Following GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz's statement, last Wednesday, that the company could ax one of its poor-performing brands, GM's top sales executive tried to talk dealers down from their respective ledges. Sales chief, Mark LaNeve, said GM is not likely to use the nuclear option on a division, and that the press had misinterpreted Lutz's comments. He also said it would be more likely that the number of GM models would be pared down, rather than the number of brands. In a recent Jalopnik Unscientific Poll(TM) of readers, 43% said GM should shutter Buick, which has seen its sales drop by more than 50% since 1985.
GM says it won't phase out a brand [The Detroit News]
Related:
General Motors Death Watch: Will They Unload a Brand? [internal]