What manufacturers do you think will come back (or die)?
Discussion
I was thinking today that is no reason that SAAB should stay dead in this era. In fact, I think if they came back as a competitor to Volvo and Tesla, they could really sell a lot of cars.
Imagine it, the blueprint is already there:
Swedish “luxury”, simple, understated design, like the IKEA of cars.
Heavy on the tech and the geekery to appeal to the young accountants and IT bods, “fighter plane” design cues, without going overboard and cringey like when they lost their way around the mid 2000s.
A small crossover, a midsize crossover, a large SUV, a rakish 4 door GT/coupe style saloon and a 3 series size saloon.
Electric only, with a market leading range and a decent warranty, and attractive PCP/leasing deals.
Priced somewhere in the middle between the cheapo brands (Hyundai/Kia/MG) and the established pseudo-luxury (BMW/Audi/MB/Volvo)
“Visionary” CEO and guerrilla marketing
I reckon that could work and some billionaire will jump on my idea while the Saab name has still some merit.
On the other hand:
I reckon Ford will be a minor player or dead in the UK within 25 years as the EV era beckons..
Imagine it, the blueprint is already there:
Swedish “luxury”, simple, understated design, like the IKEA of cars.
Heavy on the tech and the geekery to appeal to the young accountants and IT bods, “fighter plane” design cues, without going overboard and cringey like when they lost their way around the mid 2000s.
A small crossover, a midsize crossover, a large SUV, a rakish 4 door GT/coupe style saloon and a 3 series size saloon.
Electric only, with a market leading range and a decent warranty, and attractive PCP/leasing deals.
Priced somewhere in the middle between the cheapo brands (Hyundai/Kia/MG) and the established pseudo-luxury (BMW/Audi/MB/Volvo)
“Visionary” CEO and guerrilla marketing
I reckon that could work and some billionaire will jump on my idea while the Saab name has still some merit.
On the other hand:
I reckon Ford will be a minor player or dead in the UK within 25 years as the EV era beckons..
Strangely, we’re living in times where new brands - with no heritage, image and weird names - are doing better than established ones. Generally speaking of course.
Cupra, DS, Polestar, Tesla are all doing better than Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Aston Martin, for example.
Yes, the product not the brand is the important factor but it seems nobody really cares about the past anymore.
As much as SAAB would suit an EV range, you’d be better off starting a new fresh brand with no history, design language and small band of SAAB fans that probably wouldn’t buy one anyway.
Cupra, DS, Polestar, Tesla are all doing better than Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Aston Martin, for example.
Yes, the product not the brand is the important factor but it seems nobody really cares about the past anymore.
As much as SAAB would suit an EV range, you’d be better off starting a new fresh brand with no history, design language and small band of SAAB fans that probably wouldn’t buy one anyway.
Bugatti is a good example of a resurrected brand, something with an illustrious past is a good candidate to return as a high-end brand I think.
For the chop: Vauxhall. Re-badging a Peugeot to make it less desirable is hardly good business, Stellantis is due a GM-style shakeout given how many brands it has and lots of others in the stable are more desirable.
Mitsubishi: has a bit more brand equity, but unsure what the point is keeping it as a cut-price Nissan, which has enough problems of its own.
Lazarus: Duesenberg - still has cultural relevance today and could come back as an ultra-luxury brand for the 1%.
DeLorean - the kids who watched Back to the Future first time out are probably soon reaching the point of buying a luxury GT, the sustainable ethos would fit well today, the styling language is distinctive and I think could be applied to other types of vehicle, and gullwing doors could work well with a skateboard EV chassis.
For the chop: Vauxhall. Re-badging a Peugeot to make it less desirable is hardly good business, Stellantis is due a GM-style shakeout given how many brands it has and lots of others in the stable are more desirable.
Mitsubishi: has a bit more brand equity, but unsure what the point is keeping it as a cut-price Nissan, which has enough problems of its own.
Lazarus: Duesenberg - still has cultural relevance today and could come back as an ultra-luxury brand for the 1%.
DeLorean - the kids who watched Back to the Future first time out are probably soon reaching the point of buying a luxury GT, the sustainable ethos would fit well today, the styling language is distinctive and I think could be applied to other types of vehicle, and gullwing doors could work well with a skateboard EV chassis.
VS02 said:
I was thinking today that is no reason that SAAB should stay dead in this era. In fact, I think if they came back as a competitor to Volvo and Tesla, they could really sell a lot of cars.
Imagine it, the blueprint is already there:
Swedish “luxury”, simple, understated design, like the IKEA of cars.
Heavy on the tech and the geekery to appeal to the young accountants and IT bods, “fighter plane” design cues, without going overboard and cringey like when they lost their way around the mid 2000s.
A small crossover, a midsize crossover, a large SUV, a rakish 4 door GT/coupe style saloon and a 3 series size saloon.
Electric only, with a market leading range and a decent warranty, and attractive PCP/leasing deals.
Priced somewhere in the middle between the cheapo brands (Hyundai/Kia/MG) and the established pseudo-luxury (BMW/Audi/MB/Volvo)
“Visionary” CEO and guerrilla marketing
I reckon that could work and some billionaire will jump on my idea while the Saab name has still some merit.
On the other hand:
I reckon Ford will be a minor player or dead in the UK within 25 years as the EV era beckons..
