Why have the same car but one GMC and one Chevy?

[DVad3r]

Never understood this, why make the same car under different badging? Like the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado? Fanboys?

 

[KevinCU]

GM is run by morons who don't understand consolidation.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: KevinCU
GM is run by morons who don't understand consolidation.

Right...they should learn how to build cars like the Ford Sable or the Mercury Taurus.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: NSFW

Originally posted by: KevinCU
GM is run by morons who don't understand consolidation.

Right...they should learn how to build cars like the Ford Sable or the Mercury Taurus.

Yea or that.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Never understood this, why make the same car under different badging? Like the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado? Fanboys?

For the trucks, the GMCs are generally a little higher end than the Chevys, but yeah, they're almost identical.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Never understood this, why make the same car under different badging? Like the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado? Fanboys?

For the trucks, the GMCs are generally a little higher end than the Chevys, but yeah, they're almost identical.

How? Aren't they made in the same plant?

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Never understood this, why make the same car under different badging? Like the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado? Fanboys?

For the trucks, the GMCs are generally a little higher end than the Chevys, but yeah, they're almost identical.

How? Aren't they made in the same plant?

There's more to a car than the chassis.
GMC trucks could have better specced extras, a better engine, higher end trim etc (things not available on Chevy trucks for example), and so be aimed at a different market while retaining the same base.
I don't know if that is the case, but it is possible for two things which have components in common to be aimed at different markets.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Never understood this, why make the same car under different badging? Like the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado? Fanboys?

For the trucks, the GMCs are generally a little higher end than the Chevys, but yeah, they're almost identical.

How? Aren't they made in the same plant?

There's more to a car than the chassis.
GMC trucks could have better specced extras, a better engine, higher end trim etc (things not available on Chevy trucks for example), and so be aimed at a different market while retaining the same base.
I don't know if that is the case, but it is possible for two things which have components in common to be aimed at different markets.

Yep, the GMC trucks have a few little extras. IIRC you can get a pretty stripped-down Chevy, but you can't get the same in a GMC.

 

[MrChad]

Typically, each brand is targeted at a different marketing segment. You can share body styles and parts between brands to save costs.

The problem for GM (and Ford and Chrysler for that matter) is that target markets for their brands have become blurred. It's clear that Lincoln and Cadillac are higher-end, luxury models, but how is Pontiac different from Chevrolet? Are Ford and Mercury really THAT different? GM, more than Ford or Chrysler, could really stand to shed a few brands and consolidate. I believe they have plans to in the next few years, but we'll see if it's soon enough.

 

[DVad3r]

I don't know, I just made a few pick up trucks on both sites and the trucks seem identical options wise etc. So far though a few here said GMC is better, I've heard that before too from others. Hmmm....

 

[KnickNut3]

Originally posted by: NSFW

Originally posted by: KevinCU
GM is run by morons who don't understand consolidation.

Right...they should learn how to build cars like the Ford Sable or the Mercury Taurus.

You reversed them. Unless the irony was intentional.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

The difference is in the seats - horizontal lines in one, vertical in the other. That is all.

 

[Sluggo]

GMC used to be a little nicer, but now there is not much difference besides some minor trim items.

The only real reason for GMC trucks to exist is becasue of how GM set-up the dealer network.

Chevrolet dealers of course get to sell Chevrolet trucks and cars. Now trucks are big business in volume and profit, and the guys who got stuck selling Buicks, Pontiacs and Cadillacs wanted a piece of the action. So GM simply re-badged some trucks so the luxury brand dealers would have a truck line to sell.

While Pops was down buying Momma a new Park Avenue, he could check out the GMC trucks and hopefully want a new truck for himself.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: KevinCU
GM is run by morons who don't understand consolidation.

Yeah, pretty much.

There's no real need for GMC, Saturn and Pontiac. They could take the couple of vehicles unique to them (Sky/Solstice and the G8) and put them in Chevy.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: DVad3r
I don't know, I just made a few pick up trucks on both sites and the trucks seem identical options wise etc. So far though a few here said GMC is better, I've heard that before too from others. Hmmm....

Lol, one of the very few real differences between the pickups traditionally has been the springs on a GMC were heavier . . . and the grills.

In the 1960's, GM put the Buick V-6 in the GMC's versus the old Chevy stovebolt I-6.

In the pickups, there has long been no real diff. Hell, the Surburban used to be called JUST THAT whether it was a GMC or a Chevy.

Now, OP, as to why?

GMC was the corp's big truck division, General Motors Corporation. WAY back in the day, there were (mostly rural) places that couldn't support a Chevy dealership but could support a truck only GMC dealer . . . hence the duplication.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

hopefully this is one of the restructuring moves that they are all thinking about

 

[Epic Fail]

It's a conspiracy to saturate our TV's with more car commercials.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: EMPshockwave82
hopefully this is one of the restructuring moves that they are all thinking about

Nope. What they have been doing for years now is cosolidating Buick/GMC/Pontiac into single dealerships. Pontiac will become a niche model brand, but keeping GMC with what remains of them and Buick spreads the availability of GM pickups beyond just Chevy dealers.

 

[EGGO]

I've been asking myself that same question with the Plymouth, Chrysler, and Dodge caravans.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Two words, trim package. That's it!

 

[n7]

Camaro/Firebird/Trans AM :heart:

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Typically, each brand is targeted at a different marketing segment. You can share body styles and parts between brands to save costs.

