In the last couple of years, I've noticed that local Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and Aston-Martin dealerships are becoming harder to find than an honest politician....even in the D.C. area, which, reflecting our huge local auto-market, is probably second only to L.A./SoCal in the number and density of dealerships per square mile. That, of course, is one reason why I'm able to look at and test-drive so many new cars.

But there is no denying that the number and density of dealerships from these companies is rapidly thining, though Aston sales, reflecting their extremely high prices, were never that high in the U.S. to start with. Fiat, of course, to compensate, just opened up here last year, and a still a small but growing firm on American shores....their dealerships, of course, are expanding.

And if dealerships from these companies are getting hard to find in big auto-rich places like D.C. and SoCal, one can only imagine how far one must drive in rural or small-town areas to find one.

Adding to the loss of dealerships, of course, was the big drop in GM and Chrysler-related dealerships a few years ago, at the time of the reorganization/buyout of those companies. Several thousand GM/Chrysler dealerships, across the country were simply told, that's it, they were losing their franchises, period....and most of them are either gone or converted to other brands.

But we all know, of course, that GM and Chrysler aren't leaving the American market......heck, with their sales growing, they now help define the American market.
But, not so with Mitsubshi, Suzuki, and Aston. I won't go into all the details here again of their latest lines of American-market vehicles, what has been dropped and what hasn't, what is left, and what is the demand for those vehcles.....we've all pretty much discussed and covered that in CAR CHAT, and most of you know what those remaining vehicles are.

But think that, given the realities these companies are facing (and the growing rarity of their dealerships), their executives are going to have to make some hard decisions soon about what their futures here in America will be. Despite their insistence (in public) that their companies aren't going anywhere, I'm not sure I believe it. You can't compete in today's auto-sales world if you don't have a line of vehicles to sell, dealerships to sell them, and, of course, demand for those vehicles.

Also, I personally don't see why GM hangs onto two different divisions (Chevy and GMC) which sell trucks and SUVs that are (mechanically) almost identical, and differ only in trim and some standard/optional equipment. I see little practical reason for GMC's existance as a separate division, and included it in the poll mainly because I think GM is wasting money on it and would benefit from its demise. Some have argued that a separate GMC division is needed for upmarket-trucks and SUVs, but they could be integrated into Buick and Cadillac ....indeed, as a number of them already are now.

Lincoln sales have been dwindling some, especially since the popular Town Car was dropped, but I don't think it is in any immediate danger of folding anytime soon....not enough to have it on the poll, though you can name it if your reply if you disagree.

So....what do you gents and ladies think it will be? Who will be the next manufacturer to leave the U.S. market.....or be axed?

(My answer, BTW...........probably a tie between Mitsubishi and Suzuki). I wouldn't be surprised to see either one (or both) go pretty soon.

 

I picked Mitsubishi, especially if they kill the Evo or make it into a "green' car. There is nothing they make right now besides the Evo, that is exciting. Plus they killed the eclipse, which at one time, in the late 90's was the number one selling coupe in the U.S. !

Aston Martin is more then fine, they are coming out with the new Vanquish, and have the DBS, DB9, Rapide, and Vantage. Aston is a luxury exotic, and the point is to be low production and exclusive, out of a lineup of cars, they are my fave brand right now. ( btw Aston Martin of Tysons is in its new location now on route 7, you should check it out !)

Lotus ,not in the poll, but what they are going through is a soap opera right now, they will survive, but are more in trouble then Aston Martin or any British make right now.

 

Good question. Firstly, Aston Martin isn't going anywhere. It is a niche comparable to Ferrari and we get plenty of both where I live.

Personally I believe Suzuki or Mitsubishi is more likely to go the way of Isuzu. The Kizashi hasn't done much of anything for them despite the splash they claimed it would make a few years ago. And as for Mitsubishi seems like they've given up on the Evo, Lancer, Eclipse, Galant. Only thing they seem to advertise on TV is the Outlander.

Agreed with GMC. Seems redundant. They should have kept Pontiac IMO and stopped watering down the brand with rebadged crap and focused on sport. Chevy is more than capable of handling their truck and SUV details.

Acura's not going anywhere. Honda needs all the sales they can get, and they won't abandon their largest market for their premium brand.

Considering Ford went from eight brands to two, I don't see them abandoning Lincoln. Not sure how this new design language will work for them with the MKZ and MKS but we'll see how it pans out.

 

The fact that Aston and Jag often share the same platforms and engines, IMO, seems to work against Aston, although they outdo even Jag in the interior-department.

The Kizashi is a nice small car (though it is erroneously called mid-sizer by Suzuki). But the problem is that the serious lack of dealerships is greatly restricting showroom traffic....and Suzuki seems to be avoiding the major auto shows as well, perhaps from a lack of funds. So potential buyers can't even look at it at the shows.

Pontiac did go sport with the GTO and G8. Neither one sold well....which partially contributed to Pontiac's collapse.


Yeah, I know. I just stuck that in there as a joke for all the Acura-baiters in CAR CHAT.

IMO, they need to do a lot of work on the MKT, especially. It drives nicely, especially with the Ecoboost Turbo V6, but it the exterior styling is awful.

 

Yeah...I knew that the old Aston shop there (next to the Mercedes and Smart shops) folded up there...but it was unclear if it was going to be replaced. Thanks.....I'll check it out, though I rarely, if ever, do any Aston reviews.

