Not surprising - Government Motors is pretty much “scorched earth”, so far as consumers are concerned. Once, the General Motors brand was unassailable, putting solid products out in the market place and giving fair measure for goods purchased. You knew a GMC or Chevrolet pickup truck had the lifetime of a horse and could be maintained with a minimum of attention to the basics. Not a fussy or temperamental vehicle at all.
But GM became a massive retirement and health care plan, and only incidentally manufactured motor vehicles and related products. When some 30% of the price of that vehicle is going for coverage of workers who may be long retired, and is not available for technological upgrading or engineering excellence, something had to suffer. Toyota, Nissan and Ford all kicked the butts of the “post-bailout” products from Government Motors, or at least, that is the perception.
Studebaker and International were once producers of light and medium duty trucks, too. And what remains of either of them today? An occasional one will show up at a “veteran” or “antique” automobile show.
