California Cadillac dealers push back

[partsguy99]

The U.S.'s largest state association of new-car dealers is pushing General Motors (NYSE:GM) to delay or change an aggressive plan to restructure its Cadillac dealer network, according to a new report in trade publication Automotive News.

To GM investors, that may seem like auto-industry inside baseball. But what GM is trying to do with Cadillac is an important part of a plan to increase its profitability, and this is a potential wrench in the works.

What's happening?
The California New Car Dealers Association has written a letter to GM CEO Mary Barra, saying that it has heard from 52 Cadillac dealers who have "serious reservations" about a plan to divide Cadillac's 925 U.S. dealers into five tiers.

The letter to Barra follows efforts by dealer groups in other states to push Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen to delay or change the program. For many current Cadillac dealers, the plan would mean radical changes that they fear will hurt their sales and profitability.



What's the plan?

Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen says that the plan, called Project Pinnacle, is his way of making the most of Cadillac's large dealer network.

GM's luxury brand has far more U.S. dealerships than its German-brand rivals, something that has long been seen as a disadvantage. More dealerships mean fewer sales per store, meaning that each store is less profitable. That in turn means that the dealers are less motivated to reinvest in their businesses.

The result is that many feel that Cadillac dealers don't deliver the same level of service or polish that other, more profitable luxury-car dealers can.

Because it would be politically very difficult (and very expensive) for GM to close half or more of its U.S. Cadillac dealers, de Nysschen came up with a plan to turn the large number of dealerships to Cadillac's advantage.

Project Pinnacle divides the dealers into 5 tiers based on their projected annual sales. Each tier gets a scaled level of service standards and incentives for hitting various targets. Stores in the very lowest tier would have no inventory of new Cadillacs at all. Instead, they would provide service while hosting a "virtual showroom" to make sales.

The goal of the plan is to significantly upgrade the level of attention and service provided to Cadillac customers, while making sure that even small dealers can provide that attention and service profitably. That's an important component of the larger plan to upgrade Cadillac's brand image, which in turn is a key part of Barra's plan to boost GM's global profitability over the next few years.
Why are the dealers upset with it?

Dealer groups say that Project Pinnacle would give a lot of benefits to large stores that happen to be in locations deemed desirable, leaving smaller Cadillac dealers at a disadvantage -- and at risk of being put out of business entirely. The plan would require significant (read: expensive) changes to many dealers' facilities and delay payments of important incentives, they say.

De Nysschen disagrees. He has said repeatedly that the program makes it easier for smaller dealerships to meet Cadillac's standards and generate more profit. He has emphasized that the program was developed jointly with Cadillac's national dealer council, in close consultation with key dealerships.

De Nysschen insists that Project Pinnacle is about using Cadillac's big dealer network to best advantage. But a National Automobile Dealers Association survey of Cadillac dealerships found that 87% of them think that Project Pinnacle's real purpose is to eliminate many of Cadillac's smaller dealerships.
What's likely to happen here?

Project Pinnacle had been scheduled to begin on Oct. 1, but the company has delayed it until Jan. 1, 2017, because of dealer feedback.

But the dispute could get ugly before then. The California dealers' letter to Barra made a point of saying that Project Pinnacle violates at least eight California state laws. De Nysschen disagrees, describing Project Pinnacle as "legally bulletproof." It's possible that assertion could be tested in court before long.

and GM would NEVER, EVER lie to their dealers, would they?

[ehiatt]

"Project Pinnacle had been scheduled to begin on Oct. 1, but the company has delayed it until Jan. 1, 2017, because of dealer feedback."

This sounds very familiar. Hmmmmm.

[Mike Nicholes]

Hang on Cadillac Dealers; if the past actions by GM are any indication of their long range plans, then Cadillac is the first line and will be followed by Chevrolet and the others. If you want to know what will happen in the future; study the past and study it very hard and in detail; not much in way of the introduction of 'new' processes and procedures has been started by these 'non' automotive leaders in many, but not all, of the auto manufacturers. It's come down to management by accountants who don't have a real clue and NO 'on the line sales experience' in our marketplace. I think Chrysler, many years ago had the last 'real' auto guy/gal running the company.

[bentwrench54]

I feel bad for those smaller Cadillac dealerships.

That being said, stiffing your small guys with no inventory to show and sell is just stupid..

If I'm spending that kind of money, I would certainly want to be able to look at it in person, drive it, etc.

[partsguy99]

Hang on Cadillac Dealers; if the past actions by GM are any indication of their long range plans, then Cadillac is the first line and will be followed by Chevrolet and the others. If you want to know what will happen in the future; study the past and study it very hard and in detail; not much in way of the introduction of 'new' processes and procedures has been started by these 'non' automotive leaders in many, but not all, of the auto manufacturers. It's come down to management by accountants who don't have a real clue and NO 'on the line sales experience' in our marketplace. I think Chrysler, many years ago had the last 'real' auto guy/gal running the company.

BINGO: WINNER,WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!
That was my primary reason for posting it. So glad I only have a few more years at FAMILY owned GM dealer.
The current crop of corporate schumcks still feel there are too many dealerships.I real feel sorry for you younger guys.

[JeepGuy]

I wonder if the smaller Dealer's will have to log on to a website to get the "competitive list price" before they sell the vehicle