GM + Renault + Nissan, What's everyone's thought on this? Options

[saleeka]

I think for everyone who hasn't been following this, its just easier to post up the news links-

2 Automakers weigh buying into GM

GM board votes to start talks

I think that this is a very interesting senario, to say the least. Its been common knowlege for some time that GM is in bad shape and that change has been needed, but how out of left field did this come? I personally don't have a strong opinion against a possible alliance, however, I don't forsee it as somthing that would strongly bennifit Renault or Nissan. Nissan has made great strides in making a comeback from near bankrupcy as of late, but I don't see how an automaker that hasn't been able to truely turn itself around would give Nissan a gain. Not only that, but it seems Nissan's strong comeback has become stagnant in some sales markets, like the US and Japan, so it might not be such a good idea to praise nissan so highly just yet. Also, from my understanding with Renault, they are also trying to stem sliding sales due to overly eccentric designs that the mass public haven't embraced in Europe... The alliance would no doubt boost the strength at GM, but for how long, and at who's expence? If they do form an alliance, I could expect to see common platform sharing between Opel/Vauxhall and Renault for the european marketplace, and see platform sharing with Nissan and GM here in the US (much along the lines of ford/mazda). The one thing that sticks in my head, however, is the relationship that GM and Fiat tried to form a few years back. If I recall correctly, GM bought into Fiat for cheap because of fiats woes (much like the state GM is in now), and GM then realized that it was better off dumping the Fiat connection because it was dragging GM down, and they in turn gave fiat a huge chunk of change as a parting gift, so to speak... I guess only time will tell, but I don't see this as GM's big break.

[Rayme]

The 300 is told to have saved Daimler-Chrysler...and all their new cars are almost all based of it!


GM needs needs to build some car that is actually attractive, the malibu looks bad and the cobalt, thought its a really nice car, looks like a late 90s car and already look old if you compare it to mazda 3s and honda civic. GM still has some good cars, like all their trucks (not the hummers...) and the vette.

Another problem is they have too much "clone cars", The monte carlo and impala, one of those would be enough. Cobalts and Pursuits, waves and aveos, Sierras and Silverado, their whole range of vans! Also to add Chevrolet has way too much small-midsize cars, cobalt, epica, optra, malibu, its enough to get lost!

Time for a cleanup!

This post has been edited by Rayme: Jul 10, 2006 - 7:51 PM