Back in 2012, General Motors filed a trademark application with the USPTO for the Graphyte name for the second time. The application specified use intentions for “motor land vehicles, namely, trucks and sport utility vehicles”. Well, the trademark is once again Live, meaning GM still seems to have the intention to use the name.
Fast forward to the present and a report from Automotive News is indicating that a GMC crossover destined to slot below the compact-midsize-tweener Terrain is imminent. The proposed vehicle would be the smallest in the GMC lineup, a brand historically known for its full-sized trucks and SUVs, and even presently with the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra 1500, 2015 Sierra HD, and 2015 Yukon and Yukon Denali family.
The report quotes GM North American President Mark Reuss, in saying the following:
“There are going to be some innovative portfolio entries for GMC,” he said. When inquired as to whether or not the new GMC could be described as more car-like, he simply said “yes. There will be different sizes in the showroom. I’d say it that way.”
To us, that sounds an awful lot like GMC is getting a subcompact crossover. The vehicle could potentially be called GMC Granite and may have been previewed by the GMC Granite concept from a few years ago.
Comments
First of all Granite sounds better.
Secondly, hopefully it isn’t strictly FWD.
Granite sounds much better than Graphyte, and unless there’s going to be a lot of carbon fiber involved I don’t see why they’d want to make you associate pencils with their product.
Gmc should stick to what it’s been historically known for: trucks
The Granite was GMC’s version of the Orlando Concept (much nicer than the production Orlando). So if the Graphite comes out, it will likely be a GMC version of the Orlando.
They may be better versions than the current Orlando seeing how by the time the Graphite hits the market the Orlando will be due for a change also.
Personally, GM does not need to cookie cut GMC a version of everything Chevy has, and vise versa. I would rather them get rid of the GMC brand (since Chevy has a much higher volume of sales in North American – yes GMC has closer sales numbers in Canada to Chevy but Canadian automotive sales is small compared to US) and have more Chevrolet versions that bring a wow factor. Have the normal Silverado from base to High Country but then models with some other cool features (perhaps a Raptor type version, something to compete with Harley Davidson, etc). As far as GMC being the “Professional Grade”, bogus. A GMC roles right down the same production line as a Chevy; both get the same insulation, same powertrain, same computers, suspension, etc. It’s just branding and a couple toys like HID headlamps.
If they got rid of GMC we could have Pontiac. Maybe. . . (Joking)
But I like GMC! The Acadia and Terrain are very specific to the brand and are my personal favorite.
There is a difference between GMC and Chevy: On the assembly line the workers make sure that GMC’s bolts are turned one extra notch for the “Professional Grade” slogan. . . HAHA that’s the best
Gm will never get rid of gmc they r very profitable in fact more then buick and cadillac and I beileve there was a report on this website about GMC customers satisfaction being top ranked above chevy and near lexus level satisfaction (jdpower has this report). Fact is people love the GMC brand and I personally would choose it over chevy trucks. Good for you GM my next vehicale will b a Gmc yukon
The Granite should have been built even if they could not rear hinge the doors. I think they were going to be more trouble then they were going to be worth in weight and flex. That is what GM was fighting. I also liked the truck version of this.
GMC will expand and have different products and options than Chevy as we move forward. GMC is the last of the line to get much detailed attention.
With so many SUV’s coming to GM you only know GMC would get one or more. These are high profit and valuable vehicles to GM so they will do them.
I wish GMC would go for some special off road vehicles like a GM version of the Jeep. They had considered it with Hummer and it could easily be done today with the Alpha Platform. GM was looking at the Kappa at one point.
GMC is prime for specialty vehicles and has the price range for lower volumes.
With the Future of trucks being challenged the more they leverage this out the easier it will be for GM to keep GMC viable and profitable in the future.
Folks this is all about making money and this segment has a lot of money to be made from it. You need to keep an open mind with the future as buying habits are changing and Fuel Economy rules as well as the economy can and will affect this segment.
The day is coming just building full size pick up trucks will not be enough.
Just look at the mini van market it was once the hottest out there and today it has been replaced with the CUV. While GM never got the Mini van segment right the market is playing right into their strong suit.
While it may be true the Chevys and GMC share much today I expect that to change soon enough. They may share some basics but I expect things to change even more styling, options and models.
The name Granite sounds much better than Graphyte. I hope the production version of it, if this is what we’re getting, sticks with this things good looks.
Umm, no! The Granite/Graphyte is super ugly! Are they trying to copy a Scion XB or Nissan Cube? Yuck yuck yuck! GMC can keep the name, but please for the love of god change the hideous design. . . .
