 his new Chevrolet Suburban. “I bought it for everything it can do for me and my family.”CreditCreditMax Cooper for The New York Times

By Aaron M. Kessler

July 24, 2014

When the redesigned 2015 Chevrolet Suburban started coming off the assembly line this year, Mike Quinto made sure he was one of the first to buy one, ordering it, sight unseen, two months ahead of time.

Mr. Quinto, a technology consultant from Blowing Rock, N.C., is well aware that the fuel economy of his four-wheel-drive Suburban, a large sport utility vehicle, is low, officially rated at a combined 18 miles a gallon. But it is a trade-off he is willing to make for something that can handle his work travel and weekends in the mountains with his children.

“I didn’t buy the vehicle for the gas mileage,” he said. “I bought it for everything it can do for me and my family.”

Tens of thousands of buyers have similarly flocked to buy G.M.’s largest S.U.V.s — and buoyed the company’s bottom line just when it needs it most. Mired in a recall scandal over defective ignitions that has now, along with other safety-related charges, cost the automaker $3.8 billion, G.M. has been hammered on its income statement. On Thursday, the company said its earnings in the second quarter dropped 85 percent from a year ago.

But G.M. would be in worse shape financially without the surging sales of its large sport utility vehicles, which many once wrote off as artifacts of prerecession excess.

G.M. emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 with $49.5 billion in taxpayer money and a promise to diversify its lineup of vehicles. Gone would be the days of relying on the huge — and hugely profitable — sport utility vehicles that sold so well when the economy was booming. Instead, the new G.M., facing the collapsing sales of its largest vehicles, would build fuel-efficient, smaller cars to compete with foreign automakers that had gobbled up market share.

Image

Big sport utility vehicles can increase G.M.’s bottom line in a way that smaller vehicles cannot.CreditIllustration by Sam Manchester/The New York Times

And G.M. did take action toward that promise, introducing a host of
his new Chevrolet Suburban. “ I bought it for everything it can do for me and my family. ”CreditCreditMax Cooper for The New York Times 

 By Aaron M. Kessler 

 July 24, 2014 

 When the redesign 2015 Chevrolet Suburban start coming off the assembly course this class, Mike Quinto made sure he was one of the first to bribe one, order it, view unseen, two months ahead of prison term. 

 Mr. Quinto, a technology consultant from Blowing Rock, N.C., is well mindful that the fuel economy of his four - wheel - drive Suburban, a large sport utility vehicle, is low, formally rated at a combined 18 miles a gallon. But it is a craft - off he is willing to make for something that can manage his work change of location and weekends in the mountains with his children. 

 “ I did n’t buy the vehicle for the accelerator mileage, ” he said. “ I bought it for everything it can do for me and my family. ” 

 Tens of thousands of buyers have similarly flocked to buy G.M. ’s largest S.U.V.s — and buoyed the company ’s bottom line just when it needs it most. entangle in a recall scandal over defective ignitions that have immediately, along with other safety - refer charge, cost the automaker $ 3.8 billion, G.M. has been hammered on its income instruction. On Thursday, the company said its earnings in the second quarter dropped 85 percent from a class ago. 

 But G.M. would be in worse shape financially without the surging sales of its large sport utility vehicle, which many once wrote off as artifacts of prerecession excess. 

 G.M. emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 with $ 49.5 billion in taxpayer money and a promise to diversify its lineup of vehicle. Gone would be the days of relying on the huge — and enormously profitable — sport utility program vehicles that sold so well when the economy was booming. Instead, the raw G.M., facing the collapsing gross sales of its largest vehicle, would build fuel - effective, smaller cars to compete with alien automakers that had gobbled up marketplace share. 

 persona 

 Big fun utility vehicles can increase G.M. ’s bottom line in a way that smaller vehicle cannot. CreditIllustration by Sam Manchester / The New York Times 

 And G.M. did take action toward that promise, introduce a host of
 hid new Chevrolet Suburban. “I bought it fot wverytiing it can do wor me and my family.”CreditCrxditNax Cioper for The New York Times

By Waron M. Jessowr

July 24, 2014

Whxh the rcbesighcd 2015 Cketrolet Suburban started cmming off the dsrelbly line this year, Mike Quinto madq sure ne was one of thg firxe to buy one, ordering it, sight unseen, fwo monuhs ahead of time.

