[Absolut Speed]

Last fall, GM announced a reduction in GTO production and had to offer large rebates on this brand new model to sell off inventory

In December, GM had a 301 day supply of SSR's on hand.

Then the XLR gets a production cut from 23 to 12 a day. There's a 200 day supply of them out there. Cadillac hoped to sell 6,000 annually, but through 18 months, sold just 4,744.

February, GM decides to cut $1500-$2000 off the sticker mid-year on Trailblazers/Envoys/Rainiers and currently has 0% for 60 months to get them selling again. TrailBlazer sales fell 46% compared with January 2004. Envoy sales were off 52% and Rainier 27% according to Autodata reports.

Then for March, the factory that produces the LaCrosse & Grand Prix is shutting down for a week.

Then the earnings forecast for 2005 drops 80%. Stocks drop to 8 year low.

I think this goes back to cutting the Camaro and Firebird out of the lineup.

[rpoz-29]

My dad was the parts manager at a local Chevrolet dealer for 20+ years. I can remember "Show Day" when the cars for the new model year were unveiled. The owner of the dealership owned a farm and had all the new cars delivered there rather than the dealership. A day or so before show day, they would soap the windows in the show room, and bring the cars up at night. It was a very big deal. Probably sounds "quaint" to most people today. I think all manufacturers did the same, but the pratice seemed to die out in the 70's. These days, one year simply morphs into the next, and I know costs prevent them from major changes every year, but as a kid, it was almost magic. It's probably how I became hooked on cars, and I wish GM would bring some of that feeling back. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)