Alternatively, General Motors took a more regional tack by
retaining strong regional operations that develop distinctly
different cars for their own. If a car has a strong crossover
potential, engineers and marketers cross the Atlantic to suggest
customization. Thus, Cadillac got an Americanized version
of the Opel Omega small luxury sedan developed by GM’s
Opel subsidiary in Germany. GM managers contend that ad
hoc efforts are cheaper and more flexible. One senior executive
at Ford of Europe countered that ‘‘doing two conventional
car programs would have cost substantially more than doing
one global program. If we did it again, we could do it in 3½
years.’’