For release: Aug. 1, 2006
PERSONALIZATION DRIVES GROWTH, SUCCESS FOR GM ACCESSORIES
Vehicle personalization is driving record growth in the automotive aftermarket business at the same time customers demand products that deliver quality, great looks and performance. GM Accessories is meeting the challenge head-on with a 2007 model year portfolio featuring an unprecedented number of products – more than 60 alone devoted to the all-new 2007 full-size SUVs and UUVs – that are designed, engineered, integrated and tested to GM’s high standards.
“Personalization is not a trend – it is a customer expectation of today’s vehicle purchase and ownership experience,” said Nancy Philippart, executive director, GM Accessories. “By anticipating the needs of our customers and aggressively marketing our products, we’ve tripled the size of our portfolio and grown our business by 105 percent since 2002.
“With more hot new GM product introductions this year, we expect to further grow our share of the $32 billion-a-year aftermarket accessories business by increasing the number of GM dealerships selling our products and reaching out to more customers.”
Philippart said it is important to provide customers with an opportunity to personalize their vehicles while at the same time preserving the identity of each GM brand. For the 2007 model year, the debut of GM’s all-new full-size SUVs and pickup trucks highlights GM Accessories’ product offerings. Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac dealerships are offering a broad range of accessories from interior electronics such as dual-player headrest DVD rear seat entertainment systems to elaborate cargo management systems to head-turners such as chrome accents and plus-size wheels and tires.
Other highlights include the continued rollout of GM’s performance exhaust portfolio, one of the industry’s most comprehensive. By the end of 2006, GM will expand its offering of performance exhausts to 30 GM vehicles, including those currently available for the new full-size SUVs such as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon, as well as sporty new roadsters such as the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.
The GM Performance Exhaust System is constructed of T-304 stainless steel, mandrel bent piping, semi-polished S-type mufflers and two distinctive sounds: the throaty ‘purr’ of the Touring system and the aggressive ‘growl’ of the Performance system.
The systems were developed in conjunction with GM’s vehicle development teams to ensure that fit, safety, emissions, fuel system integrity and crashworthiness meet both GM and federal regulatory standards.
Another continued growth area for GM Accessories is the plus-size tire and wheel business. By the end of 2006, GM will have more than 50 accessory wheel and tire systems for more than 35 GM vehicles.
GM is a recognized leader in tire and wheel system engineering and development, creating the industry’s first and only Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) rating, which helps vehicle owners choose tires designed to function with the vehicle’s architecture to provide optimum ride, handling and safety.
GM Accessories wheels follow the same validation guidelines as original equipment wheels. Plus-size wheel and TPC tire systems meet or exceed federal requirements as well as GM’s safety objectives, retaining handling and performance characteristics similar to production wheels and tires. In fact, GM will not sell plus-size wheels if these requirements cannot be met. This provides customers peace of mind in knowing that their vehicle will not only look good, but perform the way it should.
The importance of integration
Integrating accessories into the GM development and validation process is what distinguishes GM’s accessories from competitive products. GM took this approach a step further in 2005 by opening the GM Accessories Design Studio, which enables GM accessories to be designed and fully integrated with specific GM vehicles during the vehicle development process. Connecting the accessory and vehicle designers helps ensure a factory-quality fit and finish as well as an integrated, tailored appearance – qualities that are critically important to consumers when they upgrade their vehicles.
"GM is the first OEM to use this process on accessories – a contrast to the common industry practice of reverse engineering after the product hits the streets,” said Philippart. “At GM Accessories, ‘aftermarket’ does not mean ‘afterthought.’ ”
Because they meet GM’s rigorous standards for safety and durability, all accessories offered by GM brands are backed by the promise of a General Motors warranty. Accessories permanently installed on a new GM vehicle at the time of delivery are covered under the GM New Vehicle Limited Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty, and can be included in the financing of the vehicle, making them both convenient and affordable. GM accessories permanently installed by a GM dealer after vehicle purchase are covered for the balance of the new vehicle warranty, and no less than 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Making distribution an industry best practice
One of the key reasons for the growth in GM’s accessories business is the completion of the Accessories Distributor Installer (ADI) network – heralded by the North American Parts and Service Conference (NASPC) as an industry “best practice.”
This distribution network is comprised of independent businesses whose primary responsibility is to ensure same or next-day delivery to GM dealers – by warehousing GM accessories product and providing sales, marketing, training and installation support to GM dealers. This built-in flexibility at the point of sale enables GM dealers to improve their ability to meet their customer's unique needs, thereby increasing their opportunity to close sales and sell more vehicles.
GM Accessories and GM Performance Parts are sold in North America by Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC, Saturn retailers, Saab and HUMMER dealerships. For more information about GM Parts, GM Accessories or GM Performance Parts, visit www.gmgoodwrench.com.
General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
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