By many accounts American taxpayers will own about 70 percent of General Motors in just a few days. Congratulations everyone! What should we do with it?
I say the first thing we need to do is change the name. Not much brand equity anymore in GM. And what’s with “General Motors” anyway? Was “Specific Motors” not available?
So we’re all agreed, then. Our car company needs a new name and we’re opening the Suggestion Box. A few restrictions:
- It has to be short enough to fit on the front and rear of the car. BMW is much better than Bavarian Motor Works.
- I think it should reflect an American theme: rugged, individualistic, inclusive. Our company can’t carry some namby-pamby moniker like Xeon or Life Dunk. Nope, has to be something like Let Freedom Ring Motor Co., Stars and Stripes Automobile Manufacturing Co. or Declare Your Independence Motors.
- No People Names. Too many automakers and models are named after names: Ford, DeSoto, Edsel, Aston Martin, DeLorean. But maybe a historically important figure would be OK. How does Lady Liberty Autoworks sound to you?
- Forget American Motors. Tried it — didn’t work out so well.
So what’s your suggestion for a new name for GM?
