Despite plenty of talk of the death of the motor show, most major carmakers still put in considerable effort to draw in punters to their displays and stands. The Los Angeles motor show was still teaming with people eager to poke and prod at most brand’s latest models. Except, that is, on General Motors’ show stands.
GM’s big brands were there, alright, with the sizeable stands and full spectrum of product that you’d expect for its home market show. But every time I walked past the Cadillac, Buick, GMC and even Chevrolet stands, the people looking after the exhibits outnumbered the visitors looking at the cars.
Yes, it was a media day and the halls were not full of buying public, but I still suspect the punters have little interest in what GM’s formerly dominant brands have to offer. The buzz was over at the German and Japanese makers, most with something new and/or relatively exciting to show off, whereas none of GM’s stands had an all-new car on display.
In my view, the exodus is simply because there is nothing original, interesting or remotely innovative about the majority of GM’s product. Cadillac’s range of gas-guzzling SUVs and derivative saloon cars are far from cutting edge, and while Chevrolet’s large range includes the slow-selling Bolt EV, the Volt range-extender hybrid has just been given the chop as part of GM’s wide-reaching cost-cutting plans, including massive factory shutdowns.
But by far and away the most bleak sight was the Buick stand. The oldest American car brand still alive has been reduced to flogging a range largely made up of rebadged Vauxhalls, with the Buick Cascada (yes, the now-dead Astra drop-top) seemingly taking pride of place. I went there to transcribe interviews because it was so quiet, and watched the sad sight of a cleaner wiping the same pristine floor space that nobody’s walked on for hour after hour.
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There does seem to be a
There does seem to be a general, malaise, shared between the USA manufacturers.
Whilst this has been recognised, accepted, by Ford; and by Fiat Chrysler (FCA); it would seem the situation has yet to be even acknowledged by GM.
Hardly surprising on media day
It's media day, so naturally the journos are going to visit the stands where there's something new. Not much happening at GM right now so of course it'll be quiet - it's less about the cars being dull and more about there being no change at the show. If the C8 Vette was being launched in LA rather than (likely) Detroit next year then I'm sure it would have been a different story.
That's why they're doing a
That's why they're doing a Ford US and axing their saloon cars (bar one, strangely, the Malibu, presumably some fleets still need them?) and focusing on building out what US consumers are buying in droves - SUVs and crossover SUVs.
Theres no real innovation in pumping out SUVs and crossovers as US CAFE emissions regulations class these as trucks and so not need to lower emissions as per the car range.
It's an overall trend, we are seeing it here too, where cars are increasingly white goods. The motor shows of old where cars are some emotional purchase are gone, in the west at least.
I'm with you
...I understand that this started because in the US they didn't have to crash test "trucks" either..at a time when the planet is asking all of us to "take it easy" the motoring industry gives us 2 tonne trucks. Should sell like wildfire.