[peckwell]

The comment about "rearranging the deck chairs" nails it - GM's issue is not one of distribution, it's one of CASH - they can't effectively market all of the different products to the masses because they do not have the cash to DO so.

If you lump all 4 brands into one dealership, you still have to promote each line individually, pay for exposure, and attempt to cut through the incredible amount of marketing that bombards us all on a daily basis. GM cannot afford any of this, and it can't afford to shut one down, either (looking at the Olds shutdown as an example).

The solution, ultimately, will be decided in bankruptcy court (based on where GM is headed) when their hands are "free" to make big changes without the consideration of the dealer community. They can prune GMC, Hummer, and either Pontiac or Saturn, and re-emerge in a far stronger position.

I hate that statement - "GM" and "bankrupt" in the same sentence, just as I would hate to lose Pontiac, specifically. But the market decides who survives, and until GM repairs the hull and fixes the rudder, that bit of realism looks more and more likely.