Quote:
Originally Posted by LeSabre
I think that if GM was REALLY serious about brand identity of each division it would put money into each division as it has Cadillac to turn them around & get them each on the right track w/their own specific missions to their respective markets.
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Everyone here in favor of saving Pontiac overlooks one critical fact - GM has no money left to invest in each of these brands. They are being forced to cut and run on at least some of these.
Want a GTI / Mazda3 competitor? Look for an Astra variant sold as Saturn (because it already exists).
Want a Mazda6 competitor - Look for a variant of the Opel Insigina soon to be Saturn Aura. How about a Solstice?
The Sky lives on.
Pontiac Vibe? Dump the embarrassing rebadge of a Toyota in favor of an Opel Zafira.
The only unique product Pontiac has is the G8 - a car that will see no significant volume as a Pontiac. This car can be sold along side of Opels as it does in Australia and in the UK. Or as has been suggested, make it the Impala with Chevy badges as it is sold in the Middle East.
Cutting Saturn is not an option given the number of stand alone stores that would be closed. Pontiac's gross sales volume may be more than Saturn, but more than 50% of the total in 2007 were fleet sales. The volume of Pontiac sales of the Grand Prix and Torrent also need to be subtracted. I don't have the numbers for Saturn, but I'd bet that Saturn's retail sales are higher as are the sales per store.
Everyone can wish for a return to the JZD 60s or flaming chicken heyday for Pontiac, but it just isn't going to happen.