Again time to let go of Pontiac.
You need to face the fact that GMC is nearly pure profit and Pontiac was not nor had been in years. The capital needed to fix them would have set the rest of GM’s recovery even farther back. As it is there is still much to do at Cadillac and Buick.
As for the Scion and Soul they are very popular and have made a lot of money for their companies. Like em or not this is what the market wants.
I remember how people said they hated the HHR and for many years it was one of their best selling models with over 100,000 units sold.
Sometimes you just have to give the market what they want not what you want them to have.
I am not a Soul or Scion fan but the Granite would have sold in good numbers. I have seen it in person as well as the truck version and they both would have done well even with out the reversed hinged door.
dptach Buick dealers would fold with out GMC. By the way would you dissolve your 2nd most profitable vehicle line??????? Have you worked in a dealership that sells GMC and heard the comments about cheby? Umm check into GMC a little more and get some facts before spouting out.
dpach Buick dealers would fold with out GMC. Have you worked in a non cheby GM dealership? Have you heard the comments about cheby? Now lets assume you understand business. Would you dissolve a vehicle line that was your 2nd most profitable?? I hope not or your donkey would be out on the street. Do some research on GMC.
GMC is also a very big — and very profitable — overseas brand in the Middle East.
There is lots of value to increasing brands and channels of distribution if done properly. With the success of GMC in Canada, I would say that they have shown how to do it…..maybe the US should import some marketing expertise from its northern subsidiary.
Pontiac would sell 10% of the cars GMC moves. GMC is a fantastic brand from both a sales stand point and image stand point with extremely strong customer loyalty (I’d wager the Sierra sees a higher % of return customer than Silverado). Anyone who doesn’t understand that (not pointing fingers and saying you) needs to go back to high school business. It’s all well and good for people to have opinions, but when someone says “GMC doesn’t make sense as a brand” they don’t know WTF they are talking about, it makes perfect sense, they are just too.. well stupid, to understand, so it just doesn’t make sense to *them*.
I would recommend you for the marketing position for sure.
Actually I work at a three line store (GMC, Buick, Chev). There are those who are loyal to GMC only, as there are those who are loyal to the Silverado. We make no more profit off of a Sierra than a Silverado. Our margins are the same, as is GM’s margins in building them. What we usually see is a customer decides whether he wants a GMC or Silverado based on what we have at the time in the color and equipment they want. They prefer one or the other, but it doesn’t stop them from buying either.
Yes, GMC makes money for GM. But the very few loss in sales to people who wouldn’t buy the Silverado if the Sierra wasn’t around would be quickly offset by not having the development costs of having a second truck with unique sheet metal, headlamps, grille and a couple other things. Remember, producing two different bodied trucks costs tens of millions in development. Plus then there’s the other tens of millions in advertising/marketing of a separate brand that wouldn’t be needed also.
As for those saying GMC is a premium brand, they are exactly the same quality of truck as the Silverado. They roll right down the same production line. Yes, couple different pieces on the Sierra like the wheel lip moldings, but they get the same noise reduction insulations, suspension, frame, steering, computers, etc. Same truck, different styling.
For those who want a different look, GM could easily have different grilles, headlamps, etc for different levels of Silverado to make them more unique.
As for Buick dealers folding, use your head dude. If GMC was discontinued, all dealerships would become Buick/Chevrolet stores and would likely sell more vehicles because they would get the Silverado buyers and 75% of those who would have bought Sierras, especially if the Silverado had various front grilles/headlamps for various looks. Plus they would also then get all the buyers for other Chevrolet models.
Here on the prairies, most dealerships are three or four line (with Cadillac) stores. Only the large cities are either GMC or Chev. So we get a very good idea of what customers want, what are deal breakers and what are not, etc because we can sell both. We also see that we make no more money on Sierra’s than Silverados.
For years Ford had Ford and Mercury lines of trucks and even a Lincoln version. Yes there were those who would only buy a Merc or Lincoln, but Ford could see the costs of not having all three could easily be offset by having various levels of the F150 (from the XL right up to the Platinum, Harley Davidson, King Ranch, etc) and that making each unique in appearance with various grilles, fenders, headlamps, etc would keep their buyers with them.
Andrew, I have 18 years on the business, 15 with 2 GM dealership; 3 with a Ford dealership. I have been a sales person, leasing manager, fleet manager, and a sales manager.
Don’t think for a moment I don’t know GM makes money off of GMC. What I’m saying is that the small loss in sales from customers who wouldn’t buy a Chev product if GMC wasn’t around would easily be offset by the hundreds of millions in costs of development of GMC models (unique sheet metal, badging, headlamps, grilles, etc) and marketing costs in advertising an entirely separate brand. Yes, the GMC “image” is one of professional grade, but it is just an image created by marketing. Marketing could very easily create the same “image” for top line Silverado models.
