1 Mar 2007
: The first all-new Buick-Pontiac-GMC showroom in the United States will open its doors here Thursday.
After being destroyed by hurricanes Francis and Jeanne in 2004, Carl's Buick-Pontiac-GMC at 2445 S.E. Federal Highway has put the finishing touches on a completely new, modern exterior and interior design.
"I'm proud to participate in this great occasion," said John Larson, general manager of GM's Buick-Pontiac-GMC divisions in Detroit. "Carl's is part of a growing number of dealerships that have combined the three brands under one roof. He is also one of the first to invest in an all-new facility image design."
Channel Strategy
In 2002, GM announced a strategy to group the Buick, Pontiac and GMC brands into one preferred distribution channel. Currently, about 1,600 dealers are aligned, and together they sell about 65 percent of the volume for the three brands.
"We believe this provides a competitive advantage for our dealers," Larson said. "The Buick- Pontiac-GMC channel allows GM to optimize each brand by developing distinct yet complementary vehicles that reduce product overlap, broaden the appeal of each model and reach new customers."
Each brand in the channel has it own defining characteristics:
- Pontiac: Athletic, bold designs with great performance
- Buick: Premium vehicles that offer classic, timeless designs, and exquisite levels of craftsmanship and high quality
- GMC: Professional Grade trucks, SUVs and crossovers engineered to provide superior capabilities and innovative features.
New Facility Design
The Buick-Pontiac-GMC team worked with dealer input, GM Design Staff and a nationally recognized design firm - Pavlik Design Team of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - to come up with the design. The new showroom exudes a clean, modern feel, with distinct areas for the three brands.
The dealership's exterior features a black, white and gray color scheme, constructed of brushed metal panels with bright metal inserts, and black metal accents.
The interior design includes a modern balance of light cherry wood and a ceramic tile floor. The interior also takes several of the visual design elements from the exterior and incorporates them into the interior, such as the arch over the receptionist's desk.
The overall result is an efficient facility design program that provides Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealers with consistent brand identification, as well as a modern and pleasing environment for their customers.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 284,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
