Should GM Sell The Pontiac Brand?

[Tone]

My biggest concern is that the Pontiac name is pretty strongly associated with GM. So, if GM sells Pontiac and the new owners do a poor job with it, that might still taint GM's reputation.

Plus, Pontiac doesn't have a national dealer network that isn't already tied to the rest of the GM brands. Again, that will make it difficult if the "new" Pontiac sells substandard cars or has other problems that displease customers.

Perhaps if GM created some kind of supplier agreement to supply cars to a new entity (Pontiac Inc.) ... it could basically redefine its relationships with dealers, ensure the quality is there, and mitigate the risks in keeping Pontiac alive.

Pontiac Inc would select what it wanted to sell from GM's offerings, spec specific things to make is unique (facias, options, etc) and pay GM to build them. Pontiac Inc. would be responsible for sales, distribution and all marketing/advertising. As long as GM could make and sell cars to Pontiac Inc at a profit, it would seem relatively low-risk.

The big advantage would be that -- if this worked well -- it might create a new model for GM and its dealer networks.

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by cyclone

They should AT LEAST MAKE SOME MONEY OFF of IT.

I agree, bundle it with Oldsmobile and try and get something for it.

[ScottieDogFLA]

Originally Posted by djo165

I say let someone else have a shot at it. An independent Pontiac could contract with GM/Holden for a supply of G8s. They might even buy the plant that makes the Solstice and keep producing (and improving) that car. Then they could also supply Saturn (Penske) with a Sky, and Opel with a GT. Maybe work a deal with Opel or Saab for a midsize platform to develop another model.

I really like your thinking here. Makes a lot of sense. This way too Pontiac will actually have a lineup of cars that people want; no G3s or G5s. No Chevy clones. Seems to me that most of the people pitching against this idea of keeping Pontiac alive are those "loyalists" of other GM brands. To a great extent, this is what killed Pontiac within GM as well; having the dagger put in their back by their corporate "brothers" (How DARE Pontiac make a small sporty car!! It shoulda been "ours!").
In the end, though, I don't think it's going to matter much. The corporate big wigs have already written this poor line off. Ironic that they still keep Buick around as it's writhing with it's own pitiful 3 vehicle lineup. I still give Buick another year, maybe two-tops.

[ksr]

I think GM should keep it.

Pontiac doesn't have it's own factories and probably not much in the way of physical assets. They'd be selling the name, which surely wouldn't bring in enough cash to really make a financial difference to GM.

Plus, GM is currently shrinking. They've been around for 100 years. They've shrunk in the past. They've grown. Who's to say that they won't grow again? The Pontiac name could come back at some point. Probably not for a while, but someday.

If the name Buick still meant enough in China after being out of their market since before WWII to be chosen to be GM's [successful] flagship brand there 70 years later, the name Pontiac could still mean something to a future American consumer.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by iluvcamaros

Pontiac can leave with the Solstice and G8 as its grand finale.

Unfortunately, the Vibe looks like it will be the last Pontiac. That's just terrible.

They should put a few G8s and Solstices aside, with the wheels left off or something. Then they complete these cars as a very rare 2010 edition after the last Vibe rolls out of the factory just so that the very last Pontiac is a great car and not the Vibe.

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by ksr

Unfortunately, the Vibe looks like it will be the last Pontiac. That's just terrible.

They should put a few G8s and Solstices aside, with the wheels left off or something. Then they complete these cars as a very rare 2010 edition after the last Vibe rolls out of the factory just so that the very last Pontiac is a great car and not the Vibe.

Yup, GM can't even shut down a division right... The last Oldsmobile was an Alero... WTF!

I'm surprised that they didn't pick a black G3 with a limited edition gold chicken on the hood for the last Poncho.

[djo165]

Originally Posted by 2002 Caddy

I'm surprised that they didn't pick a black G3 with a limited edition gold chicken on the hood for the last Poncho.

That's a good one!

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by commodore88

Put it to bed now and bring it back later when GM is in a more stable situation.

That would be a good idea, but I have a better one.

Originally Posted by djo165

I say let someone else have a shot at it. An independent Pontiac could contract with GM/Holden for a supply of G8s. They might even buy the plant that makes the Solstice and keep producing (and improving) that car. Then they could also supply Saturn (Penske) with a Sky, and Opel with a GT. Maybe work a deal with Opel or Saab for a midsize platform to develop another model.

I know someone who gets a steady stream of Commodores to modify.....

Originally Posted by cyclone

Well, who to sell it to?

That's the (multi-)million dollar question.



