New alignments in industry.

New car companies: (Edit 1-2 June)

1. Opel, Saab, Vauxhall, GAZ. I would guess only Opel and Saab would remain as brands. They have no distribution in North America, but a notable number of GM and Chrysler dealers will be looking for a new line. I’m rooting for Magna takes Opel! The word around the campfire is that Magna shall not sell Opel-derived or branded vehicles in the U.S. How ’bout Canada?
2. Koenigsegg takes Saab?! (pending)
3. Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Fiat and Abrath, Iveco, Jeep, Maserati, Zastava. Zastava may be superseded by Fiat. Small and mid-size vehicles are Fiat designs, larger cars are Chryslers or Alfas. Trucks remain under their respective divisions, but anticipate platform sharing: Iveco Ram, Jeep Massif, Jeep Dakota, &c.
4. Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC Truck. A company which has no source for small or mid-sized automobiles or designs of such automobiles. Historically their smaller cars have proved terrible, but sold in volume at a loss. This is an opportunity for an automaker specializing in small cars, but with little or no presence in North America.
5. Saturn and Smart are now may be distributed by the same company in North America, but vehicles are imported from Daimler and Renault.
6. Daewoo, MG, Roewe, Ssangyong, Wuling. Who, as a separate company, may have small cars to provide to a new General Motors.
7. Hummer goes to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. Ltd. I don’t know who they are.

I am surprised Hyundai, Toyota and Volkswagen have kept out of this. Although the dispensation of Daewoo and Ssangyong is less than certain.

I am not surprised that Honda and Ford have kept out of this.

Interesting to me is that Toyota is reaching out to aspiring former Chrysler-brand dealers outside of major population centers. I wonder if other automakers are doing the same thing?