mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

General Motors Name Change Not Out Of The Question, Analysts Say

General Motors changing its name to something that better suits the modern transportation landscape isn’t out of the question.

That’s according to Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, who said recently said that while he has no knowledge that GM has discussed changing its name, the bank would not exclude “the possibility of such an action being considered by GM’s leadership to help foster perception and cultural change.”

While such a turn of events would have been absurd to think about at one point in time, it’s an interesting possibility to bring up in light of GM’s recent actions and statements. The automaker is reevaluating its business strategy and investing more resources into electric and autonomous vehicles, looking to ditch its image as a slow-moving, old school Detroit automaker. Such a radical overhaul could justify a name change, although with “GM” being such a recognizable abbreviation, it does seem unlikely.

When asked to comment on the matter, a GM spokesperson told Bloomberg the automaker is not considering a name change.

GM Renaissance Center - GM Ren Cen - Winter 2016 020
The only thing that could inspire GM to change its name, in our opinion, would be a major acquisition of another automaker. For example, if the GM and Fiat Chrysler’s proposed merger ever came to fruition, the company name may have been changed to GM-FCA or something similar.

Bloomberg also reports that GM is hosting an investor day this Friday, which Jonas referred to as “highly unusual,” due to its close proximity to the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The financial analyst believes the automaker will discuss immediate automotive industry challenges and address the potential hurdles it will face in 2019.

It’s unclear exactly what GM may have planned for NAIAS 2019, although it may debut the 2020 Cadillac XT6 or 2020 GMC Sierra HD at its hometown show. The mid-engine C8 Corvette may also debut, although GM Authority’s intel indicates the supercar’s arrival has been pushed back to mid-2019.

(source: Bloomberg)

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. I think the acronym still works. General Mexico or for the GMC fans we can throw in China too.

    Reply
    1. That’s good. Something that reflects the company’s future, not just Government Motors, but General Mexico/China. GMC. Or, maybe just sell out to a Chinese company and call it a day. GM is pretty irrelevant anymore save for pickup trucks and even those aren’t that good anymore.

      Reply
      1. Calm down bro

        Reply
    2. Doesn’t that reflect the entire country? You guys should embrace Mexico. At least their goal isn’t to collapse your country, defeat it militarily and Mexico doesn’t have nukes pointed at every major city in the Western world.

      Reply
  2. Auto Factories US Mexico
    GM 43 4
    Ford 25 3
    FCA 17 3

    Reply
  3. Fake news!

    Reply
  4. Im an employee at GM (over 10 years) and i can tell you from over a decade of experience that GM is all about smoke and mirrors. They talk out of both sides if their mouths, constantly. They are the slowest moving, least efficient company on the face of the planet. The place is ran on paperwork and their GMS (Global Management System) which is a rebadged Toyota management system. Which in my opinion will eventually put them right back into bankruptcy. I see millions upon millions wasted every year. And the Union is no better. Theyre in bed with GM more than ever. They push safe working environment, quality control, over production reductions but when the rubber meets the road it all goes right out the window. Its numbers, numbers, numbers. And we’re not pumping out electric motors and batteries. Its truck and suv parts. Thats what pays the bills. Now don’t confuse my words, im not saying we make bad products but as far as the company and the day to day operations its an absolute mess. Everything is tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. And guess what? Tomorrow never comes…..

    Reply
    1. I will have to add a great many Americans who work for big companies have the same complaint about their company. This isn’t just an issue that exist with GM but a much bigger issue that exist in American corporate culture.

      The big issue being an over focus on the bottom line and less of a focus on running a company is the chief cause of this, it doesn’t matter how poorly the company is being run when your stock price goes up 5%. Honestly as long as these companies stock pile cash they won’t go under that easily and the crash of 2008 taught all of these big companies to stock pile cash. Though eventually they will unlearn this lesson and go back to the way things were before that.

      Reply
      1. Duane, Two for two in my experience working for “largest in the industry” companies.

        The first transitioned to the “Just-in-time” (JIT) manufacturing methodology (1960’s Toyota) in the late 90’s, talk about late to the party. That was of coarse, just before CEO Jim Hackett (yes, the one & only) sent everyone on the west coasts jobs south of the boarder.

        The second one was just a few years ago, the largest producers of fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products in the word decided to integrate computers into production. Moving to the “SAP” Production Planning process instead of using PAPER production reports.

        It can be a costly and difficult transition for large corporations to change their inner culture. From the costs of computer and software systems to the sometimes unwillingness of the complacent persons effected by the transition, especially if there is a union involved as was the second example above.

        Reply
    2. I will totally vouch for that!

      Reply
    3. @GMMAN99, who is forcing you to work there, You sound like an old man that is scared of his wife but do not want to leave her because their are ten thousand guys just waiting to move in!!

      Reply
  5. A name change would be the ultimate Cut and Run.
    GM is great at making name changes to try to MASK poor quality and reliability, but make the same thing with a different name. I would list them all over the years but there is not enough time.

    Pay attention the CUSTOMER is calling !!

    Reply
  6. Gentrified Mobility
    Guns ‘n Mammaries
    Grizzled Moonshots
    Gazebo’s Monthly
    Gaming Mullah’s
    Gynecologist’s Music
    Gambled Money
    Geezer’s Motors
    Grumpy Mumbles
    Gizmo’s Modified
    Grandpa’s Moll
    Gawping Mischief
    Gowns ‘n Masks
    Girl Muffin
    Git Mo

    So many possibilities….

    Reply
  7. CM
    for China Motors
    They already let China drive the bus nowadays in terms of product mix, styling, and technical specs. Might as well commit to the name change.

    Reply
    1. This will happen regardless and to the rest of the US also. The US is owned by China and politically controlled by Russia. Ignorance and arrogance has caught up to them.

      Reply
  8. If that happens please just shut out the lights. It will no longer be the company I grew up knowing and loving!

    Reply
  9. Ahhhhahahhhaa .. I’m here for the creative names!!

    Reply
  10. How about the Has-Been Mobility Company?

    Reply
  11. How about General Malaise or Machete Mary Motors

    Reply
  12. General Motors becomes General Mobility… GM in short ;).

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel