A recent survey conducted by Michigan-based automotive relations firm Planning Perspectives, Inc. has ranked General Motors as the worst large automaker to deal with.
The annual survey asks the auto industry’s largest and most prominent suppliers to rate their relationship with the six biggest automakers of light vehicles in the United States. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has consistently ranked as the most difficult customer to deal with, holding onto the distinction since 2008.
This year, GM surpassed Chrysler as supplier’s least favorite automaker for a number of reasons. Reuters reports the automaker was docked marks on many different key measures, including its trustworthiness, communication skills and its protection of intellectual property. Suppliers also noted GM was the least likely of the companies to allow them to raise their prices to make up for material cost increases.
According to PPI, suppliers’ perceptions of manufacturers are critical because they can determine which companies will get their hands on the newest technologies first, work with their best engineers and get the best deal.
The top ranking brand in the survey was Toyota, followed by Honda and Nissan, who nudged Ford out of third position this year.
Comments
Not sure why the headlines say GM but VW and Mercedes rank lower. Actually the article says 6 largest and maybe VW is #7? Guess that is one way of making someone look bad. Cut off all the ones below who you want to make look bad.
If you go to the site it shows that over 12 year the OEM’s have gone from a huge spread to a now pretty close ranking.
http://www.virtualpressoffice….
VW 181
Mercedes 227
GM 244
Chrysler 245
Ford 267
Nissan 273
Honda 295
BMW 311
Toyota 318
It explains it a little better here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-gm-suppliers-survey-idUSBREA4B01I20140512
It’s related to market share … either way, the fact that two other companies rank lower should be of little comfort.
If GM would listen they would bring the pontiac under the GMC brand name and bring back the firebird trans am in special edition limited production runs every year and all custom build work sheets….made to order start builds should have a minimum cost stock grade track capable about 77k with original BOP engines updated in aluminum as in LS engines of today…top end modified as dual overhead cams direct inject and naturally aspirsted at 77k…then start the bump …supercharger with direct injection …fuel and spark direct inject as well….or turbo charged with a retro to the six pack carbs…but with 3 twin mini turbos all opened on specific rpm or speed ….make it as complicated yet simple to build horsepower of the now future…prices to a stage “X is 77k “Y is 127k and “Z is 157k or more full out race version with high end suspension and gearing unseen and unmatched….dont send them overseas of they will copy ….stateside north america builds only california plant GMC firebird formula X with trans am trim available…firebird formula y series and firebird formula z series….
Firebird formula trans am edition XZ series
Firebird formula trans am edition YZ series
Firebird formula trans am edition ZZ series….top dog
Then of course you can top it also with 3Z series ultimate build ZZZ…..put everyone to sleep on the track….lol hahaha…
Think about it….visalia ca
Are you out of your mind? If Pontiac was to come back, it would come back as its own division and not under a new name. Why even bother then? I’d say let it rest in peace if that was the case.
Models:
Grand Am- AWD D2XX Roadster
Grand Prix- Extended Alpha Sedan
Firebird T/A- Alpha Coupe/Convertible
Bonneville- Omega Sedan/Wagon
GTO- Extended Alpha Coupe
Engines:
2.8t V6 with 350HP and 360FT-LBS
5.3t V8 with 405HP and 420FT-LBS
3.6tt V6 with 470HP and 485FT-LBS
6.2sc V8 with 580HP and 600FT-LBS
Transmissions:
7-Speed Manual with SynchroRev Match
8-Speed Automatic with TapShift/Slap Stick
Well since pontiac was part of the government bankruptcy bail it was prohibited to function and produce cars under its name which of course is the firebird and gto..so thereby labling it under GMC and retro fitting it with alloy engines but original B O P engines …they can rework and become a staple before alot of us mid 40s or on there 5 chapter or 60s get to old to see and appreciate and buy these iconic cars that blew our minds when we were kids or teens …GM before you by pass this kids of the hay day it will be to late as buyers are fustrated with 80s and 90s economy imports pushing 400 and 500hp and dethroning many of which made these big 3 US companies where they are today or as i say will be of tomorrow…THINK OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE AND BUILD BETTER AND VIBRANT NEW BOXES NOT CIRCLES…if you get what i mean….
Sorry…example of my last reply…
Nissan sentra of the 80s and 90s reworked and changed name to a skyline or gtr….really!!!!… hey it does go toe to toe with vettes and dethrones camaro z28s …funny huh….lala…wow if that is what people of our generation will continue to see then GM even Ford and Chrysler should just throw in the hat while they still have a hat….really now …serious nissan sentra to skyline 500hp kia and hynudai coupes 300 plus with mini turbos…i believe india is coming out and and china …im sure they will spit out 4 sitting sedan with 3 and 4 cyl turbocharged producing 300 and 400hp engines…lol….GM needs to listen while it can…let it in one ear and glue the other side shut so it doesnt go anywhere let it marinate and piece together what behind bottom it still has….
My generation ….before its gone…
I sure hope you have a prescription for those drugs.
Errr?
Anyway back to the topic here.
GM has been crap to the suppliers and one of Mary’s first things she started was a program to fix the relationships with the suppliers. GM is already well on the way to repair this.
Another fact left out here is the Suppliers themselves are not always the victims they like you to believe.
Too often they saw the cultural mess that GM was in and took advantage of it.
As pointed out in the Bob Lutz book he has a supplier tell him when he worked else where how they would charge GM 2-3 different prices on the same part and just change the part numbers. GM was so screwed up the suppliers never got caught and it was a big profitable joke to them.
These are the part of these stories that get left out and should be published with the story at hand. I think it only fair to point out Marys work if you want to have full disclosure. The key is if you want to.
I highly recommend reading the book Car Guys vs Bean Counters. It is on sale at BAM right now for $6 and will teach you a lot of why GM was in such a fix in the last years before the bail out. After reading it you could understand how the Ignition issues came up and went undetected by so many.
It appears to be some of the same problems that were written about in “On a clear day you can see General Motors” . It has always been very hard to change the direction of a big ship but upper GM management has been a lot like Government, very hard to change when in it. Lets hope we ARE on a new path.
Another good book for all to read and better understand the change in GM culture that is being done.