Pontiac May Be Shut Down

[cosworth151]

This will NOT make long-time Poniac fan Claw_grrrl happy.

The word is that GM may announce the end of its Pontiac Division on Monday. Pontiac has a long history of making some of GM's most interesting cars: The GTO, Firebird, Trans Am, Fiero and now the G8 and Solstice.

In my opinion, this would be just about the biggest bone-head move that GM could make right now.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2009/04/pontiac-.html

[Scott]

I heard that on an economy podcast.  Unbelievable considering Pontiac is performing better than Buick and Cadillac combined.  I think GM is looking forward to bankruptcy to shed a lot of weight, and it is going to be on the backs of the UAW, CAW and the taxpayers of the US and Canada. 

[Jericoke]

The differentiation of divisions at GM has been slipping for a long time.  Every Pontiac sold is one less Chevy sold.

[SennaMan]

The differentiation of divisions at GM has been slipping for a long time.  Every Pontiac sold is one less Chevy sold.

not necessarily Jericoke - it could be said that every Pontiac sold is a sale GM made rather than its competitors

[cosworth151]

Exactly, SennaMan. Most Pontiac fans I know would eat dirt before they got a Chevy. For example, when Claw couldn't find suitable Pontiac models, she switched to Lincolns. I know people who owned nothing but Oldsmobiles all their lives. When GM did away with Olds, none of them ever owned another GM product.

Chevy has nothing to compete with Pontiac's two best current models, the G8 and the Solstice.

[SennaMan]

Exactly, SennaMan. Most Pontiac fans I know would eat dirt before they got a Chevy. For example, when Claw couldn't find suitable Pontiac models, she switched to Lincolns. I know people who owned nothing but Oldsmobiles all their lives. When GM did away with Olds, none of them ever owned another GM product.

Chevy has nothing to compete with Pontiac's two best current models, the G8 and the Solstice.

thanks cossie for picking up and amplifying the point that loyalty to a marque can be a strong factor in buying a car

the G8, sourced from Holden Australia, made  the short list for the 2009 North American Car of the Year award and the Solstice is a great design

what a shame if Pontiac was closed 

[lkjohnson1950]

Solstice and G8 are very good cars, but they don't sell in large numbers. The G6 has been very disappointing for GM, after the Grand-Am being a top seller. GM's biggest problem is that the car guys are not in charge, the bean counters are. You have to have a competitive product to sell and GM is only beginning to get those after years of selling junk.

Lonny

[Jericoke]

thanks cossie for picking up and amplifying the point that loyalty to a marque can be a strong factor in buying a car

This hasn't been true for a long time.  If it was, Toyota wouldn't be the top selling manufacturer.  Yes, there are some buyers who will buy a car on name only, but there are far more people who WON'T buy a car on name only.  GM has a lot of names to rehabilitate, so it makes sense to be picky about which ones are worth the effort.

Any car that Pontiac sells could just as easily be sold by Chevy (well, assuming they sort out the dealership issues...)

[cosworth151]

Car choices are frequently ruled by the heart rather than the head. Chevy instills very strong feelings, both pro and con. Many people who would consider a Pontiac wouldn't be caught dead in a Chevy.

GM's original plan of Pontiac and Cadillac being low and high end rear drive, and Chevy and Buick as front drive made made good sense. Chevy couldn't support both the G8 and the Impala, nor could it use both the Solstice and Corvette.

By keeping GMC and killing Pontiac, GM has just committed suicide.

[lkjohnson1950]

At least one analyst agrees, saying that dumping Pontiac is a move in preparation for filing chapter 11.

Lonny