SAAB did (albeit were Chinese owned and ran)....they were called NEVSImagine it, the blueprint is already there:
Swedish “luxury”, simple, understated design, like the IKEA of cars.
Heavy on the tech and the geekery to appeal to the young accountants and IT bods, “fighter plane” design cues, without going overboard and cringey like when they lost their way around the mid 2000s.
A small crossover, a midsize crossover, a large SUV, a rakish 4 door GT/coupe style saloon and a 3 series size saloon.
Electric only, with a market leading range and a decent warranty, and attractive PCP/leasing deals.
Priced somewhere in the middle between the cheapo brands (Hyundai/Kia/MG) and the established pseudo-luxury (BMW/Audi/MB/Volvo)
“Visionary” CEO and guerrilla marketing
I reckon that could work and some billionaire will jump on my idea while the Saab name has still some merit.
On the other hand:
I reckon Ford will be a minor player or dead in the UK within 25 years as the EV era beckons..
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/former...
Not sure on its progress or current situation.
toasty said:
It wouldn’t surprise me if Aston Martin or McLaren went under in the next five years or so.
I agree that I can see the current companies trading under those names going bankrupt. However I don't think they'll disappear, the brands would still be worth a lot and so someone would see value in picking them up and re-launching them. After all, if the last seven bankruptcies didn't kill off the Aston Martin name, there's no reason to think that the eighth will.
samoht said:
I agree that I can see the current companies trading under those names going bankrupt. However I don't think they'll disappear, the brands would still be worth a lot and so someone would see value in picking them up and re-launching them.
After all, if the last seven bankruptcies didn't kill off the Aston Martin name, there's no reason to think that the eighth will.
McLaren will survive just off the back of the F1 team... 2nd oldest team on the grid and they get $30m a year just for showing up. Frankly I'm amazed the oft-rumoured purchase by a major German manufacturer hasn't actually happened yet. Audi were one of the names that were regularly floated but they've announced they're going into F1 via Sauber so that pretty much rules them out... BMW were the other and to be honest still makes a lot of sense to me; they've got history together, BMW could do with a platform for a proper halo car (that isn't a gopping hybrid SUV) and McLaren could benefit from the parts bin of a major manufacturer... After all, if the last seven bankruptcies didn't kill off the Aston Martin name, there's no reason to think that the eighth will.
Edited by Sofa on Monday 14th November 23:43
When you look at the JLR reimagine strategy it’s clear that it will lead to the divestment of Jaguar but who would buy it? Maybe a non car company like Dyson but as said above brands and history don’t seem as important in this new age so why would you do that and not just sell Dyson or Apple cars etc.
It’s a shame the Chinese or someone with money didn’t rescue Saab
It’s a shame the Chinese or someone with money didn’t rescue Saab
Lancia has been dead for years. It just hasn't decided how dead it wants to be yet which is very.
Going forward I don't think marques will have the significance they once did.
Young folk are tech heads, not petrol heads. If some unknown manufacturer has all the bells and blinking lights that's what they'll run towards.
Going forward I don't think marques will have the significance they once did.
Young folk are tech heads, not petrol heads. If some unknown manufacturer has all the bells and blinking lights that's what they'll run towards.
bloomen said:
Lancia has been dead for years. It just hasn't decided how dead it wants to be yet which is very.
Going forward I don't think marques will have the significance they once did.
Young folk are tech heads, not petrol heads. If some unknown manufacturer has all the bells and blinking lights that's what they'll run towards.
As the “driving” becomes less important it will be the interior ambience and the user interface that attracts people. The “bells and whistles” will be different because none of it will be about driving Going forward I don't think marques will have the significance they once did.
Young folk are tech heads, not petrol heads. If some unknown manufacturer has all the bells and blinking lights that's what they'll run towards.
samoht said:
Bugatti is a good example of a resurrected brand, something with an illustrious past is a good candidate to return as a high-end brand I think.
For the chop: Vauxhall. Re-badging a Peugeot to make it less desirable is hardly good business, Stellantis is due a GM-style shakeout given how many brands it has and lots of others in the stable are more desirable.
Mitsubishi: has a bit more brand equity, but unsure what the point is keeping it as a cut-price Nissan, which has enough problems of its own.
Lazarus: Duesenberg - still has cultural relevance today and could come back as an ultra-luxury brand for the 1%.
DeLorean - the kids who watched Back to the Future first time out are probably soon reaching the point of buying a luxury GT, the sustainable ethos would fit well today, the styling language is distinctive and I think could be applied to other types of vehicle, and gullwing doors could work well with a skateboard EV chassis.
I'd imagine most 30somethings (even American ones) might think a Duesenberg was some kind of hat. For the chop: Vauxhall. Re-badging a Peugeot to make it less desirable is hardly good business, Stellantis is due a GM-style shakeout given how many brands it has and lots of others in the stable are more desirable.
Mitsubishi: has a bit more brand equity, but unsure what the point is keeping it as a cut-price Nissan, which has enough problems of its own.
Lazarus: Duesenberg - still has cultural relevance today and could come back as an ultra-luxury brand for the 1%.
DeLorean - the kids who watched Back to the Future first time out are probably soon reaching the point of buying a luxury GT, the sustainable ethos would fit well today, the styling language is distinctive and I think could be applied to other types of vehicle, and gullwing doors could work well with a skateboard EV chassis.
They were a very high quality make admittedly.
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