Cadillac - The Standard of the World?

[Abishai100]

Big Brother Volvo

Cadillac is indeed a standard in the automobile industry, and I don't think any old German or Japanese car can compare with its social lore.

There's something so American about a Cadillac that puts it ahead in the realm of public opinion when compared to a BMW or a Toyota. Americans still struggle in the car market, so Cadillac suffers in sales when consumers opt for foreign car-makers such as Saab or Infiniti.

Cadillac will always be the perennial that people look to when asked the question, "What is the American culture standard for cars?"

There is one foreign car-maker that rivals or competes with Cadillac in the realm of social lore and/or public image: Volvo.

Volvo is the Swedish car-maker whose sales have been very impressive. Volvos were popular among American hippies and in modern days among American yuppies.

Volvos are 'boxy but safe' as the adage goes, and it has attained a certain degree of general social respect in the court of public opinion which is why it can be compared to the image-rich Cadillac.

Volvos look nothing like Cadillacs, but they compete with each other imply in this dominion of public image as it relates to 'consumerism culture.'







Volvo - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

 

[Derideo_Te]

Ever look inside a PC and see which countries make all the different parts?

Same thing happens with cars. The brand label on the outside does not tell you that the alternator is made in France, the suspension is German, the tires are Japanese, the electronics come from Taiwan, etc, etc.

There is no such thing as a vehicle that is made in America from parts made in America. Not even Cadillac can make that claim.

Vehicles are built from parts from whomever can make them the cheapest these days. Yes, that applies to Volvo's just like it does to any other brand.

 

[longknife]

As the above poster pointed out, cars may be assembled in the USA, but there are made up of parts manufactures elsewhere. The Free Trade Zone along the American/Mexican border is filled with plants manufacturing parts for American products.

 

[DGS49]

Even so, each manufacturer's designers hope to ensure that each new model that comes out has enough "Honda-ness," or "Cadillac-ness" that their loyal customers will be comfortable with it.

Look at the Buick Encore. It is a tiny little vehicle made in South Korea, but when you sit in it or look at it from 20 feet away, from any angle, you know that it's a Buick.

 

[jwoodie]

Cadillac needs an S-Class sedan competitor with an MSRP over $100k. The Escalade can't hold up the brand forever.

 

[SmarterThanTheAverageBear]

Cadillac recently moved their corporate headquarters to NYC in an attempt to differentiate themselves from the rest of GM.

Certainly a good move, nothing wrong with frame sharing, but when a person puts down $60K on a vehicle they don't want to be reminded that it is based on a $25K vehicle.

Frankly, i think they would be better served by having exclusive Caddy only dealers and repair shops to. A guy who can afford a Caddy doesn't mind traveling to buy one or get one repaired.