http://logisticsviewpoints.com/2009/06/03/gm-bankruptcy-a-catalyst-for-build-to-order-cars/ Providing logistics professionals with clear and concise analyses of Logistics Trends, Technologies, and Services Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:26:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://logisticsviewpoints.com/2009/06/03/gm-bankruptcy-a-catalyst-for-build-to-order-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-44 dgonsalvez Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:37:47 +0000 http://logisticsviewpoints.com/?p=1106#comment-44 Steve, Actually GM did run a program along these lines for the Cadillac brand in 1998-99. It was called Custom Xpress Delivery (CXD). Under the program order to delivery lead times shrank from an average of 42 days to 8-9 days. It utilized pooled vehicle inventories across dealers (e.g., a shared inventory location in Orlando for all dealers in Florida) and an exceptionally quick manufacturing response (e.g., a customer specified order was placed at the head of the build queue). At the time, dealer franchise laws prevented some of the retail steps you are proposing. Though Ford did run an experiment in Indianapolis where all the dealerships were Ford owned and did accept internet orders - if I remember right. Unfortunately both experiments ultimately were terminated. Steve,
Actually GM did run a program along these lines for the Cadillac brand in 1998-99. It was called Custom Xpress Delivery (CXD). Under the program order to delivery lead times shrank from an average of 42 days to 8-9 days. It utilized pooled vehicle inventories across dealers (e.g., a shared inventory location in Orlando for all dealers in Florida) and an exceptionally quick manufacturing response (e.g., a customer specified order was placed at the head of the build queue).
At the time, dealer franchise laws prevented some of the retail steps you are proposing. Though Ford did run an experiment in Indianapolis where all the dealerships were Ford owned and did accept internet orders – if I remember right. Unfortunately both experiments ultimately were terminated.

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