Splitting Corvette from Chevy
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Splitting Corvette from Chevy
Splitting Corvette from Chevy
Several reasons were cited for moving Corvette out of the Chevy showroom.
First, Corvette did not fit the value image Chevrolet portrayed.
Second, many Chevrolet dealers did not sell the car.
Third, the Corvette would be perceived as a more exclusive product if only selected dealers sold the car.
Fourth, selected dealers could create an exclusive area of the showroom to display the car.
Fifth, GM could select the best dealers, those that might do a better job of selling the car. In the previous year, 2000, Chevrolet sold 31,208 Corvettes. The best year for Corvette sales was 1977, when 42,571 were sold.
And sixth, presumably GM wanted dealers that had better skills to sell a car that tops $100,000.
The two-tier Corvette line did not appear, nor did GM separate Corvette from Chevrolet. Within days of the conversation, Bob Lutz was hired as GM vice chairman and product guru. Zarrella exited GM a month or so later, and Lutz nixed any thoughts of either plan.
But it still makes me wonder: Would Corvette have been more successful as a separate brand with an expanded product line, sold mostly by non-Chevrolet dealers?
Last year, Chevy dealers sold only 13,164 Corvettes.
You can reach Rick Kranz at rkranz
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2012...#ixzz1nLzSiLhe
Several reasons were cited for moving Corvette out of the Chevy showroom.
First, Corvette did not fit the value image Chevrolet portrayed.
Second, many Chevrolet dealers did not sell the car.
Third, the Corvette would be perceived as a more exclusive product if only selected dealers sold the car.
Fourth, selected dealers could create an exclusive area of the showroom to display the car.
Fifth, GM could select the best dealers, those that might do a better job of selling the car. In the previous year, 2000, Chevrolet sold 31,208 Corvettes. The best year for Corvette sales was 1977, when 42,571 were sold.
And sixth, presumably GM wanted dealers that had better skills to sell a car that tops $100,000.
The two-tier Corvette line did not appear, nor did GM separate Corvette from Chevrolet. Within days of the conversation, Bob Lutz was hired as GM vice chairman and product guru. Zarrella exited GM a month or so later, and Lutz nixed any thoughts of either plan.
But it still makes me wonder: Would Corvette have been more successful as a separate brand with an expanded product line, sold mostly by non-Chevrolet dealers?
Last year, Chevy dealers sold only 13,164 Corvettes.
You can reach Rick Kranz at rkranz
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2012...#ixzz1nLzSiLhe
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
It worked so well for the XLR(selling alongside GM's other high end Cadillacs, in the Cadillac showroom, and serviced in the Cadillac's service dept), so why not give the Corvette a shot at going out of business.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
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From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
Considering the fact that GM has killed off historic brands like Oldsmobile and Pontiac, I doubt they would still be supporting a division set up to sell only Corvettes. The Corvette truly is a Chevrolet, just sit in it and look at the cheap-*** interior, and notice it is missing a grill, side vent screens, body colored door handles and third brake light, lettering to fill-in the "Corvette" depressions in the dash and rear bumper, etc., etc.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2011
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Considering the fact that GM has killed off historic brands like Oldsmobile and Pontiac, I doubt they would still be supporting a division set up to sell only Corvettes. The Corvette truly is a Chevrolet, just sit in it and look at the cheap-*** interior, and notice it is missing a grill, side vent screens, body colored door handles and third brake light, lettering to fill-in the "Corvette" depressions in the dash and rear bumper, etc., etc.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,780
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From: Morris Co. NJ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18,'21
And you think selling a $100K+ vehicle with a greater margin and less sales than are now currently made would make sense or get a better qualified sales force. Really, this is 2012 not 2001 and the economy is what it is. How many Vipers do you think they will sell?
It is like a bed penny
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 972
Likes: 11
From: Dawsonville, GA
I sure hate to go against the grain here... but after owning mine a few months, I fail to see what is so coveted or special about the Corvette.
It's performance is great for a factory built vehicle... but it's still put together with a bunch of cheap flimsy materials like every other Chevy.
In my opinion... the "sum of it's parts" just don't add up to the ridiculous retail price found on the window sticker... and it certainly doesn't deserve any special place in the Chevy showroom. It's just another model from Chevy.
It absolutely boggles my mind when I see some Vette owners pampering their car as if it were graced by the hand of God himself.
Seriously guys... it's just a car.
Maybe they aren't selling new ones because consumers are getting wiser.
It's performance is great for a factory built vehicle... but it's still put together with a bunch of cheap flimsy materials like every other Chevy.
In my opinion... the "sum of it's parts" just don't add up to the ridiculous retail price found on the window sticker... and it certainly doesn't deserve any special place in the Chevy showroom. It's just another model from Chevy.
It absolutely boggles my mind when I see some Vette owners pampering their car as if it were graced by the hand of God himself.
Seriously guys... it's just a car.
Maybe they aren't selling new ones because consumers are getting wiser.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 9
From: Citrus Heights CA
St. Jude Donor '12
What are you guys talking about???????????
Friends do not let friends drive Chebys.
Corvettes are made by the Corvette Corporation of America located in Bowling Green KY.
Friends do not let friends drive Chebys.
Corvettes are made by the Corvette Corporation of America located in Bowling Green KY.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Pinellas Park Fl
St. Jude Donor '08-'09 & '12, '14
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,641
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From: wolfeboro nh
Considering the fact that GM has killed off historic brands like Oldsmobile and Pontiac, I doubt they would still be supporting a division set up to sell only Corvettes. The Corvette truly is a Chevrolet, just sit in it and look at the cheap-*** interior, and notice it is missing a grill, side vent screens, body colored door handles and third brake light, lettering to fill-in the "Corvette" depressions in the dash and rear bumper, etc., etc.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2011
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