Oldsmobile Division

John Rock's maverick style and blunt language would probably stand out at any company. But they make him a curiosity at General Motors Corp., where most executives are staid and their every public utterance carefully measured. Last month the general manager of the venerable but troubled Oldsmobile division told dealers and employees via satellite broadcast that they were "looking at one pissed-off cowboy" over rumors that Olds faced elimination in GM's downsizing. And Rock didn't stop there.

The Oldsmobile, the line that began in 1897 and featured models such as the Rocket 88 and the muscular 442, is coming to an end this week. The last Olds, an Alero, is due to roll off an assembly line Thursday in Lansing, Mich., the same city where the brand was born. General Motors Corp. had announced in December 2000 that it would discontinue the Oldsmobile, the oldest automotive brand name in U.S. history.

Troubled International Business Machines wants the world to know that it's not the Oldsmobile of the computer world. On Friday, it plans to unleash a series of 30-second TV spots that inform its customers that "there's never been a better time to do business with IBM." Last month, the struggling Oldsmobile division of General Motors also ran ads that tried to persuade the public that things weren't really so bad.

Oldsmobile has whittled the number of models it offers as well as the number of dealers in preparation for closing its doors and leaving the automotive scene in the 2004 calendar year. But that hasn't stopped the General Motors division from raising prices on what it has left. "We are not selling distressed merchandise," said Olds spokesman Gus Buenz. "When GM decides to raise prices across the board, we're included until we shut our doors."

Oldsmobile Fights Rumors of Its Demise: General Motors Corp. may have dashed the rumor that it was killing its Oldsmobile division, but sales of Olds cars and trucks are plummeting and dealer frustration is growing. Oldsmobile sales in November tell the story. The division sold 24,369 cars and trucks during the month, 32% below the 36,078 sold in the same month last year. The rumor that Oldsmobile would be dropped as a marketing division first surfaced in the Washington Post in mid-October.

Claiming that news of their death has been greatly exaggerated, Oldsmobile dealers in the Southland tried to wheel and deal pretty much as usual on Friday. But the negative news was causing concern. Published reports this week, indicating that General Motors may eliminate or consolidate its Oldsmobile division, were denied by the company on Thursday.

The Oldsmobile division of General Motors Corp. on Thursday announced a three-part program for car owners that includes an offer to exchange any 1990 model within 30 days of purchase, as well as a 24-hour roadside assistance plan.

In the view of many consumers, a car, like other goods, should be returnable. It's a big purchase, full of details and fraught with uncertainty, sometimes including problems on delivery and seemingly endless "adjustments" thereafter. Amazingly, car makers have responded. Chrysler, Pontiac and Oldsmobile have recently made it possible to return some of their cars at least some of the time. But a customer service that should have been greeted with cheers has barely been noted.

General Motors Corp. on Tuesday unveiled its most significant reforms in years, saying it will eliminate 6,600 white-collar jobs in North America and Europe, close a factory in Britain and take a restructuring charge of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter. The world's largest auto maker also confirmed that it will phase out the 103-year-old Oldsmobile brand because of slumping sales and lack of distinct identity among GM's eight American brands.

The manicured green pastures and white fence posts stretch over the gentle hills of Kentucky's horse country all the way to Donny Ethington's tidy car dealership with its fleet of new Aleros, Auroras and Intrigues. It's not exactly bustling these days on the showroom floor alongside U.S. Highway 60. Ethington manages to sell only one new car about every two weeks. The problem is largely the brand.

The manicured green pastures and white fence posts stretch over the gentle hills of Kentucky's horse country all the way to Donny Ethington's tidy car dealership with its fleet of new Aleros, Auroras and Intrigues. It's not exactly bustling these days on the showroom floor alongside U.S. Highway 60. Ethington manages to sell only one new car about every two weeks. The problem is largely the brand.

General Motors Corp. on Tuesday unveiled its most significant reforms in years, saying it will eliminate 6,600 white-collar jobs in North America and Europe, close a factory in Britain and take a restructuring charge of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter. The world's largest auto maker also confirmed that it will phase out the 103-year-old Oldsmobile brand because of slumping sales and lack of distinct identity among GM's eight American brands.

Oldsmobile to Stop Virtually All Price Haggling: Oldsmobile said nearly all its 1994 vehicles will carry a non-negotiable price tag, expanding a strategy that other auto makers have found increasingly popular with consumers. General Motors Corp.'s oldest and most troubled division, once rumored to be on GM's chopping block, also gave details of how it will drastically shrink the number of Olds dealers nationwide, which now total about 3,100.

Troubled International Business Machines wants the world to know that it's not the Oldsmobile of the computer world. On Friday, it plans to unleash a series of 30-second TV spots that inform its customers that "there's never been a better time to do business with IBM." Last month, the struggling Oldsmobile division of General Motors also ran ads that tried to persuade the public that things weren't really so bad.

John Rock's maverick style and blunt language would probably stand out at any company. But they make him a curiosity at General Motors Corp., where most executives are staid and their every public utterance carefully measured. Last month the general manager of the venerable but troubled Oldsmobile division told dealers and employees via satellite broadcast that they were "looking at one pissed-off cowboy" over rumors that Olds faced elimination in GM's downsizing. And Rock didn't stop there.

Claiming that news of their death has been greatly exaggerated, Oldsmobile dealers in the Southland tried to wheel and deal pretty much as usual on Friday. But the negative news was causing concern. Published reports this week, indicating that General Motors may eliminate or consolidate its Oldsmobile division, were denied by the company on Thursday.

Enticed by the potential for huge profits in the booming mini-van market, Oldsmobile, perhaps known best for its big family sedans, on Wednesday introduced its first van, the Silhouette. Its effort to capitalize on the shift in consumer tastes from passenger cars to car-like trucks comes late.