GM to shrink to four core brands in North America
 

One of General Motors’ biggest criticisms is the number of different brands under its roof, which ends up seeing it sell similar models that often compete with one another in the same segments. In its efforts to secure its share of a federal bailout, GM said it intends to focus its U.S. product and marketing resources on four core brands, namely Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC.

That leaves Hummer, Saab, Saturn and Pontiac in an uneasy state. GM has already confirmed that it is looking for a buyer for its Hummer brand, and that Saturn was also under review. Pontiac, meanwhile, is expected to be reduced to just a few models, while Saab could also be sold-off or axed altogether.

At the Detroit Auto Show this week, GM’s North American President Troy Clarke told Automotive News that the company will be able to execute those plans, despite the global credit crisis putting a hold on merger and acquisition activity.

"We have to re-engineer the way we're doing business in many regards," Clarke said. "We're going to be a smaller company."

Also speaking at this week’s Detroit event, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Pontiac will be reduced to just five models – the G8, G5, Vibe, Solstice and Solstice Coupe.

There has been no decision on the future of Saturn but GM is working closely with its dealers. As for Saab, recent reports suggested that GM was having trouble finding a suitor for the Swedish brand. However, GM has since dismissed the reports explaining that it is still early in the process and that any outcome will take some time.

Part of GM’s downsizing efforts will also see its 6,600 dealer network shrunk to around 4,700 dealers by 2012.

All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority


http://www.motorauthority.com/gm-to-...h-america.html

This doesn't bode well for styling. Chevy's sedans have always been America's ugliest cars (Cobalt, Impala, Malibu, etc).........The Pontiac G6 and Grand Prix were infinitely better.

It's a smart move to simplify the lineup and reducing then fluff outta Pontiac is the way to go.

G8 - Obvious
G5 - Current car has to go. A Cobalt with a Pontiac grille is still a Cobalt. If and when the Cruze shows up, it needs to be more than a "Pontiac" appearance package.
Vibe - The new version is undeserving of a Pontiac badge.
Solstice - Obvious

Suprising they are dropping the G6, or at least not offer something in that class.

How does it plan on doing this without getting their assholes ripped apart by lawsuits from laws that protect dealerships from an event like this? They had a hard enough time dumping just Oldsmobile. Their efforts to sell off Hummer met with a thud. I can't imagine how they're going to drop a larger volume brand like Pontiac, let alone the addition of Saturn, Saab, and Hummer without a huge amount of litigation and legal expense. They might be able to find a buyer for Saab, and possibly even Saturn if they get lucky, but Hummer has been a massive albatross since the SUV market tanked, and Pontiac may be a tough sell in general.

It would be the right direction to go in, and contraction would help to streamline their product line immensely, but the laws in place protecting dealerships are going to be a huge hurdle.

I dont understand what's wrong with the Solstice, many magazines compared it favorably to the Miata, and with the supercharged version it's a lot faster.

The Pontiac Grand Prix, G6, and, if we want to go further back, the Olds Intrigue, were the only midsize American sedans that a young "playa" could drive without being embarassed about driving a generic family sedan. Those types of guys would never buy a Malibu or Impala, because they're too generic and look like rentals. Chevy has no style, never has.

The common complaint about the Solstice is that the interior is heeeeeerorable and some of the layout sucks.

I don't think anybody will miss Saab.

Or Saturn.

The 9-3 is actually one of the best looking sedans on the road, IMO

Yeah... that car went to shit as soon as Toyota stopped making it