake. In fact, I think he’s 1115. (ok, I just made that last part up)
10/01, 6:32 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
So now we have 3 for Fake.
10/01, 9:08 PM
posted by:
RTT10
UR A FAKE U DUMFUK….
10/03, 4:55 PM
posted by:
Viral
Somes replies to various points above…
Sept sales:
Acadia: 6015
Enclave: 5171
Outlook: 2803
Ford Flex: 1959
GMC Yukon: 3557
The Lambdas already outsell the Yukon by a HUGE margin. they even outsell the Tahoe and Yukon combined.The Flex sales are anemic so far, WAY under expectations for Ford. The Japanese crossovers (highlander and pilot) are a half size smaller and STILL have worse fuel economy.
Tons more info at http://www.traverseforum.com
11/09, 4:10 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Lofty goals.
but the Traverse (as the Outlook, etc.) is a better rig and Chevy has the dealer network. GM’s main obstacles to outselling H-pilot and toyota-branded sequoia are the other Lambdas and long memories.
DrFill: “Forethought is not one of GM’s strengths.” apparently not.
ricky_b: “these three already had good price points to begin with so if the dealers are buying the ‘base, Traverse to keep from competing with the other three, those Traverse models are going to be stripped. Look at the Highlander and Pilot to see how many of those buyers really buy the stripped base models. And let’s not forget that Highlander comes in 4 cylinder and Hybrid, which adds to their appeal.” good points.
tripleonefive: “Since all three have top notch quality?” good question. How do these 2 PsOSs get a pass?
Need more oil for GM: “GM eats Honda and Toyota in quality and reliability.” yeah. “Americans would much rather drive a GM.” apparently not.
Need more oil for GM: “Honda built the Pilot to have a lifespan of about 2 years tops.” I disagree. My Civic lasted almost 10 years.
“Americans choose GM over anything else?” No, they don’t.