Should GM Sell The Pontiac Brand?

[2008hulk]

It's not the same as olds. i think they are keeping it so they can reopen it when they have the money and the technology to make it a performance brand but meet fuel economy standards

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by LeSabre

Mmmm...nope.
Gotta stay North American.


!!!

That would be nice, but as my post said, HSV is a joint venture between Holden (a Subsidiary of GM) and TWR. Premoso PTY. LTD is already part owned by GM. This would leave the door open to repurchase rights to the Arrow head when they have the cash. In the mean time, it would only receive vehicles that are true to its idealistic heritage. The development of the brands reputation would continue, with proper niche performance vehicles.....

Originally Posted by 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.

The G8 money pit has already had development dollars thrown into it. Not leveraging that investment in the future, is throwing that development cash away. People will never be attracted to its "real heritage" as you put it, if it is left to wither into obscurity, with the Vibe as its parting shot. The money has been spent, the reputation of the G8 has been established, as has the training of technical personnel for servicing life. What more is there to discuss? More efficient models? If the mid size Buick regal makes it to Oz, then you can bet that HSV will be bringing the OPC version here, and could migrate it to the US through the Pontiac brand.

Pontiac was originated, based on the concept of "small car, big donk". Pontiac died when they tried to increase sales through the concept of "small car, big cladding", and that worked for a while, but once cladding and big donks no longer became acceptable to the mass market, they were left with no unique selling point. Thus, they need to return to their roots.

And, best of all, the actual GM brands can stay squeaky clean in the eyes of the General public, because none of their vehicles are aimed directly at performance. All of that will be provided by Pontiac Special Vehicles.

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by mikmak

That would be nice, but as my post said, HSV is a joint venture between Holden (a Subsidiary of GM) and TWR. Premoso PTY. LTD is already part owned by GM. This would leave the door open to repurchase rights to the Arrow head when they have the cash. In the mean time, it would only receive vehicles that are true to its idealistic heritage. The development of the brands reputation would continue, with proper niche performance vehicles.....



The G8 money pit has already had development dollars thrown into it. Not leveraging that investment in the future, is throwing that development cash away. People will never be attracted to its "real heritage" as you put it, if it is left to wither into obscurity, with the Vibe as its parting shot. The money has been spent, the reputation of the G8 has been established, as has the training of technical personnel for servicing life. What more is there to discuss? More efficient models? If the mid size Buick regal makes it to Oz, then you can bet that HSV will be bringing the OPC version here, and could migrate it to the US through the Pontiac brand.

Pontiac was originated, based on the concept of "small car, big donk". Pontiac died when they tried to increase sales through the concept of "small car, big cladding", and that worked for a while, but once cladding and big donks no longer became acceptable to the mass market, they were left with no unique selling point. Thus, they need to return to their roots.

And, best of all, the actual GM brands can stay squeaky clean in the eyes of the General public, because none of their vehicles are aimed directly at performance. All of that will be provided by Pontiac Special Vehicles.

I voted no. I favour keeping Pontiac wholly or partially within the GM family. A small operation making sporty cars in the HSV,OPC,VXR mould.
They can start with the Solstice & G8.
Yes, Walkinshaw would be the kind of guy that may be able to make it work, he has experience in joint ownership deals with GM for a start.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by mikmak

That would be nice, but as my post said, HSV is a joint venture between Holden (a Subsidiary of GM) and TWR. Premoso PTY. LTD is already part owned by GM. This would leave the door open to repurchase rights to the Arrow head when they have the cash. In the mean time, it would only receive vehicles that are true to its idealistic heritage. The development of the brands reputation would continue, with proper niche performance vehicles.....

The G8 money pit has already had development dollars thrown into it. Not leveraging that investment in the future, is throwing that development cash away. People will never be attracted to its "real heritage" as you put it, if it is left to wither into obscurity, with the Vibe as its parting shot. The money has been spent, the reputation of the G8 has been established, as has the training of technical personnel for servicing life. What more is there to discuss? More efficient models? If the mid size Buick regal makes it to Oz, then you can bet that HSV will be bringing the OPC version here, and could migrate it to the US through the Pontiac brand.

And, best of all, the actual GM brands can stay squeaky clean in the eyes of the General public, because none of their vehicles are aimed directly at performance. All of that will be provided by Pontiac Special Vehicles.

Originally Posted by RedVee8

I voted no. I favour keeping Pontiac wholly or partially within the GM family. A small operation making sporty cars in the HSV,OPC,VXR mould.
They can start with the Solstice & G8.
Yes, Walkinshaw would be the kind of guy that may be able to make it work, he has experience in joint ownership deals with GM for a start.

The HSV "model" would be a perfect fit for Pontiac in the U.S., giving long term Pontiac owners a way to purchase the vehicle they are really interested in without the need to dilute the brands focus with mainstream offerings.

Holden can produce the G8 as the Buick LeSabre with 3.0L DI V6 and 3.6L DI V6 options for the mass market that will maximize the profit margins and make the EPA happy, while continuing the Pontiac G8 GT and GXP as limited production models for Pontiac fans.

Everyones happy.

The Solstice has always been a "niche" model so I don't see why GM could not continue Solstice production and for that matter the Sky and Opel GT as well - the development money has been spent. Not sure GM would continue it into the next generation, at least on the Kappa. If GM does make a next gen Solstice it can share the Corvette suspension and basic architecture with steel body panels and different engines to maintain the Corvette's top position, this will spread development dollars accross at least two vehicles and address two different markets.

[TnRidge]

I would love to see Pontiac remain within GM , but if the only way it will survive is to sell it , yes keep it alive !

[Taglane]

I, for one would still want to see Pontiac live. It'd be hard though to keep such a brand afloat

[chevyman1973]

i think holding on to it is best, cuz it will be important if they want to bring it back at one point in the future