Anyone catch Jamie Kitman's remarks in Automobile? - Saab General Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
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Anyone catch Jamie Kitman's remarks in Automobile?
Posted by pursang (more from pursang) on Wed, 10 Jul 2002 09:37:02
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Article was on VW W8 sedan and how Quality is your Brand, not your hype. Remarks extend to the current performance and engineering aspects and very high quality interior materials of the VW line. Younger buyers unburdened by 30 year old impressions of past VW economy car interiors (they did suck - I owned a few) are responding and buying based on that quality. VW sales are up.
His remarks are then extended to the new products of the affordable/downmarket efforts of Mercedes that is turning off its loyal following (although increasing sales) and then refers to cost cutting efforts and cheap interior materials that grace the new Nissans (Altimas are truly horrible) and in newer SAABs.
I guess its a concise arguement of what we often discuss here, the GM acquisition will average out a unique product line through shared platforms and parts, cheapen the materials and try to increase volume with financing incentives. The new 9-3 leaves me cold; looks like a generic sedan, part 3 series BMW and part I30 or Maxima, no hatch and low power base engine (can't personnaly comment on a purported low quality interior.)
Cheap financing and a storied brand history will permit sales increases as long as money is cheap and the history is valid and recent; when money gets expensive again (and it will - anyone here remember 17% home mortgage rates?) then sales will rely on the quality of the past few years product line.
If your only distinctive quality is your price then your only competitive advantage is to discount; that means lower corporate profits. If the most recent years were full of mediocre me-too product, the future will not be kind and that brand could be the next Oldsmobile or Plymouth - just not worth the corporate effort anymore.
I'm worried.
posted by 208.212.2...
Posts in this Thread:
- Anyone catch Jamie Kitman's remarks in Automobile?, pursang, Wed, 10 Jul 2002 09:37:02 <-- Viewing This Message
- Re: Anyone catch Jamie Kitman's remarks in Automobile?, Dr. Eric Strauss, Wed, 10 Jul 2002 16:59:14
- Which issue are YOU reading............, Paul , Wed, 10 Jul 2002 15:50:14
- Interesting post , although I find the quality of, No.9, Wed, 10 Jul 2002 13:59:56
- no, but VW quality........., Chris M, Wed, 10 Jul 2002 13:07:18
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