For those who think they know business, remember that making money means nothing if the costs are just as high. At the end of the day, revenue minus expenditures is what matters and the small loss in revenue would easily be covered by the huge reduction in expenditures.
A huge reason GMC is still around and it was decided to market them like they have is because of the Buick/GMC dealers. Yes, making all dealers full line stores would likely cause a few dealerships to close but that is business. Do you need 3 Chevrolet and 2 GMC dealers in one city of 350,000 people? Probably not. Probably would only require 3 or 4 full line dealerships so one would likely close. Again, that’s business. But GM doesn’t want to lose any dealerships or have the costs associated with shutting some down. But look at how profitable GM is now since the closure of Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer. Yes there are less dealerships and it cost a lot of money to close them down. But in the long term, it can be more profitable than trying to keep too many irons in the fire.
True, about GM being profitable. But that was “Old GM”, if Pontiac was part of the “New GM” I think that it’d be just as profitable. Old GM didn’t really care what consumers wanted in their cars. Old GM wouldn’t have had updated it’s lineup like they’re doing now! [IF] Pontiac was part of “New GM” (built with quality & customers in mind) I think it would turn out to be a great brand! Now, I am not saying that is what should happen. But just think about it. 🙂
I am not disagreeing with you at all and am not looking to fight.
I welcome this vehicle with open arms. As long as they don’t half-ass it. 4 wheel disc brakes, the 2.0 turbo, 7-speed manual, 8 speed auto…maybe even a Avalanche-like body style, give it a targa-top…just make it worth being excited about. Get wild with it!
By the way…they had better choose wisely with the name. Granite is known to be incredibly hard. Graphyte (graphite, actually) is incredibly brittle.
EvanR – I agree that Pontiac would probably be a profitable division if it was still around. The only question I have is would it basically be another version of everything Chevy/Buick?GMC already have? Would they have a Pontiac version of a Cruze/Verano? Equinox/Terrain? etc. If so, there’s really no need. The only car I’d like to see from Pontiac is a Trans Am to go with the Camaro.
Richard, did you not see the above picture? This vehicle is a smaller people mover like the Orlando (based off same platform). How would you put a targa roof on a vehicle with 2 rows of seats? (yet alone 3 rows). I guess you could only have a targa over the front seat but then when you took it off, you’d have to leave the second/third row people on the curb so you had a place to put the targa. Plus, the structure needed for 5 star roll over ratings on convertibles/targa roof vehicles would drive the price of this vehicle way over what you could afford.
Why have an Avalanche body with a box when there will be the Colorado with a diesel for those who want a small pick up truck?
By the way, aren’t you one of the guys always complaining about larger gas guzzling GM vehicles? So why would you want a version of an Avalanche? Wouldn’t that go against your very small, gas sipping ideology you seem to have?
By the way, you do know that adding the best of everything tends to drive the pricing up on vehicles, right? Would you pay $35,000 for an Orlando size people mover? But of course you ‘d want the best of everything plus a targa roof and an Avalanche style box AND have a price of under $25,000. Typical Richard.
First off this may be on the Orlando platform but it is not the same as a Orlando.
Have any of you really seen the Granite? It is not the same size in any dim.
Second GMC needs to move into areas Chevy does not have or can not do. People will pay more for GMC than Chevy and have for years. As time moves on and GMC moves farther apart from Chevy it will make them a special more profitable division.
As for Pontiac GM needs all their money and man power to finish the job of fixing what they already have and adding more models and lines with Pontiac would do little to help finish what they have already started. All you would do is rob sales from the Camaro and it would be number 2 behind the Mustang for the year in sales. Same for the SS. Now do not get me wrong I was brought home from the hospital in a Pontiac as was my son, I hove owned many Pontiacs and have driven and raced many of the greatest models they offered. I still own, show and win on a national level at Pontiac meets. But I also know and understand the realities of the market and GM and right not is not a time GM needs any more burdens to deal with.
Once GM is #1 with Chevy and Cadillac in the USA and #1 in China and Europe with Buick and Opel I will then agree. Till then there is plenty of work to do and money to spend on fixing what they already have. GMC in more upscale and special models would help pay for this.
I really want to see GMC do a Wrangler competitor. U think GM could do something here as they would not be saddled with the heritage of what a Jeep is perceived to be. They could fix the things that have plagued the Jeep for years.
When looking at products like this you need to use your heart but also use your head.