Last Rites

This week may well bring about the end of two American institutions. General Motors and Chrysler have to produce long term viability plans this week in order to continue receiving money from the US Government. By all accounts that money is all that is keeping GM afloat at this point and Chrysler is likely in as bad if not worse condition.

There have been few rumors about Chrysler's plans leaving their future up to wild speculation ranging from some magic benefactor saving them to deals are already struck on dividing the company up among Chinese and Koreans competitors.

It looks as if GM is likely to submit and finally declare bankruptcy, essentially splitting the company into a "good" part and a "bad" part. The "bad" part is likely to include a motley crew of losing brands like Saab, Hummer and Saturn. It looks like Roger Smith's bastard brand is going to be sacrificed in order to save Pontiac...I say good riddance. Saturn was a bad idea from the start and contributed to the mess that GM is in at this moment, they should have killed it about eight years ago.

Hummer....do I even need to comment? Let's spend billions buying and promoting a limited appeal boutique brand and then basically piss on their image by neutering their vehicles. GM: "We know you loved the rugged, go anywhere capability of the Hummer H1 so here's a Chevy Tahoe with shitty suspension and a top heavy Tonka truck body...we call it the H2." Is it any wonder that they are on the verge of collapse?

I do feel sorry for Saab. There was a time that they made interesting and unique cars that appealed to a small but loyal fan base. Eventually, GM beat all of the Swedish-ness out of the cars and they became little more than thinly disguised re-badges of other GM products.

Problem is that GM needs to take at least two more steps. Why does GMC Truck still exist? Time to decide, do you sell ALL of your trucks and SUVs under one brand or what? Why the fuck is there a Chevy Silverado AND a GMC Sierra? They are the same fucking truck! Don't give all this brand marketing bullshit, you are bleeding money and the cost of making two NEARLY identical trucks is ridiculous.

Pick a small car brand....more to the point make Chevy your small car/"value" brand. Again you are wasting money by making thinly diguised, re-badged versions of Chevy cars for Pontiac dealerships. How about you try and make ONE DECENT FUCKING SMALL CAR THAT ISN"T REALLY A KOREAN DAEWOO.