By Lloyd Frazier
Well, it looks like GM has a big hit on their hands with the new, mid-size segment, 2008 Malibu. The Malibu’s price point, handling , eye-catching but subdued exterior, and vastly improved interior design and quality has awoken the ‘sleeper’. The ‘sleeper’ being the American middle class. For the last couple of decades, Americans have chosen to plunk down cash for Toyota’s and Honda’s in the mid-size segment. Chevrolet has always held a special place in America’s heart since the first one rolled off the assembly line in 1912. The Chevrolet brand is what really saved William Durant’s GM empire. It has become the working man’s brand ever since.
Until the new Malibu rolled into dealer lots, in the car segment, Corvette was the only current shining star for Chevrolet. Oh, sure, they have a terrific new Silverado to brag about. But truck sales have waned due to sustained higher fuel prices. The Impala is a decent car but it just doesn’t set the world on fire with its plain Jane looks and so-so equipment list. The big question remains. Can Malibu outsell Camry? Ever since 1997, Camry has been inching up the sales ladder and has never looked back. Toyota has long been perceived as the king of quality and reliability. The resale value speaks for itself. The Malibu still has to prove it can match the Camry in those areas. But, as you may remember, Consumer Reports removed the Camry from its top selling list recently due to quality issues. Now is the perfect time for GM to strike back. It has plunked 150 million bucks into advertising the new Malibu. The savvy American consumer is starting to take another look at GM again. GM is making ‘best of’ lists with the Cadillac CTS, Chevy Silverado, and Buick Enclave. A mid-size car with middle class appeal is just what GM needs to round the list. The 2008 Malibu is a solidly built car at a reasonable price. Is it too little, too late? If the current sales figures are any indication of the future for this new ‘Bu’, GM may be giving the Toyota Camry a run for its money. Only time will tell.
