Fear of bankruptcy scaring off GM customers

Posted: Dec 03, 2008
Filed under: GM, Industry News

It seems like the General is stuck either way. As the company faces hard financial times, customers are staying away from GM dealerships, says Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president of North American sales. According to Automotive News, experts are saying that consumers are wary of brands that may not be around in the future to handle service or repair issues.

“There’s not a doubt in my mind that it has affected business,” LaNeve said today in a conference call with reporters and analysts.

LaNeve said that CNW Marking Research found that 20 to 30 percent of new car shoppers are staying away from Detroit’s Big 3 dealerships due to negative news about the three companies financial health.

GM sales fell 41 percent in November when compared to the same period in 2007.

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  • ty
    I remember buying a turbo PT in 2003 for 23,000 & then I traded it for a Honda Fit for 5,500. Well the first 3 years were good, the4n came the 4th year when I had to take it to the shop every month. I tried to support Chrysler, but they lost it because they can't build cars where the parts don't wear so quickly. I hate to be this way though. It was the only domestic I owned, (well semi-domestic at the time.) Too bad they don't hold their values well enough, that's why we can't buy them new too.
  • zermatt
    I don't know if I accept the survey results as valid. The last couple of months have been hard on all of the maunufacturers. In fact, Ford had the best November of all of the major brands.

    I can see that GM is fearful of what changes chapter 11 reorganization would bring. The reorganized company would not resemble the current one and most of the executives would be replaced. No one wants to become unemployed.

    In GM's eyes, it is much better to continue to burn through taxpayer money for as long as possible and retain status quo.

    Market research can make the numbers look like the result you are looking for and GM needs to scare congress into making the first of what could become many taxpayer donations.
  • Andrew
    i find it stupid that people are staying away from the big 3. If everybody is scared, it is obvious that they will not get any sales. Even though i am a canadian, i really think we should support the big 3.
  • Bobmarley
    a guy i work worth supported the big 3 last year when he bought an 07' Chevy Avelanche for $40,000. He wants to get rid of it now but the dealer will only give him $12,000 for trade in and i think if he sells it by owner he will only get around $20,000? That is incredible! Cars are the second highest priced item people will buy in their lifetimes so why would you recomend people make such a bad investment?
    I purchased a used honda civic a year ago for $5,000 and sold it a year later for $5,000.
    I dont have money to throw away....if i did i might support the big three. You cant honestly say it is a good investment to buy a new big 3 vehicle...if you could they wouldnt be in this situation
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