GM Ponders Future of Envoy XUV, Bonneville

[ragingfish]

Quote »GM mulls the future of Envoy XUV, BonnevilleBy Rick KranzAutomotive News / January 17, 2005DETROIT -- General Motors will decide in the next three months whether to drop the Pontiac Bonneville at the end of the 2005 model year.Also, the automaker likely will decide within six months the future of the GMC Envoy XUV, a slow-selling SUV that features a large, power-operated sliding roof over the cargo area.The Bonneville decision is driven by the expansion of the Pontiac model line and the introduction of the 2006 Buick Lucerne, the replacement for the Buick LeSabre. Under GM's retail channel strategy, the automaker is pushing combined Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealerships to reduce product overlap.Jim Bunnell, Pontiac-GMC marketing general manager, said the Bonneville had a good year in 2004 with 29,852 sales, up from 25,250 in 2003."But as you know, that large segment has continued to slide," Bunnell said. "We have a very strong LeSabre and a new Lucerne coming, so the question is, is this the best use of our resources?"Frankly, from a dealer standpoint, does it make sense for the dealers to stock and floorplan both a Bonneville and a Lucerne, given products like the Pontiac Torrent, G6 coupe and Solstice" will be going into production in the next six months? Of GM's combined Pontiac-GMC-Buick dealers, 48 percent have all three franchises, according to a GM spokesman.Additionally, the Bonneville and Grand Prix sedans overlap in terms of content and size.Bunnell said the Bonneville will be assembled through June, but "beyond that we are not sure yet."The Envoy XUV, meanwhile, has failed to meet sales projections.The SUV, introduced in 2003, was expected to generate annual sales in excess of 125,000, according to a supplier. Last year, the automaker assembled 12,390 units. GM does not break out XUV sales in its monthly report.The Envoy XUV is an odd duck in the SUV segment. Ads show an XUV with an open roof, carrying a grandfather clock upright in the cargo area.Bunnell blamed the slow sales on the vehicle's five-passenger configuration."Pet owners absolutely love it, as do antique dealers and contractors, because it is so functional," Bunnell said.But, he added, sales numbers show that most consumers prefer a seven-seater.Bunnell expects that the Envoy XUV will be produced "at least through the '05 model year. My guess is into the '06 model year."You may e-mail Rick Kranz at rkranz@crain.comSource: http://www.autonews.com/articl...51347Stupid move GM.Just because the Buick "fits the bill" doesn't mean everyone WANTS TO DRIVE A BUICK!Ever hear of a thing called BRAND LOYALTY?I'd drive an Aztek before I'd ever get in a Buick.

[ColonelPanic]

GM does it again! I totally agree with you about brand loyalty. It seems GM doesn't care about such things.I'll be sad to see the Bonneville go. Not so much the XUV, hell I've never even noticed any driving around here! I think GM's not going to have much luck selling this Buick to Pontiac customers... Pretty stupid idea, if you ask me. But the powers that be who are in charge of GM's finances seem to think otherwise. "Let's kill off the Bonneville and give them this Buick - they're too stupid to know the difference!" Morons.

[Kari]

There's a big difference between the "target audience" of a Pontiac and a Buick, I think. They're gonna screw up if they think the two are entirely equal.

[tecton]

the XUV is stupidthe whole idea is marketed to people who want the comfort and luxury of an SUV with the 9 foot tall armiore hauling ability of a uhaulits stupidSTUPIDif you need to be hauling that crap, buy a PICKUP for 4,000$ and get a normal SUV for 10,000 LESS THAN THE XUV its silly...its liky buying a suv to move with, instead of going to uhaul and renting...its sillyhow can GM make billions of dollars a year and still f*up something so obvious like this

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by tecton »the XUV is stupidthe whole idea is marketed to people who want the comfort and luxury of an SUV with the 9 foot tall armiore hauling ability of a uhaulits stupidSTUPIDif you need to be hauling that crap, buy a PICKUP for 4,000$ and get a normal SUV for 10,000 LESS THAN THE XUV its silly...its liky buying a suv to move with, instead of going to uhaul and renting...its sillyhow can GM make billions of dollars a year and still f*up something so obvious like thisI agree with this, but I really like the Bonneville. If I had the $$ I might get one, but I guess they are a little pricey so maybe they aren't selling so well when there are so many other choices in that category.

[Kari]

I must be the only person who thinks the XUV is cool...LOL.

[drunkenmaxx]

who the hell has a new buick??

[ToolGuy]

The Envoy XUV, meanwhile, has failed to meet sales projections.Finally they realize, the XUV is great if you want to haul your Giraffe around! "Pet owners absolutely love it, as do antique dealers and contractors, because it is so functional," Bunnell said.Quit lying already damn it!

[SGT]

I agree with the others that if GM really thinks a loyal Pontiac driver will step into a Buick to fill their large car needs they are wrong. Dead Wrong. My Vibe is the 5th Pontiac I have owned. I would sooner get into a Chevy or god forbid a Ford or Dodge before I would ever consider driving a Buick. If GM can afford to lose the 25,000 to 30,000 people who buy Bonnevilles each year, more power to them. If they honestly think that the natural step up from the Grand Prix is into a rebadged LeSabre they are so wrong. The XUV was an interesting concept, but I can't ever remember when I wished my car's roof would retract so I could haul something that big. There is no market for that. Most people who can afford the XUV's pricetag would sooner pay someone to deliver whatever it is the XUV is supposed to be capable of hauling.

[tnpartsguy]

I work at a Buick Dealer, and there is NO WAY you could make me drive one. They killed off the wrong division, should have saved Oldsmobile, and killed Buick (and Sadturd, aka Saturn) IMHO!!

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »I work at a Buick Dealer, and there is NO WAY you could make me drive one. They killed off the wrong division, should have saved Oldsmobile, and killed Buick (and Sadturd, aka Saturn) IMHO!!I agree about Olds. I was apparantly in the minority, but I thought the later generation Alero was a nice car! Intrigue wasn't hard on the eyes either...I do have to disagree about Saturn. Yes, they've been poorly run since their inception in the late 90s. But there was a good period of time where GM kinda sent them out to pasture...Now that the SKY and AURA are promising to be HUGE hits, I'm happy...I think Saturn always had nice cars, just not the best execution...I liked the ION...all except that stupid center cluster. Nix that, I would've VERY seriously considered one along side of the Vibe...

[Sputnik]

Buicks are for old fogies. Sorry to all you Buick drivers out there.

[tecton]

its the truthbuicks = old people carsold people like it that wayleave it alone

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Source: http://www.autonews.com/articl...51347Stupid move GM.Just because the Buick "fits the bill" doesn't mean everyone WANTS TO DRIVE A BUICK!Ever hear of a thing called BRAND LOYALTY?I'd drive an Aztek before I'd ever get in a Buick.I agree! This type of crap is what contributes to GM reporting a 34% DROP in sales/revenue during the 4th Qtr of '04

[Psychobroker]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »The Envoy XUV, meanwhile, has failed to meet sales projections.Finally they realize, the XUV is great if you want to haul your Giraffe around! "Pet owners absolutely love it, as do antique dealers and contractors, because it is so functional," Bunnell said.Quit lying already damn it! LOL I don't know of a PET that would need a retractable cargo roof!! What are they feeding dogs these days? steroids?Giraffe...ROFL, maybe an Ostrich or Emu? How about a Hippo.