Do you guys not acknowledge that there are other models for their domestic market that have less content? The wiring harnesses, programming, etc has already been developed, not to mention the cost of actual physical components. The specific changes for U.S. market regulations were required regardless of feature content. What design work are you guys referring to in order to give us a mid-level content for things that already exist. It's not like every Insignia included all these features, most of them don't.
The problem with thinking more content would have sold the cars closer to sticker price is that anyone buying a GM product knows that huge discounts off MSRP are the norm and 20% is a reasonable target price. It's the same whether you're buying a Malibu or a Corvette or an Escalade. Without good marketing, which I think we can all agree GM did not produce for these cars, there simply are not enough people interested in the car, much less walking into a showroom, much less buying for anywhere near sticker price. Anecdotally it seems for most who have purchased, the big discounts were a driving force to get us to even look at the cars. Before the big discounts, most of these cars were languishing on lots sucking floorpan costs from the dealers.
