1980s
Published on August 31st, 2015 |
by BajaBusta
1988: GEO – GM’s plans
The Geo badge, used a squat image of the western hemisphere to form the letter o, joined Saturn as GM’s latest new light in the General Motors marque marquee. It was intended to be an umbrella providing a single ‘source’ for most GM vehicles from non-domestic car companies; these included the Sprint (Suzuki), Spectrum (Isuzu), and Nova (Toyota) at Chevrolet, the Tracker due summer 1988 was said to have been planned for the GMC brand.
The LeMans reportedly was excluded from the Geo master plan because it was Pontiac’s only genuinely small car. The long considered return of Opel to the U.S. was also planned to be under the Geo dealership flag.
GM sources alluded to Ford’s creation of the sales proof Merkur brand was the template for Geo. One form of the original Geo marketing ploy called for it to be a separate franchise along Acura lines, with distinct showrooms or wholly separate dealer facilities. But, GM’s interest in making the program run in time for 1989 products meant the Geo brand vehicles were sold on the same lots as GM dealers operated. Supposedly the nameplate could have easily spun away from Chevrolet and made separate later if that became necessary.
Tags: 1988, 1989, General Motors, GEO, GEO Metro, GEO Storm, GEO Tracker, GM
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