I-Like-To-Bike

For speculators yes, for investors earnings, dividends, and long term profit and growth potential and value of the enterprise as reflected by return on capital are what count.

Unlikely that idle chatter about a "concept vehicle" like the vaguely described e-bike is going to impress speculators or investors in GM. Would probably have the same effect on GM as the Denali Bicycle sold by Walmart - nothing at all.

tandempower

Perhaps not in the imagination of the dreamer.

Mobile 155

cooker

What do you think their motivation is?

dedhed

Loaning money has always been more profitable than cars.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/gm-fina...les-1528023601

Rollfast

One of the best RVs ever was built by GMC. Innovative and high quality in most every way, like nothing before or since. Don't wager on that.

KraneXL

Oh but I would wager on it. And it'd be a pretty good bet too. Its not their capability that's in question, rather their stodgy stuck in the past management that holds them back. Profit over brand loyalty only goes so far; and that's what got them into trouble in the first place.

Consumers aren't going to continue to buy cars with built-in obsolescence. Build a quality, reliable product, and they will come. Lexus taught the industry that.

I-Like-To-Bike

I seriously doubt that GM is motivated at all about this e-bike beyond whatever benefits are gained by the PR campaign being run by a few individuals in its Urban Mobility Solutions division.

One thing I'm sure they are not concerned about is any loss of sales of its automobile or truck divisions due to increased sales of e-bikes, whether they are GM products or not. E-bikes may have a niche market but it doesn't and won't affect the public's needs or desires for the regular products sold by any of the automobile/truck manufacturers.

I also doubt many people who currently own automobiles or trucks see e-bikes as the answer to their prayers or dreams to take up a car free lifestyle.

tandempower

When you buy a car, you're lending them money that they eventually pay you back so you can pay off your car and afford a new one. They use the promise of car payments to solicit stock investors to give them money on that end. Now they're giving a multimodal transportation vision a chance and if the public proves that we will make them as much money without selling as many cars, they'll give us a break from all the congestion, pavement, and sprawl. If they are unsatisfied, it will be back to the whipping post, though.

indyfabz

GMC already makes non-eBikes,so this is a logical extension.

I-Like-To-Bike

As noted previously at:
GM to make e-bikes
"Unlikely that idle chatter about a "concept vehicle" like the vaguely described e-bike is going to impress speculators or investors in GM. Would probably have the same effect on GM as the Denali Bicycle sold by Walmart - nothing at all."

Also note that General Motors neither makes nor sells the Denali bicycle. GM probably does earn some relative chump change licensing their GMC logo to Kent International, the manufacturer/wholesaler of GMC Denali bicycles.

Perhaps GM should register "LCF" as a trademark for their concept e-bike vehicle and slap a decal with that moniker all over it. Dreamers have my permission to suggest that name in the crowdsourcing naming contest being conducted by this trendy division of GM. https://ebikebrandchallenge.com/call-for-entries

indyfabz

Thanks, Sherlock.

cooker

Presumably they thought it worthwhile to have an "urban mobility solutions" div., and corporate HQ almost certainly must have approved this "PR campaign", so they must expect some benefit to accrue from these non-car-sales directed activities. That's the topic of this thread so thanks for restating it.

trailangel

Nobody will steal those bikes.

I-Like-To-Bike

Glad to point it out to a seemingly unaware comrade who posted (w/o smilie or any other hint at irony or sarcasm), "GMC already makes non-eBikes" with a picture of a bicycle with a "GMC Denali" labels and presumably would not deliberately post known falsehoods.

indyfabz

Things aren't always as they seem. There is a guy who locks up one near my office. Looks like it's about to fall apart.

KraneXL

If they are that foolish they'll bring it back and ask for a refund.

I-Like-To-Bike

You should refer him to the place where you got your bicycle. No matter how many times you post a picture of it on BF, it never seems to age or display any wear or tear.

jon c. 

Perhaps GM saw what Ferrari was doing in road bikes and they wanted something that could beat a Ferrari

https://www.motor1.com/news/178609/b...scuderia-bike/

Rollfast

You all realize Capt. Kangaroo will come back, and he won't be happy.

tandempower

That's sort of implied in what GM is ostensibly saying about the benefits of alternative transportation for solving problems of congestion, environment, etc. I suspect you're right that they're just letting some PR guys have a go at upping the stock price a bit, but if they're not really serious about reducing overall driving per capita, then how can that have a positive impact on congestion and sprawl?

tandempower

You mean something like Lightning McQueen?

I-Like-To-Bike

I didn't make that claim, stock price manipulating as a factor in the GM e-bike scheme is strictly your construct. Don't project your conspiracy fantasies on to me.

jon c. 

Just heard on the radio that Ford is getting into the e-scooter business.

I was in Nashville a few days ago, which is the first place I've seen them IRL. Only saw a few folks actually riding them. Mostly just a whole lot of them lying around the sidewalks everywhere. The downtown area was blanketed with the things. And they are real PITA for everyone to have to step over. I can't imagine any equipment treated in such manner can last long and from an admittedly limited amount of observation it didn't appear they could generate nearly the revenue necessary to cover investment and operating costs.

Good luck to Ford. This does not compel me to want to buy stock in the firm (although I've driven a Ford Ranger for 20 years and love it).

tandempower

What did you mean here by 'benefits,' then? Sales? I assumed you were referring to stock buy-in.