To achieve this goal, GM will be trying to preserve its global product strategy that helps it reduce costs for model development by creating cars for global markets rather than specific regions. This task may become more difficult over the next few months, especially considering the state of GM's Opel subsidiary based in Germany and its own financial troubles.
Speaking with The Detroit News, GM's new CEO, Fritz Henderson, has stated that maintaining global vehicle development is necessary for survival. "If Opel were developing an Opel Insignia only for Opel, it's 150,000 units. If we develop an Insignia for across the globe, it's a million units - a much more efficient way to do it."
But problems may crop up where GM is requesting financial help from third-parties in exchange for equity stakes in their brands - as is the case with the German government and Opel. If the German government were to claim control of Opel with a majority shareholding of stocks, it remains uncertain who would be in charge of running the company, especially in regards to GM's global development plans. The same could occur for its Holden and Daewoo subsidiaries.
While this is a heavy concern for the carmaker, streamlining may mean having to give up some of its brands - if not Opel, then perhaps one of its core American brands such as Pontiac, which may become too low-volume to justify.