Comments on: GM to Rebadge Korean Daewoos as Chevys?

By: NickR

NickR — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:06:26 +0000

I agree, I think that the Aveo sedan, apart from the retro tail lights, is respectable looking. No worse that it’s rivals. If it had a decent, economical base engine, it would do even better. That way it wouldn’t depend so much on cheap price.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:51:30 +0000

There are plenty of towns in Korea where getting a Silverado through the streets is very risky business. Especially because they throw people who cause crashes in jail. And, some who are just victims of crashes, too.

By: GS650G

GS650G — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:42:25 +0000

Daewoo gets low ratings for reliability and resale, fits perfectly in GM’s business model. In Korea Daewoo has the worse reputation, Hyundai is held in higher regard, and even the Samsung cars are preferred. Kia has a strong presence too.

Ssangyoung was bought by SAIC of China recently, it will be interesting to see what they do with the brand. They made SUVs and Vans mainly.

By: jthorner

jthorner — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:32:23 +0000

“Considering selling a Korean made car in Korea as a Chevy; are they nuts?”

If you read the original Blogging Stocks piece that isn’t really what is being talked about.

“General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) wants to capture more market share for its imported passenger cars in South Korea.”

By: CellMan

CellMan — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:36:33 +0000

GM’s branding strategy (actually, do they really have one?) boggles the mind. Doesn’t anyone in their marketing department have a clue?

Considering selling a Korean made car in Korea as a Chevy; are they nuts? Trying to reimage Cadillac in Europe with the BLS and wagon based on a Saab? Speaking of Saab, the 9-7X?! Buick? Pontiac? Saturn?…

I recently saw online somewhere a video of a brand manager at Jeep talking about the current Liberty, I think. I remember noting that she was based in Atlanta and how she spoke vaguely about demographics, lifestyle and other product-defining characteristics, and all I could think was that she honestly has no clue of what Jeep is or what made the previous version so popular. The impression I had was that she had received market input from “studies”, focus groups, evaluations of cool trends, associations of “it” media and lifestyles and via committee they developed the end product. Some MBA or marketing grad, progressing through the ranks and using this collataral does not result in a clear concise and passionate brand focus in my opinion.

I don’t know why this bothers me so much. I suppose I don’t want to see great brands die or be diluted to fit and please everyone or the current lifestyle trends.

Sigh, need to stop pontificating and get back to work…

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:26:37 +0000

You know, if they put a good engine in the Aveos GM would go alot further selling these cars. A good engine would last and make some better mileage without all the noise from under the hood hinting at a former life as an engine for a small tractor.

By: Frank Williams

Frank Williams — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:53:47 +0000

George Labrador :

They did the same with the AVEO, and others herein Canada like the Pontiac Wave, Chev Optra etc etc
they are still Daewoo products

The Kalos (pictured above) is marketed worldwide under 5 GM brands (GM Daewoo, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Suzuki and Holden) and 11 different nameplates including Aveo and Wave.

If you try to untangle all the different brands and nameplates GM uses on various GMDAT products around the world, it’ll give you a throbbing headache.

But then there’s the Saturn Sky which is built in Delaware and exported to Korea where it’s sold as the Daewoo G2X.

Someone pass the Tylenol, please.

By: rev0lver

rev0lver — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:32:12 +0000

Don’t for get about the Chevy Epica, a rebadged Daewoo Magnus.

By: Stingray

Stingray — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:31:34 +0000

What he is stating is kinda the other way around. GM has done the Daewoo to Chevy/Holden/Suzuki brand around world markets for about 3-4 years now, about the same time the bought near bankrupt Daewoo in 2002-3.

They made a good business buying Daewoo since the Optra/Nubira/Forenza/Excelle etc… is a nice car, and was already developed. The Aveo is not so nice, but looks ok and also, was done. And those cars, being Korean, are also more affordable than a similar european or american developed/manufactured car. Very important in third world markets, where price sells.

The interesting question as he pointed, is what are they going to sell in Korea. Or maybe they’re thinking to definetly bury the Daewoo brand, like they did in Europe.

I would like to know for example, how the Aveo, Optra, Epica, Captiva, Spark replacements are going to look. Also if GM is going to share their Korean platforms with Opel, GM Brazil and other subsidiaries…

By: jaje

jaje — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:27:35 +0000

I lived in Seoul for a while and noted that many Army Taxies used Chevy Corsicas which were less reliable and falling apart quicker than the Hyundai taxis driving around. With the increase in Korean quality and the lack of refinement in GM’s cars I don’t see it from an expectation standpoint.

However taking away the “Buy Korean flag waving” and slapping on an import badge is not so smart.

By: George Labrador

George Labrador — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:19:25 +0000

They did the same with the AVEO, and others herein Canada like the Pontiac Wave, Chev Optra etc etc
they are still Daewoo products

By: Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:43:01 +0000

As bad as some GM cars are, I really hope they don’t rebadge these things as Chevy’s; don’t they watch T.G.? Haven’t they heard the running punch line that is the Lacetti?