Dear GMC: There’s Nothing You Can Do to Compete with Jeep

By Detroit Steel - December 8, 2014

I have to give it to some of my fellow colleagues in the media because they certainly know how to stir things up.

This latest bit of controversy comes from Ad Age, a trusted marketing and advertising publication. While I have a lot of respect for it, I’m inclined to say a recent report suggesting GMC might have something up its sleeve to compete with Jeep is pretty misleading.

Let me be clear. It’s not that it was the writer’s intent to be misleading. In fact, the story, written by Mike Colias, is a damn good read on how, unlike Hummer, the Jeep brand not only survived the great oil crisis, but has actually gotten stronger since then.

The piece, which you can read below, also highlights the growing surge in SUV sales, which could make Jeep even stronger in the future.

The “misleading” part of the article, titled “GM’s Hummer-Size Hole is Boon for Jeep,” comes in a comment made by GMC chief Duncan Aldred. He reportedly told Edmunds.com that an “active all-road, Wrangler-esque type of vehicle” could be a possibility for GMC.

I’m pretty sure Mr. Aldred was speaking more figuratively than literally when he suggested that GMC could be developing such an SUV, but the idea that GMC could come up with anything to compete with a Jeep Wrangler is pretty far-fetched, if you ask me.