2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Today reports are circulating that GM may be steered into filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy by June 1, 2009. This will especially be true if the restructuring plan that is due by May 31 is received poorly by the current administration. Of course, GM as a whole isn’t the only thing making the news; the speculation about Saturn and the future of the brand (or possibly lack there of) is also getting a lot of attention. Not to mention current speculation the Mitsubishi might be interested in filling the dealers with their cars for the near term.

Currently, GM has been trying to keep a positive spin on the future, which can be seen by communications from the CEO via social media and other media outlets (see GM In the Fast Lane). However, even with the appearance of the Volt recently on The Late Show with David Letterman and the reasonably good press on the new Chevrolet Cruze, GM still doesn’t seem to be able to pull out of the nose dive they have found themselves in. It makes me wonder, what will the future of GM bring?

Saturn Logo

Saturn Logo

Take Saturn, an endeavor that once was a “secret” part of GM and then over the years blended more and more into being just another part of the automotive giant. Saturn is a perfect example of recognizing a problem (that they were failing to give the consumer what they wanted) and then turning a blind eye to it. When the Saturn brand first emerged on the scene it was supposed to be a totally different way of buying a car, a totally different kind of car company and, most importantly, one that had the consumer needs in mind. I remember the Saturn “Homecoming” back in June of 1994 that invited some 44,000 Saturn owners to the Spring Hill, Tennessee plant for a family style event dubbed Saturnstock. It was said back then that this event reinforced the Saturn charisma.

So, in 15 years we have come from the praise and community of the Saturn brand to the uncertainty of the future for both the Saturn and GM brands alike. In the end it isn’t just about the technology and model offerings, it is also about the customer experience and community. Somewhere along the way GM and the consumer lost the loyalty relationship.

 

Be sure to check out other coverage here at AllSmallCars.com including: 2010 Opel Astra: Could This Be the Small Car Buick Is Missing and Missing Pieces of American Iconography: The Firebird Trans-Am and Dom Deluise. Find more on Chevrolet over at ChevorletReports.com and everything about Families and Cars at FamilyCarGuide.com.

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