After General Motors’ bankruptcy, there is no question that the automobile industry will change significantly. With less competition and higher costs of production, prices will increase. It will be more difficult and more expensive to find parts and service for some vehicles. The selection of vehicles will be more limited.
Perhaps more brands will opt to adopt the sales philosophy held by Saturn and Scion: the price advertised is the price you pay. At first, the concept seemed like a scam. You always negotiate car prices, but with Saturn’s entrance to the market, the manufacturers or dealers said, “Don’t negotiate with us anymore; it’s our price or no sale.”
This method, where cars were sold more like a commodity than a luxury, proved to be quite popular, especially with younger individuals who do not have haggling experience. Taken to the step beyond prix fixe voiture, cars could be sold “off the shelf” in retail stores rather than dealerships. According to US News & World Report, at least one retail outlet in Mexico sells cars in addition to other typical retail products, and the United States may follow.
Just about the only place to buy a car these days is a traditional dealership, thanks largely to powerful franchise laws in most states that keep other competitors at bay. But as automakers slash their retail networks, dealers are losing their clout. For new offerings such as minicars, and perhaps cheap Chinese imports, a big showroom with a dedicated sales staff might not even make sense. That could open the way for retailers like Costco or Wal-Mart to start selling cars.
This may be the future of automobile sales: View the floor models in an open area of the massive store, talk to the salesperson, and as if the product were a high-definition television, let the salesperson try to talk you into the extended warranty and other options. Wait for him to bring the car from the stock garage in the back to the cashier, where you pay the price on the sticker. Perhaps you’ll put your purchase on your credit card (store credit will be offered) and earn loyalty points.
I expect most popular brands, like Honda and Toyota, might not accept this model. It may be suitable for lower tier brands and low-cost models not yet popular in the United States. The New General Motors may see this sales avenue as the path back to profitability.
Would you prefer to buy cars from retail stores like Wal-Mart or Costco if this new sales philosophy reaches the United States?
How buying a car is going to change, U.S. News & World Report, June 4, 2009
Photo credit: schoschie
According to early news reports, General Motors will file for bankruptcy one hour from now, at 8:00 am Eastern Time this morning. GM was officially born as a company on September 16, 1908. Its long history is a reminder that no company will survive forever regardless of its performance; like humans, corporations are mortal and if you want to see one fail, you just have to wait long enough.
Bankruptcy isn’t truly death, however. General Motors has the opportunity to restructure, shedding its poor performing businesses. Thanks to a massive government bailout, GM can renegotiate with its creditors. The government will own 60%, a controlling share, of the new General Motors. With this massive restructuring, you can expect a new GM that will look and and operate quite differently, and the changes will affect many different people throughout the world. Here is how GM’s bankruptcy might affect you.
General Motors employees and retirees
By the end of next year, General Motors predicts it will cut 20,000 jobs. 2,400 dealerships and 12 plants across the country will be closed. This is after the company has been reducing its staff consistently throughout the decade. 300,000 employees at dealerships will be affected by the cuts.
General Motors retirees will see their benefits, such as health insurance, reduced.
Suppliers and other companies that rely on General Motors will also be affected. There will be job reductions throughout the entire automotive industry.
General Motors vehicle owners
Not much will change for General Motors’ customers. Warranties will continue to be valid, with a government guarantee for back-up insurance. Maintenance and other service might be more expensive with fewer parts suppliers and dealerships available to provide competition in the marketplace.
GM will eliminate a number of its brands to focus on the vehicles that show a potential for profit. The company will have to be more aware of the marketplace and remain as flexible as possible to respond to market demand. This could mean some new, more fuel efficient cars if this remains a priority. With the Administration pushing for tougher regulations in the automotive industry, this may be a necessity regardless of popular interest.
General Motors stockholders and bondholders
If you own GM’s stock, you have already been affected by the anticipated bankruptcy. The stock price, currently trading at $0.75 per share, has fallen 95.74% over the past year. Any investment held in General Motors will only be recovered if the restructuring is a success and the government relinquishes its equity.
During the bankruptcy, GM’s stock will likely be unavailable to trade. Standard & Poors will likely remove General Motors from the S&P 500 and the same fate is predicted for GM’s inclusion in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company was already removed from the S&P 100 last year. This presents one drawback of index investing: failing companies are often represented as thee value of their shares fall to zero, but fast-growing companies, which would normally balance out those that fail, are not picked up by the index until they have already experienced their greatest growth.
If you invested in a corporate bond from GM, you will lose your investment. Your bond rights will be replaced by a portion of stock in the new General Motors.
Overall thoughts for the consumer
With any luck, General Motors will emerge from bankruptcy and from government control a leaner company ready to compete in the automotive industry. General Motors’ current state shouldn’t be a reason to drive potential customers away from their vehicles. GM’s cars should continue to be evaluated on their performance, safety features, fuel economy, cost to own, and pleasure, just like any other vehicle produced by any other corporation.
I have been helping my girlfriend shop for a car during the past couple of weeks, and we’ve noticed in the dealerships we have visited that there is very little in stock. Lots are half empty, and this does not apply to General Motors only, or even only “domestic” automotive makers. The prices for what we can find are somewhat competitive right now, but I expect prices to rise over the next few months as the industry reacts to the loss of jobs, suppliers, and competition.
If you have not been aware of the recent news, General Motors and Chrysler have asked the government for more money, but the Obama administration is pushing back. The government’s task force has determined that the restructuring plans submitted by the companies in return for continued financial support are inadequate.
As a result, the Chairman and CEO of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, is resigning from his position and Chrysler is heading towards a possible merger with Fiat. With GM, the government will provide the company with the funds it needs to operate for sixty days. There is a possibility that General Motors will not survive in its current form two months from now. Chrysler, on the other hand, will only have thirty days to turn around a plan for moving forward.
Bankruptcy may be the answer for both companies. To prevent consumer trepidation about buying a car from a company that might not support its obligations like warranties and maintenance, the Treasury Department has stepped in. The government plans to back warranties on all GM and Chrysler vehicles purchased while the companies exist in their current state of collapse or restructuring.
If you typically buy cars from GM and Chrysler, would you be more or less inclined to purchase a vehicle right now? Are you confident your car will receive the support it needs from these companies or the government throughout its usable life?
You can read the full text of President Obama’s remarks today about General Motors and Chrysler here.
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