GM to Close Saturn and scale back Pontiac

[NSXType-R]

I couldn't find the older GM thread, so if anyone wants to merge the two, feel free.

Pretty much what the article says. GM will scale back Pontiac production, kill Saturn, and find someone to buy Hummer and Saab.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/bu...s.html?_r=1&hp

[Rockefella]

Good news.

[f6fhellcat13]

Yay, no more Saturn.
I am disappointed about Pontiac. I like the stuff they've brought form Oz and, despite it's bulk, the Solstice.

[coolieman1220]

i hear its very expensive to close down a line. GM spent a lot of money doin that to Oldsmobile. saturns arn't bad considering what they are.

poor gm....

[cmcpokey]

saturn has turned into a great brand in the last few years, unfortunately they have been unable to connect with buyers. saab on the other hand has been continually screwed up sice falling under the general's umbrella. maybe tata can pick up saab and fix it. and hopefully GM will maintain AM General to produce the real HMMWV, but hock the fluff of the H2 and 3.

[clutch-monkey]

pontiac has been mishandled quite a bit so far as i can tell, scaling it back could be a very good thing

[ThisBlood147]

Also killing off their performance division for a while too....

BREAKING: GM disbands High Performance Vehicle Operations - Autoblog

[zeppelin]

I'd rather they close Pontiac and keep Saturn. Saturn's current lineup is more impressive than Pontiac's. At the very least I'd like them to keep the Astra, and use the Sky's body style. It's far more attractive than the Solstice.

[NSXType-R]

The thing is, did GM ever realize that having way too much product overlap was a bad thing? Sure it might be fine and dandy in good times. But when the economy slips up, so does all your companies, potentially. They always had lots of companies. Who started the whole gather-as-many-companies-as-humanly-possible trend anyway?

On a sidenote, I remember going to the Disney Epcot Center and seeing a ticker counting how many new GM cars were being built while you were standing on line for the Car Test ride. I can imagine how much more slower that ticker must advance now. I was young at that point and amazed.

[Ferrer]

I doubt finding a buyer for Hummer will be easy...

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

The thing is, did GM ever realize that having way too much product overlap was a bad thing? Sure it might be fine and dandy in good times. But when the economy slips up, so does all your companies, potentially. They always had lots of companies. Who started the whole gather-as-many-companies-as-humanly-possible trend anyway?

Well it's not like they started losing money yesterday...

[Lukeno1]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

They always had lots of companies. Who started the whole gather-as-many-companies-as-humanly-possible trend anyway?

Ford back in the 1950s?

[SlickHolden]

For Pontiac, Many suggested Holden and Pontiac should join forces in the states. Maybe make Holden's car line their line up. To late now..

I wish GM 3-4 years ago got Holden to do the Torana concept. That car would be what is missing right now. Something smaller many engine sizes to choose. But still offering great interior space. Yet fitting in with what people look for today...

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Lukeno1

Ford back in the 1950s?

Should check it, but I'm pretty confident GM started way earlier, in the 20's-30's. In factin many places Ford appeared as Ford itself, unlike GM which bought already exisiting companies.

[SlickHolden]

Did GM every actually make a car ?.

[fpv_gtho]

AFAIK no. I think they always had GMC for whenever they wanted a generic GM vehicle, which in most cases probably couldve easily still been badged as a Chev.