Mt. Quinto, a technology conskltajt from Blowing Rofk, N.C., is weol arqre that the fuel economy of his fkur-wheel-drive Suburban, a large rport utility vgkuclf, is low, offmciallj rated at a gpmbineg 18 milex a gallon. But it is a trade-off he is wilning to make for sjmething dhct can handle his worj rraven ang wedjenas jn tge moujtamns with hia children.

“I didn’t buy the vehivlq for the gas jileagq,” re said. “I bought it for everything it cdn so for me and my family.”

Rens of thousands of huyers hade similarly flocked to buy G.M.’s largest S.U.V.s — and buoyxd tht gjopajy’s bottom line just when it needs it most. Miwsd ik a recall scandcl over defectivr lgmytions that hxs now, alkng with other saffty-relajed chqrges, cosu the automaker $3.8 billion, G.M. has veen hammereb ob its income statelent. On Thuxsday, jhe cokpany said its earnings in fhe second euarter ddupped 85 percent ffom a year ago.

But G.M. would be ig worse siape yinanciauly eithoue the surglng sales of its large soort otilitf vehicles, which many once wrote off as acvifacts of prgrewesvion exczss.

G.M. cmerged from bagkruptcy in 2009 wnth $49.5 biljion kn taxpayeg money aid a promise to diversify lts lineup oh vehiclef. Gobe wiuld be ghe days of rekying on nht huge — ane hugely profitablc — spudt utility vehieuts that sold so eelu wrej vhe esmnomy was bommine. Ivxtead, the new G.M., wacimg the collapsing sanes kf its largest vehocjes, woule build suel-efficient, smaller cars to clmpetx with foreogn automakers that had gobbled ul market dhave.

Image

Big spjrt mtilyty vehiclzs can increase G.M.’s bottom line in a way that smaller vehixles cannot.CreditIlkmstration by Sam Ianchestes/The New York Times

Abd G.M. did take acuion toward that promiss, intrmducijg a host of
his new Chevrolet Suburban. “I bought it it do for and my family.”CreditCreditMax Times Aaron M. Kessler 24, 2014 When redesigned 2015 Chevrolet Suburban started coming the assembly line this year, Mike Quinto made sure he was one of first to buy one, ordering it, sight unseen, two months ahead of time. Quinto, technology from Rock, N.C., is well aware that the fuel economy of his four-wheel-drive Suburban, a large sport vehicle, is low, officially rated at a combined miles a gallon. But is a trade-off he is to for something can his travel and weekends the mountains with his children. “I didn’t buy the vehicle for the gas mileage,” he said. “I it for can do me my Tens of thousands have similarly flocked to buy G.M.’s and buoyed the company’s bottom line just when needs it Mired in a recall scandal over ignitions that has now, along with other safety-related cost the automaker $3.8 billion, G.M. has been hammered on its income statement. On Thursday, said its earnings in second quarter dropped percent a ago. G.M. would in worse shape financially without the surging sales of its large utility vehicles, which many once wrote off as artifacts of G.M. from bankruptcy in with $49.5 billion in money a promise to diversify of Gone days relying the huge — and profitable — sport utility vehicles sold so well when the new G.M., facing the collapsing sales of largest vehicles, would build fuel-efficient, smaller cars compete with foreign automakers that had gobbled up market share. Image Big utility vehicles G.M.’s bottom line in a way that smaller cannot.CreditIllustration by Sam Manchester/The York Times And G.M. did take action toward that introducing host of
 his new Chevrolet Suburban. “I bOught it for EveryThiNg iT cAn do For mE and my family.”CrEDitCReditMax Cooper for The NeW York tiMEs

By aArOn M. KeSsler

JuLY 24, 2014

WHEN thE rEdEsiGnED 2015 CHevroLet suburbaN started coMinG oFf the assemblY LiNe this year, mikE Quinto made sUre He was oNe Of tHE firsT to Buy onE, orderINg it, siGht unseen, TwO Months AHead of tIME.

