Explorer. Trailblazer. Will Cowardice Kill The Competitor?

In a recent press release from Ford Motor Co., Ford announced that "This year the all-new Explorer has had stronger retail sales growth than any mid-size utility, either having tripled or quadrupled sales in all regions of the country. In total, U.S. retail sales of the Explorer are up 290 percent compared to that same time in 2010."

More than good news for Ford, results like that are nothing short of miraculous considering the economic climate into which the Explorer was released, and will heavily influence many decisions made in the auto industry.


This light shed on high consumer demand in the mid-size utility market, however, does conjure more questions about the new Trailblazer and GM's astounding decision not to make it available in the US market. 


Is it possible, that GM's decision to keep the new Trailblazer astray was made out of fear of an inability to contend?  Will this brazen move hurt the potential of the Trailblazer before it even gets a fighting chance? 


In a previous post, Left At The Alter, I speculated that the company was trying out Google's brilliant 'testing and teasing' marketing approach. After reading Ford's press release, though, I can't help but suggest that General Motors may be taking a softer approach having sought out unsaturated markets for a less challenging sale, requiring fewer marketing dollars while waiting out the current Explorer craze in the states, rather than confront it head on. 


Regardless of the reasons, I believe we can rest assured that the gargantuan multinational co-founder of the 'Detroit Three', whom narrowly escaped complete financial implosion, put an abundance of time and effort into researching and planning this uncanny release and is not solely relying on a grassroots finger crossing crusade to make it successful.