GM's Korea Problem

[Oracle of Delphi]

The automaker's Korean subsidiary, GM Daewoo, is losing money and facing a liquidity crisis. But it's too important to GM's future to jettison

By Moon Ihlwan

Even as Asia remains a bright spot for General Motors, its Korean subsidiary looks more like the hapless parent company than GM's fast-growing Chinese operations. GM Daewoo Auto & Technology lost $702 million in 2008, and this year its sales are off by nearly half, to 261,000 vehicles in the first six months. Now the Korean unit says it's on the cusp of a critical liquidity crunch. "Things look ugly at GM Daewoo," says Stephen Ahn, head of research at brokerage LIG Investment & Securities in Seoul.

GM Daewoo's woes stem largely from its close ties to the rest of the global auto giant. The unit made about 900,000 cars and shipped kits for an additional 1 million vehicles for assembly at factories in other countries last year, accounting for about a quarter of all GM auto sales worldwide. But some 90% of those cars are branded as Chevrolets, Buicks, and other GM nameplates that have seen sales plummet.

Given the losses, why doesn't Detroit just jettison the unit? GM Daewoo is too important to the future of bankrupt GM. The unit is a key developer of small cars for GM's global lineup, it's a vital source for engineering and parts for the China operation, and it makes a new Chevy compact that is set to face off with the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. "GM Daewoo will play a more important role in the new GM's global business strategy," says Michael A. Grimaldi, president of the Korean operation.

Korean carmakers want to stay ahead of China

That has left GM Daewoo scrambling to strengthen its finances. In December it had total debts of $6.8 billion. Since February, when it exhausted $2 billion in credit lines, the carmaker has sought new loans from the Korea Development Bank. The government-run lender arranged GM's takeover of bankrupt Daewoo Motor in 2002 and still holds a 28% stake. In May the KDB let GM Daewoo defer $500 million in payments. Before handing over more cash, though, the bank wants GM to commit to maintaining a big presence in Korea—something GM can't easily do until Washington approves its restructuring plan.

Seoul wants a guarantee because it's worried about Korea's position in the auto world. The country now offers a good compromise between high-cost, high-quality Japanese automakers and the low-cost Chinese auto industry, whose automakers have a reputation for building shoddy vehicles. But that advantage "could end in just a few years as China catches up," frets Lee Hang Koo, an analyst at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, a government-funded think tank.

The KDB is also seeking collateral, such as more shares in GM Daewoo. The KDB says GM has balked at that, though the automaker declines to comment. Another debt-stricken Korean carmaker, Ssangyong Motor (controlled by China's Shanghai Automotive Industry), sought court receivership in February after the KDB refused to shore it up. Bailing out GM Daewoo without getting something in return could raise cries of unequal treatment.

Still, given the importance of GM Daewoo to both GM and the Korean economy, some kind of deal is likely. GM needs the Koreans' design chops, and Seoul doesn't want to lose the tens of thousands of jobs provided by GM and its hundreds of suppliers. "Something will be worked out eventually," says Suh Sung Moon, an auto analyst at brokerage Korea Investment & Securities in Seoul. "Neither the U.S. nor Korea can afford to let it go."

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[PurdueGuy]

Has GM's purchase of Daewoo been worth it? Looking at the NA contributions, I'd say no, but this is a much more global game, and maybe it has. I just see crappy little cars...

[ShadowDog]

It's a development game. One cannot look merely at initial offerings in NA to determine the success of a partnership that is meant to support a global system. For instance, a car developed and assembled in Korea is supported by design from Europe, engines from Holden, and sales in the important NA. This means a lot to the future of GM, and shouldn't be taken lightly.

[Robert Hall]

True, the initial Europe and NA Chevywoos have been mediocre sh*tboxes (Aveo, G3,Lacetti, etc) but they did design the new Cruze, Spark, Orlando, and Viva, so maybe something semi decent will come from them..

[daves87rs]

True, the initial Europe and NA Chevywoos have been mediocre sh*tboxes (Aveo, G3,Lacetti, etc) but they did design the new Cruze, Spark, Orlando, and Viva, so maybe something semi decent will come from them..

Hmmm...