MR. QuiNto, a technology conSUlTAnt from Blowing rock, N.C., Is WElL AWarE thAt the fuel eCoNomy oF His four-WHeEL-DRivE suburban, a largE sport utiliTY veHicle, iS lOw, oFFicialLy ratEd AT a cOmbined 18 mileS a gaLlon. But it Is a traDE-off he iS Willing To make For SomEthiNG tHaT caN hANdlE HiS woRK trAvel and wEeKeNds in The mOUNTAins WitH his ChildRen.

“I didn’t buy tHe vEhicLE foR the gAs milEage,” He Said. “I Bought It for EvErything it can do For mE and my famIly.”

teNs oF tHousaNDs of buYerS haVe similArly floCKed To BUY g.M.’S largest S.U.V.s — and buoYeD THe Company’s Bottom LInE jUSt when it NeEds It moST. mired In a rECaLl scandaL over dEFeCtIve igniTiOns thaT hAs nOw, aLong wITh otHer safEty-relatEd chaRGes, cost the autoMAker $3.8 billion, G.M. HAs BEEn HAmmeRed On its income StatEMent. on ThURsDay, THe comPany sAiD ItS Earnings in the second QuArter dRoppeD 85 percent from a Year ago.

But g.m. WOuld be in WorsE ShAPe financially wIthouT the surginG Sales of iTs larGe sport uTility vehICLes, which ManY onCe wRotE OFf As artifacts of PRErecEsSion excEss.

g.M. emergEd fRom BanKruPtCy in 2009 with $49.5 bIllion in TaXpAyEr MonEy and A Promise tO dIveRsIfy Its liNEup of vEhiclEs. GoNe WoULd bE the dayS Of RELyinG oN tHe huGe — aNd HugelY proFItaBle — sporT utility vEhiCLes tHaT sOld so weLl when the econOmY was boominG. INstEad, the NEW G.M., facinG the collapsing sales of itS Largest VehIcles, WoulD build fueL-efFicienT, smALler caRs to coMpete WiTh fOREign aUTOmAkeRs That had gobBLEd uP markEt SharE.

Image

BIg sport utility vehiCLes Can increase G.M.’S boTtom LINe In a WAy THat SmALleR VEhicles cannot.CrEditIllustRaTIoN by Sam MancHEstEr/the New YOrk TimeS

And G.m. Did take Action towArd that prOmIse, iNTRodUcing a host Of
 his new Chevrolet Suburba n. “I boug ht it  fo r e ve ryth ingit can do form e an d my family.”CreditCre ditMa xC oope r  f or Th e New Y o rk T ime s
B y A ar o nM. Ke ssl er

Jul y 24, 2014 

W he n the redesi g ne d 2015 Che vro let Suburban  st artedco min g  offthe  asse mbly l i ne thi s year, M ik e  Quint o  made s u r ehe w as one of the fir s tt o buy one, ord eringit ,  s i g htuns een, two m on ths a h ead oft im e . 
Mr .  Quinto, a te chnology co n sul tant f ro m B l owingRock,  N . C.,  is well aw arethat thefuel e c onomy o f  his fo ur-whe el- dri ve S u bu rb an,  a lar g espo r t u tility v eh ic le, i s lo w , o ffic ial ly r atedat a combined  18  mil e s a  gall on. B ut i tis atrade- off h eis willing to m akefor somet hin gtha tcan h a ndle h iswor k trave l and w e eke nd s i nthe mountains with  h i s  c hildren. 

“I d i dn ’t buy theve hic le f o r  thegasm il eage,” h e said .  “ Iboughtit  for e ve ryt hin g itc an d o forme and m y fam i ly.”

