Unpopular opinion,
But the only goal of GM is to make money. As aggravating as it is, if a company isn't making money it won't survive. GM did stupid stuff from the 80's all the way up through the 2010's when they went bankrupt. GM, Ford, ect have pride that kept them from making smart decisions. Toyota or Nissan don't have that pride to keep making stuff that they probably shouldn't and thats why we are where we are today.
People aren't buying cars. Why? Opinions vary but my view is that "tough guy men" want "TRUCKS" to "haul" stuff and the advent of 4 door pickups allow that. Just look at the people who have a platinum f150 and haul a trailer behind it to bring the christmas tree or 4 wheeler back home. Look at the 4 cylinder GM pickups, it's for CAFE yes but more because GM makes more money on leather seats and electric dodads than they do on an extra cylinder head and pistons.
Suburban moms want crossovers because they "look good" and are "useful", they wont get stuck because they have 4wd and can haul their kits while they sit on their phones, neglecting the fact that they get a) worse fuel mileage than cars b) not nearly as utilitarian as mini vans and c) handle and park like pickups without the more robust drivelines and can't tow. Wagon's went out of style when minivans came through and crossovers did the same to minivans today. In 15 years a crossover will be just as stupid as most surban moms think wagons are today.
Most people simply want a car that can haul as much stuff from walmart home that they don't need, can protect them from whatever they run into while they are texting and driving, allow themselves to be as distracted as possible by driving itself, make neighbors and family think they are doing well because they can "afford" a new car while it sits depreciating like a rock upside down in an 84 month loan with the debt from the previous car rolled into the new loan (or worse a lease), that will get fixed for free under warranty.
The fact that this forum is made of auto enthusiasts means there is pride attached to vehicles. 95% plus people view a car as a transportation appliance.
Is closing plants and ending production of stuff nice? No. But if GM isn't making money nobody at GM has a job.