The problem for GM (and Ford and Chrysler for that matter) is that target markets for their brands have become blurred. It's clear that Lincoln and Cadillac are higher-end, luxury models, but how is Pontiac different from Chevrolet? Are Ford and Mercury really THAT different? GM, more than Ford or Chrysler, could really stand to shed a few brands and consolidate. I believe they have plans to in the next few years, but we'll see if it's soon enough.

Very true.

GM has a ton of brands, with so many really aiming for the same market. But that's just a problem in how GM has managed the brands after purchased. Some brands should be kept as owned, but let them do their own vehicles.

GM can almost be compared to EA in terms of gaming - swallow up a company, and instead of letting them do their thing, turn them into just another face of the main company by forcing them to basically mass produce exactly what the main company wants.

Ford and Chrysler are both a little better in this aspect, but at the same time do seem to follow the same basic path.
For example, Chrysler will have their brands each have their own fleet, but at the same time will also often produce the same base vehicle under different a different persona for each brand. There have been a few recent Dodge and Jeep vehicles which are basically the same vehicle, but with a different look, though same chassis. Slightly different interior, maybe different engines, but the actual frame of the chassis is the same, while each brand gets their own "bodykit". Main problem with that is its diluting the brand name for Jeep as Jeep vehicles have always been quite capable off the beaten path, but some recent Jeep vehicles are unibody, not very configurable, and just downright terrible unless driven only on the road. This works for some as they like the Jeep brand but don't ever have the need/desire to hit the mud, but come on... the Jeep name was built on the need for all-utility vehicles.

But other similarities are in Dodge and Chrysler branded vehicles. Many share the same base configuration, but with minor differences, with Dodge having an edgier, sporty appeal while the Chrysler brand tried to keep to more refined, sometimes luxury appeal. Thankfully they aren't doing this with the truck fleet like GM does.

The worst days for Chrysler though in this regard was probably when the Plymouth brand was still around. So many vehicles were produced under both the Dodge and Plymouth brands, it was ridiculous. Thankfully the Plymouth brand was axed. Though some vehicles were exclusively Plymouth, with ones like the Prowler just being pure awesome, it was a good decision. Would be sweet for another Prowler-like vehicle to come around again though.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: MrChad
Typically, each brand is targeted at a different marketing segment. You can share body styles and parts between brands to save costs.

The problem for GM (and Ford and Chrysler for that matter) is that target markets for their brands have become blurred. It's clear that Lincoln and Cadillac are higher-end, luxury models, but how is Pontiac different from Chevrolet? Are Ford and Mercury really THAT different? GM, more than Ford or Chrysler, could really stand to shed a few brands and consolidate. I believe they have plans to in the next few years, but we'll see if it's soon enough.

Very true.

GM has a ton of brands, with so many really aiming for the same market. But that's just a problem in how GM has managed the brands after purchased. Some brands should be kept as owned, but let them do their own vehicles.

GM can almost be compared to EA in terms of gaming - swallow up a company, and instead of letting them do their thing, turn them into just another face of the main company by forcing them to basically mass produce exactly what the main company wants.

Ford and Chrysler are both a little better in this aspect, but at the same time do seem to follow the same basic path.
For example, Chrysler will have their brands each have their own fleet, but at the same time will also often produce the same base vehicle under different a different persona for each brand. There have been a few recent Dodge and Jeep vehicles which are basically the same vehicle, but with a different look, though same chassis. Slightly different interior, maybe different engines, but the actual frame of the chassis is the same, while each brand gets their own "bodykit". Main problem with that is its diluting the brand name for Jeep as Jeep vehicles have always been quite capable off the beaten path, but some recent Jeep vehicles are unibody, not very configurable, and just downright terrible unless driven only on the road. This works for some as they like the Jeep brand but don't ever have the need/desire to hit the mud, but come on... the Jeep name was built on the need for all-utility vehicles.

But other similarities are in Dodge and Chrysler branded vehicles. Many share the same base configuration, but with minor differences, with Dodge having an edgier, sporty appeal while the Chrysler brand tried to keep to more refined, sometimes luxury appeal. Thankfully they aren't doing this with the truck fleet like GM does.

The worst days for Chrysler though in this regard was probably when the Plymouth brand was still around. So many vehicles were produced under both the Dodge and Plymouth brands, it was ridiculous. Thankfully the Plymouth brand was axed. Though some vehicles were exclusively Plymouth, with ones like the Prowler just being pure awesome, it was a good decision. Would be sweet for another Prowler-like vehicle to come around again though.

You're not really a car person, are you, destrekor?

 

[rh71]

You mean like the Porsche Cayenne and the VW Toureg?

Anyway, my first experience with this was my Isuzu Rodeo... and the more familiar Honda Passport:

The Passport was part of a growing partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s, in which Isuzu supplied Honda with SUVs (in addition to producing Passports, Isuzu also provided Honda with Trooper SUVs to be sold as the Acura SLX) and Honda supplied Isuzu with cars - in particular the Isuzu Gemini (Honda Civic; Japan-market only) and Isuzu Oasis (Honda Odyssey). It sold quite well in the regions of the US such as the Pacific Northwest against competitors such as the truck-based Nissan Pathfinder.

 

[aircooled]

They rebadged a Cavalier into a Cadillac once. The Cadillac Cimarron.