GMI Exclusive: Some GMC Product Programs Bite the Dust
June 30, 2008
Back on June 19th GMInsidenews broke news that GM was considering cutting another division within the massive buffet of brands that they currently have here in North America. At the time of publication we were hearing that GMC and Pontiac were the two divisions on the “cut list” within GM. Since the publication of our article our sources have been echoing those sentiments; GMC and Pontiac are on the consideration list, but neither one has been selected to officially be cut from the lineup. While GMI has NOT been informed of any decisions regarding the brand cut, the signs are pointing that one may be coming soon.
GMI has learned that GM recently canceled two GMC product programs. The next-generation GMC Acadia program is the first program to be cut from the product plans at GMC. Originally the Acadia was slated to stay on with the next generation lineup of Lambda crossovers, while the closely-related Saturn Outlook would not be. However, that has obviously changed. As far as we know, the Outlook is still dead in the water for the next-generation.
The next GMC product program to get sliced was the GMC Lambda SUT program. GM is currently working on two Lambda SUT’s to combat the truck market with higher fuel efficiency. Chevrolet and GMC were both going to get a variant of the Lambda truck around the 2011-2012 time-frame. However, like its Acadia brother, this GMC has too bit the dust within the product plans at GM. That leaves only the GMC Theta program running (to replace the Pontiac Torrent) between now and 2012.
It is important to stress that we have NOT received word that GMC is getting cut. Product plans change on a daily basis at GM. Right now in particular, product plans are getting a shake-up constantly. However, this is an interesting series of cuts for GM to make to one division; a division that does not have that many product programs in the works anyway. So we are leaving it to your suspicion to formulate what is going on here.
Stay tuned! I'm sure we'll have more information soon!