Tom Walkinshaw

Originally Posted by WikipediaHSV

HSV was created in 1987 as a joint venture between Holden and TWR - an operation owned by Scottish racing car driver and entrepreneur Tom Walkinshaw. HSV effectively replaced the Holden Dealer Team (HDT) special vehicles operation run by Peter Brock, after Holden severed its ties with HDT in February 1987 following the "Energy Polarizer" and "HDT Director" controversies. With the more recent demise of TWR's global companies, HSV still remains a partnership between Holden and Walkinshaw, the joint ownership company being Premoso Pty Ltd.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by LeSabre

I say YES. But only to American or maybe Canadian investors. No one else.
But the investors have got to do Pontiac justice once it's in their "hands".
No FWD models at all. All RWD w/some AWD being optional on a couple models.
Use historic Pontiac names if they come w/the purchase of the brand. If not, come up w/some cool, aggressive names. No cute names.
Exterior designs must be aggressive looking w/great interiors.
All models should have features customers want, like Bluetooth & Nav.
All models should have at least a donut spare tire if not a full size spare tire.
All models should come w/a decent jack of some kind to change tire.
All models should mainly be 2dr models/3dr hatch. Only 1 or 2 4dr models.
Top model/Corvette, Porsche/etc competitor should be called "Banshee"!!

I think I'm done. At least for now.


!!!

I could add an Aussie or Euro investor like as Mikmak mentionned in another post Tom Walkinshaw, the man who was behind HSV (Holden Special vehicules)

[SierraGS]

No.

GM needs to keep the rights to the Pontiac Brand, put it on the shelf for 3-5 years and return the brand with a:

RWD/AWD Coupe/Sedan (GTO/Grand Prix) based on either the next gen (slightly smaller/lighter) Zeta or new Alpha/Sigma.

RWD/AWD Sports Coupe (Firebird/Trans Am) similar in size to the Nissan GT-R based on the Corvette platform but with steel body, rear seat and base I-4 and V6 power for the Firebird with an optional Formula Turbo V6 model and top line Trans Am with V8.

RWD Roadster/Coupe (Solstice) about the same size as 370Z and also based on the Corvette platform but with steel body and base I-4 (NA and Turbo) and V6 power with no V8 option.

That gives Pontiac (5) great vehicles with few (if any) similar GM offerings.

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by Stéphane Dumas

I could add an Aussie or Euro investor like as Mikmak mentionned in another post Tom Walkinshaw, the man who was behind HSV (Holden Special vehicules)

Mmmm...nope.
Gotta stay North American.


!!!

[jetstar63]

I voted to sell Pontiac only for the hope that it may still be built here under American ownership. Anything to give Americans more choices to stem the tide of the Asian imports, to maintain auto production and preserve jobs.
Does anyone remember if the Oldsmobile division was on the auction block?

[ZO-6]

Originally Posted by iluvcamaros

No.

No.

No.

Pontiac can now be remembered for what it was in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Seeing Chinese rust buckets with red arrowheads would kill me.

Oldsmobile left with great products like the Aurora, Intrigue, and Bravada.

Pontiac can leave with the Solstice and G8 as its grand finale.

What drugs are you on ??? Aurora, Intrigue, Alero, and Bravada, were junk, that's why Oldsmobile failed. GM killed Oldsmobile with this crap that no one wanted. These were not the Oldsmobiles I remember, like the 98, 442, Cutlass, Toronado (early ones), and the list goes on.... Pontiac should not be killed because of the great linu-up that is possible, compared to 1 car and 1 suv in Buick's 2011 line-up. Barring that, it should be sold to AMERICAN investors, and produced in America to preserve jobs. President Obama will need to create 300,000 jobs to make up for the 300,000 he and that team of BMW, Audi, Toyota owners who advise him and don't know a thing about the auto industry and could care less about american cars, have eliminated with their required downsizing (plant closings,dealer closures, etc.) GM is where it is today because of bad management decisions and the company continues to self-destruct....

[amsnare]

Originally Posted by JoeT

With speculation continuing that one of GM's most revered brands, Pontiac, could be saved from the scrap heap by private investors our latest Front Page Poll gives to the chance to have your say. Should GM sell Pontiac?

Pontiac Dealers Continue To Make Offer For Poncho Brand

GM's problems were caused in part by the banks(greed)(stupidity); the government(no leadership); by their own executives; the unions , maybe ?..
but NOT the brands.
Pontiac, in America, will not survive one day as an independent, not any more than Hudson or Packard, back in the 50s.
Things are overly cut-throat in the USA.
I doubt if GM can save itself, much less Pontiac, Oldsmobile, or Saturn...
Maybe a totally new company, International Motors, with Japanese ?? management , can build and market, Opel(Germany), Vauxhall(England), Holden(Austrilia), Saturn(America), Saab(Europe), and Pontiac(Canada)..Two excellent body shells for the world..in the future....

[GM-Joe]

They need to bring it back when the products can be profitable and when its styling and real heritage is something that people will be attracted to. At this point, it makes no sense to sell the Solstice or the G8 because they maybe beautiful, but they are money pits.