General Motors previously stated it would continue funding its Saturn brand through the 2012 model year, but an accelerated restructuring plan will cut that relationship short. GM failed to mention when the last GM-sourced Saturn vehicle would roll off the assembly line, but the Detroit automaker confirmed it would be later this year.
In its restructuring plan submitted February 27th, GM assured Saturn dealers and customers funding had been allocated to keep the division up and running through 2011 or the 2012 model year. However, President Obama rejected that viability plan, resulting in further cuts, including the death of the Saturn brand by the end of 2009.
It remains possible Saturn could be sold to another company and continue operating, but the newly-shortened timeframe will undoubtedly put a squeeze on negotiations. “If a sale of Saturn does not occur, we intend to phase out the Saturn brand by the end of 2009,” GM said in its revised plan today. “As a result, our current Viability Plan does not comprehend production and sales to dealers of Saturn products beyond 2009.”
GM also revealed on Monday that it plans to cease production of Hummer models by the end of 2009, with all Pontiac models to follow suit by 2010.
04/27, 12:53 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
“Dealership network for sale.
Barely driven the last 5 years.
Must sell due to illness.
All offers considered.
We speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi etc…”
04/27, 1:50 PM
posted by:
MercMark
WTF does Osa… Obama know about cars?
04/27, 2:04 PM
posted by:
shaver
^^If it ryhmes the Pres must be a terrorist? JerkMarc
I wonder if they are selling it using the brilliant no haggle sales technique.
04/27, 2:48 PM
posted by:
murphy1
it still blows me away that saturn, hummer, saab, opel, are on the selling block, yet pontiac is just set to die. HUH???? pontiac is by far is the higher volume brand of all those mentioned, yet it is to be quickly swept under the rug. someone please explain that one to me. or better yet, explain how performance and excitement cant be sold to the american public. mazda seems to be doing just fine. makes me ill…..
04/27, 3:00 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Pontiac is too intwined into GM more than the others who have been semi-independent.
Too many brands in the market killed this brand, in my opinion, just so much competition.
04/27, 3:06 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Pontiac has to die because Hummer and Saturn have such a rich heritage and history to draw from.
04/27, 4:14 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
No one would even buy pontiac because there is the austrian version which is also the best version of whatever pontiac has that is of any decent value. It’s not like saturn, which has taken something from europe and made it just as good.
I agree with shavers post!
04/27, 4:15 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Too many Pontiac models realized their volume through the rental car/fleet sales (G6 Torrent former Grand Prix). GM needs to focus on what can sell at the retail level. If Buick didn’t pull all that revenue from it’s tremendous China sales and have a lot of expected future growth there as well, I bet it would have been the first to go.
04/27, 4:44 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
2009 may be the last year for the Solstice/Sky. Did the Coupe version ever make it to the market? That would be an instant collector’s item.
04/27, 5:16 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Hummer and Saturn are all independent dealerships that can be sold. Pontiac has under 20 independent dealerships.
GM is basically selling a dealership chain and a name.
04/27, 6:41 PM
posted by:
Payton Byrd
I suspect that part of this is appeasement to Obama’s green-lefty-communist buddies that hate any car that is more than just basic transportation.
Of course, Obama owned a 300C before getting called out on it during the election. @#!$ing hypocrite.
04/27, 7:41 PM
posted by:
sharpie
^^ So you are saying the performance identity kills Pontiac? As I recall, Geo (is that basic enough transportation for you?) went first, then Oldsmobile went. Then Saturn, Hummer and Saab all were put on the auction block before the move on Pontiac. If anything, those moves show GM is trying to save the brand. Caddy and Chevy being the core brands won’t go anywhere.
That leaves GMC, Pontiac and Buick. Don’t know why GMC is still around, but it is a truck brand and maybe that has something to do with the survival. Between Buick and Pontiac, I suspect Buick would have gone first if not for China! I won’t be surprised if GM is waiting for the right moment to sell Buick to the Chinese at a pretty sum.
Pontiac is like Mercury. No one has even heard of the brand outside of the US! Thus, it makes sense for GM to kill it instead of selling it. Pontiac’s dealer network and facilities all can be “re-used” by Buick and GMC. So there, the death of Pontiac has nothing to deal with performance or Obama. It’s a matter of slimming down GM to survive. Love how people like to politicize everything and blame the government for all their failures.
04/27, 8:10 PM
posted by:
TomF
@Payton Byrd: That’s a completely contemptible comment.
04/27, 9:10 PM
posted by:
BuyUSA
PaytonByrd, I completely agree with you. That’s why Obama fired Wagoner. He was under too much pressure from the radical greenies to fire Wagoner for killing the EV-1 electric car.