Say it ain't so Rick...OLDS IS DEAD, and it looked so good right up to the end!
13 December 2000
With the announcement today that GM will phase out its 104 year old Oldsmobile vehicle division, another grand old brand joins the “formerly successful and famous” like Plymouth, Kaiser, Packard, Edsel, American Motors, Hudson, Hupmobile, Checker, Delorean, Sunbeam, International Harvester, Triumph, Austin Healy, Yugo, (Any others?) I am asking all of the TACH’ers out there to E me their opinions on what caused Oldsmobile’s inability to create cars that catch your attention, despite more than $3 billion in investment in new models over the past several years.I promise to publish the "Best of the Letters" In the past they could and did and then they couldn't’how come? Bob Gordon Co-Publisher bgordon@tach.com Official GM Press Announcement FOR RELEASE: December 12, 2000 General Motors Announces Phase-Out of Oldsmobile Detroit, Mich. - GM announced today that the Oldsmobile Division will be phased out over the next few years. In making the announcement, GM President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner and Executive Vice President and President North America Ron Zarrella said that despite major investments over the past few years that resulted in critically acclaimed new Oldsmobile products, the division was still unprofitable and its sales volume continued to erode. “We stretched to find profitable ways to further strengthen the Oldsmobile product line, including developing products with our global alliance partners, but in the current environment, there was no workable solution,” said Wagoner. Wagoner added this has been a very difficult and painful decision because of the history of the Oldsmobile division. “It is the oldest automotive brand in America with a history that is rich with innovation and success stories, including dozens of legendary cars, and over the years it was one of the jewels in the General Motors’ crown,” he said. “In recent years, we have made major investments in new products for Oldsmobile – significant capital and engineering resources – in an effort to re-position Oldsmobile in the market,” Zarrella said. “Even with the introduction of several great new products, the brand’s sales and profit performance remain under pressure.” A dramatically changing North American automotive landscape is driving GM to focus its resources even more sharply on growth opportunities and on making the entire brand portfolio more effective in the marketplace. That means a portfolio dominated by innovative products with shorter lifecycles. “I want to assure you that we are very sensitive to the concerns and needs of the Oldsmobile customer,” Zarrella said. “We will work together with our Oldsmobile dealers to provide for a smooth and orderly business transition.” A call center has been established in Detroit to address dealer questions and capture dealer concerns for resolution. In addition, a transition team will be located in each of the company’s five regions to address dealer concerns and inquiries. A dedicated team will work on an individual basis with all dealers involved to facilitate a smooth and orderly transition. The company will also work with Oldsmobile dealers so those customers continue to receive quality service and parts. If there is any change in Oldsmobile representation in a customer’s area, service and parts will be made available through another GM dealer. There will be several customer care initiatives beginning with a special 1-800 number for Oldsmobile owners. As valued members of the General Motors family, they will have the benefit of the largest and one of the most responsive customer care networks in the industry to address their concerns. In addition, recent Oldsmobile customers will be provided a certificate of at least $1,000 toward the purchase or lease of a new Oldsmobile or other GM vehicles. Regarding Oldsmobile employees, Zarrella said that the dedication exhibited by the Oldsmobile team has been exemplary. “This is why we will work hard to provide opportunities for these valued employees to stay in the GM family,” said Zarrella. “While this is a difficult decision, we believe that in the long run, it is the right thing to do to increase GM’s competitiveness, profitability and growth, Zarrella said.”
