US News:GM Plans to Eliminate Saturn, Saab, Hummer, Shrink Pontiac

[Guest]

Caps lock is activated.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Keeping a promise made to Congress in its pitch for bailout funds last year, General Motors plans to eliminate several brands of car as part of a reorganization.

Autoblog explains, "In an interview Sunday," GM's North American president Troy Clark, "said that General Motors will be able to make good on its promise to Congress to drastically cut costs. Clarke said that GM will now focus its ‘product and marketing resources' on Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC."  The company plans to "sell or close Saturn."  Hummer and Saab may be in for similar treatment.  In a separate interview, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the Pontiac brand would likely continue, but "will have to get by with only four models: the G8, G5, Vibe and Solstice."

Scaling back production and eliminating models will not be the most challenging part of the reorganization, however.  Motor Authority notes, "Part of GM's downsizing efforts will also see its 6,600 dealer network shrunk to around 4,700 dealers by 2012."  Since dealers are independent business, each one of which holds its own contractual relationship with GM, closing Saturn, Saab and Hummer dealerships may prove to the most difficult part of the plan.

Struggling automakers are still heavily discounting many cars.  Research January's Best Car Deals with U.S. News' car Rankings and Reviews.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/090112-GM-Plans-to-Eliminate-Saturn-Saab-Hummer-Shrink-Pontiac/

[GXPinKC]

Thanks DeepBlueGXP for posting.  I am just happy that the statement by Bob Lutz, that the Pontiac brand would likely continue with the four models G8, G5, Vibe, and Solstice.  And we are down to four.  Sounds like Pontiac is starting all over.  At least, it appears even with a lesser role, that is better than no role at all.  I have heard rumors that GM will go forward with the Coupe.  I do hope that is the case.  We will see how it goes?

[DeepBlueGXP]

More on this info

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6398108/auto-shows/lutz-on-pontiac-saab-and-saturn/index.html

[ctyankee]

Thanks for the news. Although as a satisfied owner of two Saturns, I am sorry to hear they may close it down. They are just driving me to stay with Honda.

[DeepBlueGXP]

From the last web link I posted.

Which leaves Saturn. GM hasn't decided what to do with the brand. Under GM's stated plans, it could get reconfigured, it could go up for sale, or it could go the way of Oldsmobile. The latter is an expensive proposition, but not as expensive as shuttering Olds, because Saturn has just 400 dealers nationally. They're some of GM's best dealers, though; the last ones it wants to see close down. It was naive on our part to believe a brand like Saturn could survive on one product.