Would GM gain anything from a rebadged Prius?
GM's next green dream machine?OK. GM has crushed the idea of using Toyota's hybrid technology numerous times. Nonetheless, there is another rumor out today that Toyota and GM are discussing the possibility of re-utilizing their joint NUMMI venture to rebadge Toyota Prius hybrids for GM.
Regardless of the fact that I'm 99.9 percent certain such a partnership would never happen, what would GM have to gain by such a venture?
Almost certainly, GM wouldn't make any money off these hybrid vehicles, and I don't think they would provide any more green PR than the Chevy Volt is already providing. Even worse, these cars would cast much doubt on GM's upcoming lithium-powered BAS hybrid powertrain.
Am I missing something? Why won't this rumor just go away?
Labels: GM, Hybrid Vehicles, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
4:02 PM
10 Comments:
In the 80's every major US automaker sold a small pickup that was basically a re-badged version of a Japanese pickup.
Dodge D-50 = Mistubishi
Ford Ranger = Mazda
Chevy S-10 = Toyota
I see no reason they could not do that again with hybrids....
The major holdup is that the US automakers don't have any money....
they'd get what they got before from re badged cars - the reputation of the initial manufacturer for reliability.
the biggest risk for GM is their well-earned reputation for fumbling the ball on initial models.
A "Toyota" badge tells everyone - "hey - this is not a Chevy but a Toyota".
sad, isn't it?
It is kind of sad, but I think GM believes it has solid plans for its hybrid future.
Not long ago I attended a GM conference on their new lithium BAS hybrid powertrain. Perhaps GM was just trying to game all in attendance, but they seemed very confident in their next gen. BAS hybrid powertrain.
I don't necessarily think that GM believes that this powertrain will be better than the Prius, for instance, but it might be better than the Insight, or the upcoming Honda Fit hybrid.
Even more interesting GM envisioned coupling this new powertrain with their new HCCI engine in the not so distant future. That would be a very interesting combination if costs can be contained.
Nonetheless, how could it make sense for GM to roll out these new next gen lithium BAS hybrids just as they are rolling out a rebadged Toyota hybrid? Wouldn't that be self-defeating and counter-productive?
It may be more about the EPA waiver than anything else. What and how many cars could GM sell in 2010-12 in CA and the states that signed on to the more strict emissions? They are not ready for the new regulations since they spent so much time & money fighting them.
well for like 4 years GM successfully sold a toyota product very called the VIBE (toyota matrix)
they obviously made some profit on it so i dont get how that same business model could not add variety and more pizzazz to GM's new line up.
GM biggest hurdle is PRICING , it can and will not be able to compete with any other manufacturer in COMPACT Hybrid field, which will be booming.....
I don't see how any of you would even consider that Toyota would give over its prized Prius. Think about it. Without the Prius and Toyota's practically signature Hybrid status, Toyota would be something like Nissan...or the former GM...eh... If i was head of Toyota, i wouldnt let GM anywhere near the Prius.
I have test driven the Prius III and it is an awesome car. I just want options on a car, that would take the cost of this Prius III up to about 28k and thats just more than I am wiling to pay for a hybrid as I would never recover my expenses unless gas stayed at 4.oo or MORE for next 8 years.
My solution - consider in 1 year a used fully loaded III, I think will be around 22k :) hehe
Im bad!
I hadn't thought of the CAFE hedge, Zendude. Interesting point. Still, I wonder, would the licensing fee be less than the penalty for a CAFE violation? If the profit margins are high enough on a truck or SUV, the CAFE penalty can be absorbed.
anon regarding the vibe -
the rebadged Prius would require that GM license Toyota's hybrid technology, which would make it hard for GM to be price competitive. moreover, it would cast doubt on GM's new lithium BAS hybrid powertrain that is supposed to start hitting the market next year.
would you really want to sell your competitors product at the same time you're trying to roll out your own, new proprietary hybrid powertrain?
to me it sends the message, 'well, we're not really confident in our technology, so we'll use toyota's as well just in case ours sucks'.
Indigo incarnates
Of course, they might just license the Prius *shape*. I'm sure GM could eeke a decent fuel economy out of an upgraded BAS-II mated to the 1.4L gas-turbo from the upcoming Cruze. Add a 6MT with a tall highway gear, and you'll have a decent affordable hybrid.
indigo-
a car like the cruze would be the first car i'd put this technology into. yet, i haven't heard of such a plan.
gm has not yet fully elaborated on their plans for the BAS II hybrids, so i continue to hope that GM will offer a hybrid version only BAS II hybrid - hopefully the new GM will be smarter than the old?!
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