Good point. I had forgotten about Lotus. They had a shop out in Germantown, MD, where I did the Elise review several years ago (you should have seen me trying to stuff my big-a** frame in and out of that midget-sized car.....that was funny) . Even they folded, though.

 

[quote]I don't believe any Aston uses a NA 5.0L or Supercharged 5.0L found in the Jags. Only a 4.7L V8 in the Vantage and a few versions of the venerable 6.0L V12

def agree with lack of dealerships, but to the that end not much marketing nor any other models in the stable to help back it up

Considering between 2000 and 2010 there was the Vibe, Sunfire, Montana SV6, G5, G6, Aztek, Grand Am, Grand Prix, non of these were remotely sporty. GTO and G8 were on their own and not even offered at the same time. With the exception of the Solstice and two aforementioned sports cars, GM really watered down the brand based on sport beginnings. Pontiac should have been scaled down and geared towards lower volume sport models possibly even in a niche. They shouldn't have sold in droves but we all know the GM's $$$ mentality...

And enter 1Sick...

Something a little less eye popping would be nice.

 

Volvo should be on this list.

 

Mike: here are some of my thoughts on this discussion.

Your argument for getting rid of GMC could be used for getting rid of Buick also: It is a waste of resources. Fold what is left of Buick -- the Verano, Regal and Enclave -- into Cadillac; those are the vehicles, IMO, that are missing from the Cadillac fold (the LaCrosse is already copied in the XTS). The argument at the time was that Buick sells very well in China. My argument now -- as it was then -- is that GM can keep Buick in China (just as Holden is Australian only and Opel/Vauxhall is European), but take it out of North America.

Yes, Aston Martin and Jaguar did share platforms and they were starting to look like a Chevrolet-Pontiac pair of badge-engineered cars (only they were from Britain). But that was from the time that they (and Land Rover) were sister divisions within Ford's Premier Automotive Group. Ford no longer owns these British manufacturers. Jaguar and Land Rover were sold together to India's Tata, and Aston Martin was sold to a consortium of a Brit, an American and two Kuwaiti investment companies. Jaguar and Aston Martin have been put up for adoption by different parents, and will very, very likely no longer share clothes. Jag and AM, once they start getting new product from their new parents, will start to be different again -- different platforms, different engines.

But, you must give Ford its due. They turned 3 one-hit wonders and gave them new product, breathing new life into 3 dying brands. Ford may not have been able to turn a profit on them, but it did make them viable again, to the point that others saw value in them.

 

I have to disagree on Buick. Unlike GMC, which IMO is simply an upmarket-clone of Chevy-trucks and noting else, Buick, despite only four basic models, is currently a more diversified division, and I don't see GM as wasting money on it. The new Verano, especially, is getting an excellent reputation (in fact, I might buy one myself).

OK.....I'll buy some of that. You make some good points.

Well, I am giving Ford its due. Nowhere did I mention the possibility of them leaving. In fact, from personal-choice, I never liked the idea of them dropping Mercury (I actually preferred the Mercury versions of some of the vehicles, like the Mariner and Sable). But, I understand (and agree with) Ford dropping Mercury purely as a buisness-decision. It made sense.

 

Why? The new S60 and XC60 are excellent vehicles, a new XC90 is around the corner, S80 flagship is being reworked, XC70, V70, C30 will soldier on for a bit, and waiting on a new S40 baby sedan. Not to mention Polestar is really grabbing hold and producing performance vehicles

Ford still owns a very minor stake in AM

But yes Ford did turn these companies around. It's a shame they couldn't hold on to them just long enough for them to see actual $$$ that they saw in them when they first purchased them

 

Granted, their customer-base in the U.S. is not huge, but is still significant (more so than with Mitsubishi or Suzuki), and the brand is still popular with safety-oriented customers.

 

The GMC is kissing the canyon goodbye.

 

Yep.....and good riddance. That vehicle, along with its Chevy Colorado twin, was, IMO, a piece of junk.....and I don't often use that term when describing modern vehicles.

 

Saab.........

 

Mike, I know that you are a fan of Buick. I did not suggest the folding of Buick because it is not making money, just as I am sure you did not suggest the folding of GMC because it is not making money; I suggested folding Buick (and GMC) for a better GM. With less resources wasted on duplicate brands, more could be spent on the brands that remain.

So, to please Mike, I now change my mind. I now suggest folding Cadillac into Buick. The XTS can be the new Park Avenue. The CTS can become the Catera Touring Sedan again. The ATS could be the new Skylark (on second thought, maybe not). The Escalade... can become the GMC Escalade.

The problem with the continuation of Buick, however, is that I believe it has less of a chance of becoming a truly international brand than Cadillac. If the current Cadillac cannot compete with Mercedes-Benz, Buick definitely cannot, but with the folding of Buick into Cadillac, I see the added models (make the Verano and Regal the new entry-level Cadillac models, and the Enclave can only help Cadillac) and added resources could make Cadillac an international brand. With the continuation of Buick in North America or the continuation of Buick and Cadillac, I see them as nothing but competitors for Lincoln; Fiat may as well bring back the Imperial (Chrysler) brand.

I was talking about Ford buying, improving, but then selling Aston Martin, and Jaguar and Land Rover before they had the chance to see any profit from them. Ford did the hard work, and the new owners of AM and JLR reap the rewards. I think there remains a market for these vehicles in North America so I do not suggest that they leave. I have no opinion on the demise of Mercury.

Saab is dead. Even if the new owners brought it back to North America, it will not be recognizable as the iconic brand that GM slowly starved.