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Like cars for example. Some makers just put a different badge on it. Is it because someone may not like ford, but they will buy a mercury because they don't realize it's really still a ford?
Why do manufacturers rebrand the same item?
- Thread starter The motor guy
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If you research enough, you can actually use that to your buying advantage.
I drive a Toyota Matrix which is identical to a Pontiac Vibe. Since it's a "Pontiac" that is no longer in operation, Vibe's are usually thousands of dollars cheaper because people avoid the Pontiac, even though they're actually getting a Toyota.
My dad wants a GMC Acadia. If the time ever comes where I can help him out with that, I'll advise him to get a Saturn Outlook. Saturn is defunct, but the Outlook is the exact same as the Acadia. And they are usually cheaper
I drive a Toyota Matrix which is identical to a Pontiac Vibe. Since it's a "Pontiac" that is no longer in operation, Vibe's are usually thousands of dollars cheaper because people avoid the Pontiac, even though they're actually getting a Toyota.
My dad wants a GMC Acadia. If the time ever comes where I can help him out with that, I'll advise him to get a Saturn Outlook. Saturn is defunct, but the Outlook is the exact same as the Acadia. And they are usually cheaper
Many of these brands were either separate companies bought by a larger one or used to be a distinct brand within the company, but as time passed, they were conglomerated and the bean counters realized they could make more money selling very similar vehicles under different brands. It got to a point where there were few differences between some models of different brands or they ended up competing against themselves, so they did away with some (ie Plymouth, Mercury, Pontiac).
It also allows an "upscale" version of some vehicles. GMC trucks are usually "fancier" the Chevy. Lexus/Toyota share a lot between vehicles, some just having some sheetmetal and seating differences, driveline and subframe nearly identical.
It also allows an "upscale" version of some vehicles. GMC trucks are usually "fancier" the Chevy. Lexus/Toyota share a lot between vehicles, some just having some sheetmetal and seating differences, driveline and subframe nearly identical.
GM did it for years. However, part of it was when they bought vehicles from other manufacturers to fill a niche where they didn't want to invest time and money. Over the years, GM has rebranded cars from Suzuki, Daewoo, etc. Not to mention rebadging cars from their overseas divisions, like Opel and Holden.
GM used to be the master at it since they had so many different brands. The GM J-Car platform may have been the most infamous. It was basically cosmetically different cars sold as the Chevy Cavalier, Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Firenza, Pontiac Sunbird/Sunfire, and Cadillac Cimmaron. There were others overseas. The Cimmaron was possibly the best selling Cadillac in history, but the one that brought down the brand by cheapening it.
Honda did it for the Passport. They wanted to get an SUV in the market quickly, and just paid Isuzu to rebadge the Trooper. Eventually they got their own designs on the market.
GM used to be the master at it since they had so many different brands. The GM J-Car platform may have been the most infamous. It was basically cosmetically different cars sold as the Chevy Cavalier, Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Firenza, Pontiac Sunbird/Sunfire, and Cadillac Cimmaron. There were others overseas. The Cimmaron was possibly the best selling Cadillac in history, but the one that brought down the brand by cheapening it.
Honda did it for the Passport. They wanted to get an SUV in the market quickly, and just paid Isuzu to rebadge the Trooper. Eventually they got their own designs on the market.
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Noticed Daewoo rebadged Buick's when in Korea ...
Mazda B2300 / Ford Ranger
Mazda had a good truck reputation, but doing their own R&D/emissions/crash test for their own design was getting too expensive.
Re-Badged Rangers as Bxxxx series sold well and made a profit for Mazda.
Ford sold them to Mazda for a profit. Everybody wins/happy.
Oh, Mazda built a TON of manual transmissions for Ford.
The M5R1 is OK behind a 4 cyl, (but too weak for a V-6).
The M5R2 in the 302-351W F-150's is stout unit, though.
I scratch your back
You scratch mine.
Mazda had a good truck reputation, but doing their own R&D/emissions/crash test for their own design was getting too expensive.
Re-Badged Rangers as Bxxxx series sold well and made a profit for Mazda.
Ford sold them to Mazda for a profit. Everybody wins/happy.
Oh, Mazda built a TON of manual transmissions for Ford.
The M5R1 is OK behind a 4 cyl, (but too weak for a V-6).
The M5R2 in the 302-351W F-150's is stout unit, though.
I scratch your back
You scratch mine.
The missing word is....MARKETING. But yes, there sure were a few, mostly insignificant changes among "identical" vehicles.
Remember (and this small fact will be deigned by some as being NOT-PC) advertising and marketing is the biggest business in our country.
We make, sell and trade in BRAVO SIERRA. Alas, it's much of what we stand for.
I for one didn't cry when the likes of Plymouth, Mercury and Pontiac went away.
I did well a tear or two for historical milestones like Oldsmobile, Saab and Saturn because I feel those marques had some idea driven philosophies behind them.
Remember (and this small fact will be deigned by some as being NOT-PC) advertising and marketing is the biggest business in our country.
We make, sell and trade in BRAVO SIERRA. Alas, it's much of what we stand for.
I for one didn't cry when the likes of Plymouth, Mercury and Pontiac went away.
I did well a tear or two for historical milestones like Oldsmobile, Saab and Saturn because I feel those marques had some idea driven philosophies behind them.
And way back when, they actually were different and had different options associated with each brand.
But as with everything else, there was cost cutting to be had.
But as with everything else, there was cost cutting to be had.
This question doesn't even need to be in the "General and Off-Topic" area. If you catch my drift.........
Look what Generous Motors did to SAAB.
Its about maximizing return on investment. If you only need to invest the R&D, design and manufacturing capital for one design and then get to sell it as 2 or more models under different brand names that each have their own customer loyalty tied to them, its a win-win. You a buy one get one two free deal and that ROI time period goes down much quicker than otherwise.
From the standpoint of re-branding lubricants:
1. Sometimes it is for the same reason and the company just doesn't want to invest extra time for a niche market.
2. It is just a customer perception issue and people just want to see a picture of their preferred machine on the label.
Number 1 is much more prevalent in big companies trying to get the biggest bang for their buck rather than companies dedicated to their niche markets in my experience.
From the standpoint of re-branding lubricants:
1. Sometimes it is for the same reason and the company just doesn't want to invest extra time for a niche market.
2. It is just a customer perception issue and people just want to see a picture of their preferred machine on the label.
Number 1 is much more prevalent in big companies trying to get the biggest bang for their buck rather than companies dedicated to their niche markets in my experience.
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