BREAKING: GM disbands High Performance Vehicle Operations

[pauldun170]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/b...le-operations/

[Homeslice]

Exactly the opposite of what they should have done. Except for those cars, nothing else in GM's lineup is very interesting. Furthermore, if you were an engineer, you would put out your best work when you're allowed to work on interesting vehicles.

[Adeptus_Minor]

I'm sure our resident GM backer will have some insight as to why they made this decision, but to me it looks like the same sort of bad decision making we've been seeing from them for a long time.
They get a model 'right', and then they axe it.
The company is marketing a whole line of bland vehicles and then they axe the division that provided some spice.

[MikeSP1]

This is just what GM is good at, killing off a good thing. Keep the rigs that they just axed, and pitch the rest. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm ok with buying a bland pos from a bland manufacturer. Have they axed the Corvette yet? I'd expect that out of them, follows with the logic.

[Homeslice]

I'm sure GM will issue a press release claiming that people aren't interested in performance cars anymore due to the economy. So we'll get a repeat performance of the late 70's/early 80's where the imports dominated the performance market for 10 years and America didn't recover until about 84/85.

[RACER X]

damm the reality, HiPO cars make up a tiny picture of GMs big picture, wonder what cobalt SS sales are compared to reg.cobalts. what less then 5%

while i hate to see it go. it's a sign of the times.

hoping the camaro comes out next yr. they've cancelled the RHD drive version for europe

then there's these issues:

"The Cadence-and-Camaro saga continues. Cadence, which makes interior parts for the Camaro, declared bankruptcy last August. GM sued the supplier to recover the specialized tooling machines it could need in order to continue Camaro production - or will it need to have the machines made again. GM also refrained from paying Cadence $4.9 million that Cadence says it is owed for "parts, labor, and equipment."

Cadence has now countersued The General, not just to get the money, but because that money is an integral part of Cadence's liquidation plans. Without it, Cadence maintains there will be "substantial harm to Cadence's bankruptcy estate." The pre-production Camaros are already in the works, and we have no idea how this development will affect the production version of the car. This battle can't be good for either company, but it's especially bad news for all of the Camaro faithful who are patiently awaiting the return of their king.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/c...gm-right-back/

[unknownroad]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Exactly the opposite of what they should have done. Except for those cars, nothing else in GM's lineup is very interesting. Furthermore, if you were an engineer, you would put out your best work when you're allowed to work on interesting vehicles.

Can you imagine being an engineer working on the V-series Caddies, and being moved to BUICK!

Ugh. I can't believe GM's upper management gets paid at all, never mind the seven-figure salaries + bonuses they draw. It's like they all graduated from the Special Needs School of Business.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by unknownroad

Can you imagine being an engineer working on the V-series Caddies, and being moved to BUICK!

Ugh. I can't believe GM's upper management gets paid at all, never mind the seven-figure salaries + bonuses they draw. It's like they all graduated from the Special Needs School of Business.

There is little difference to engineers IMO. When I worked at GM in their Powertrain group in the diagnostic group, there were four groups: Big Block, Preimium V engines, 60/90degree and the line 4 engines. I was in the 60/90 degree engines and we got anything we needed because those were GMs bread and butter. The line 4's didn't get shit and the Premium guys were treated like they each had PHDs (for some reason), but their budgets were curtailed.

GM has been loosing billions of dollars for a long time now, has been around for over 100 years and STILL has not declared Chapter 11 whereas most companies couldn't go 3 months in the red without BK. GM has a strong desire to survive and the only reason I see why it is still around because they built it so structurally solid, that it is taken so long to bring it down.

[Homeslice]

But if a young person buys a Cobalt SS, he has a higher chance of "graduating" to other GM vehicles in the future. Think about it, GM needs vehicles like that to prevent the youth market from assuming that only imports make cool vehicles.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

But if a young person buys a Cobalt SS, he has a higher chance of "graduating" to other GM vehicles in the future. Think about it, GM needs vehicles like that to prevent the youth market from assuming that only imports make cool vehicles.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm saying GM is bleeding waaaaay too much and it had to go.

Besides, the young guy buys a truck first then an SS Cobalt.