Moanalua:
If I’ve been overly adversarial or rude, I sincerely apologize. My intent was to offer my opinions and my reasoning for them. Rereading my comments and yours, I also wrote why I disagreed with you. I wasn’t trying to discount your opinion, only hoping that you would understand my point of view. Maybe I haven’t worked hard enough to see your side.
If we want Pontiac back, then we need to convince GM that it is an advantagous and ‘right’ thing to do. Doing that requires us to understand what GM considers, ‘right’. In my understanding, GM, in the very least, considers ‘right’ by profit. It is not advantagous to be unprofitable (unless it leads to a more profitable long term goal).
So, HOW can we convince GM that Pontiac will provide a more profitable solution than what they currently offer?
First, I would think we would need to present a business case that provides a compelling financial incentive for GM to revive the Pontiac Brand.
1. What does the Pontiac name have that can’t be duplicated by the existing makes?
2. What kind of car does that represent, and why is it best manufactured as a Pontiac?
3a. What is the size of the sales potential for Pontiac not realized with current GM products?
3b. What is the expected sales volume?
4. How would the brand be marketed to those group?
5. What would be required of GM to invest in this proposal?
6. What are some possible solutions for staffing that do not detract or weaken the existing brands?
6a. Where could R&D staffing come from?
6b. How can testing be performed with minimal distruption of other makes? Could testing of Pontiac vehicles better benefit other makes?
6c. Who could handle the marketing campaign?
7. What are some possible solutions to tooling and manufacturing?
7a. Where could the cars be manufactured to minimize distruptions or to add synergy to existing line-ups?
7b. What are the tooling costs? How could those be minimized?
8. Would sales resume at Buick/GMC dealers?
9. Does that fit with the Buick/GMC market? If not, what is another alternative with minimal risk and investment?
These questions are just a starting point. Obviously, no one person has the answers to these questions. Maybe there are others in and around the group of Pontiac loyalists who can help. I would think if we are to convince GM to do this, then they need to see it as an advantage.
Being a former employee of one of Koch Industries companies, I have had a small amount of training in Market Based Management. One of the things I took away from that is the realization that there are three primary things required for people and/or companies to act:
a. A dissatisfaction with the current state or situation.
b. A vision of a better state or situation.
c. A path or means to acheive that state.
Now, if we can present to GM a vision of a better situation WITH Pontiac that makes them dissatisfied WITHOUT Pontiac, and if we can show them how it can be done, then there could be a future for Pontiac.
So, how do you want to start gathering the information?