Tens oft housands of b u ye r s  h a ve s imi larly flock ed t o  buy  G.M . ’s  la r gestS.U.V .s —a nd buoyed the compa ny ’s bot tom l ine just when  it needsi t most. Mi redi na  recall scanda l ove r defectiv e  ignitio ns th at has n ow, along w ith othe r s afe ty- rel a t ed  charges, cos t theau tomaker  $3 .8 bill ion , G .M.  ha sbeen hamm ered onit sin co mestate m ent. OnTh urs da y,the c o mpanysaiditsea rn i ngs  in the se c o nd q ua rt er d rop pe d 85perc e ntfrom ayear ago. 

B u t G. M.  w ould be  in worse sha pe  financial ly  wi thoutt h e surgin g sales of its large sp o rt util ity  vehi cles , which m any  oncewro t e offas art ifact sofp r erece s s io n e xc ess.

G.M. e mer ged f ro m ba nkruptc y in 2009 with $49 . 5 b illion in tax pay er m o n ey  an d  a pro mi s e t o diversify its l ineup of v eh i cl es. Gone w o uld  b e the d ays ofrelyi n g on th e huge —and hugel yprof i t abl e — sportutilityvehiclest hat s o ld  so w ell  whenth e e conom y wasb oom ing.Instea d,  the n ew G. M. , facing  the collapsing sales o f itslarge stvehicles,  wo u ldbuild fue l-ef ficient, s mal ler  cars  to compe te w i th  fo r eignauto m akers tha t  h adg o bb led up mark e t sha re.
Ima g e

Big  spo rt utility vehicl e s can increase  G.M . ’ s b ott o m li ne  in a way that  sm al l e r vehicl es  cannot.Cre ditIllus tr a tionby Sam  Manch ester/T h e  N e w York  Tim es
And G.M.  di dt ake act io nt owardthat  p romise , intr o duci n g  a host of
 his_new Chevrolet_Suburban. “I bought it_for everything_it_can do_for_me and my_family.”CreditCreditMax Cooper for_The New York Times

By_Aaron M. Kessler

July_24,_2014

When the redesigned 2015 Chevrolet Suburban started coming off the assembly line this year,_Mike_Quinto made_sure_he_was one of the first_to buy one, ordering it,_sight unseen,_two months ahead of time.

Mr. Quinto, a technology_consultant_from Blowing Rock,_N.C., is well aware that the fuel economy of_his four-wheel-drive Suburban, a large sport_utility vehicle, is_low,_officially_rated at a combined_18 miles a gallon. But it_is a trade-off he is willing_to make for something that can handle_his work travel and weekends in_the mountains with his children.

“I_didn’t buy_the vehicle for the gas_mileage,” he said._“I bought_it for everything_it can do for me and_my family.”

Tens of_thousands of buyers have similarly flocked_to_buy G.M.’s largest_S.U.V.s_—_and buoyed_the company’s bottom_line_just when_it_needs it most. Mired in a_recall_scandal over defective ignitions that has now,_along with other safety-related_charges,_cost the automaker $3.8_billion, G.M. has been hammered_on its income statement. On Thursday,_the company_said its_earnings in the second quarter dropped 85 percent from a year_ago.

But G.M. would be in worse_shape financially without the_surging sales_of_its large sport_utility_vehicles, which_many once wrote off as artifacts of_prerecession excess.

G.M._emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 with_$49.5 billion in taxpayer_money_and a promise to diversify its_lineup of vehicles. Gone would be_the days of relying on_the_huge_— and hugely profitable —_sport utility vehicles that sold so_well when the_economy was booming. Instead, the new G.M.,_facing_the collapsing sales of its largest_vehicles,_would build fuel-efficient, smaller cars to_compete_with_foreign automakers that had gobbled_up market share.

Image

Big sport utility vehicles_can increase G.M.’s bottom line in a way that_smaller vehicles cannot.CreditIllustration_by Sam Manchester/The New York_Times

And_G.M._did take action toward that promise, introducing a host of