GM's dropping Saturn, Pontiac to become niche brand

[FenwickHockey65]

We got this information this morning at GMI...

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...ly-dead-75492/

GMI has been told by sources very close to the situation that management and the Board of Directors have approved closing the Saturn brand as part of the plan for viability. Several options were considered for the brand, as evident with the influx of statements from various GM executives as of late about Saturn. One option was to merge the brand into the Pontiac, GMC, Buick sales channel (as GMI broke several months ago). GM also looked into selling the Saturn brand to their Chinese joint-venture in order to get the brand out of the GM umbrella.

Goodbye Saturn...you've had a good, long run...

UPDATE: PONTIAC REPORTEDLY DEAD...SORTA

http://jalopnik.com/5155377/gm-to-of...ost-of-pontiac

As far as Pontiac, it goes away as a division. The nameplate will live on on some vehicles — but we've got no idea what "niche products" they're talking about. More coming shortly.

[The_Blur]

I'm a little disturbed that GM invested so heavily in the "rethink American" campaign and a whole new Saturn lineup when it is going away so soon.

The Sky is a wonderful car. That car should be redesigned as badged as a Chevy Stingray for heritage and style. Shoehorn the LLT in there for a performance V6.

[carsismeZ06]

Eh, it was bound to happen. I think that GM had too many branches that weren't pulling in money and Saturn was one of them. GM should make it more simple and keep Chevy, Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC, and Buick, and keep some of the other stuff like Daewoo and Vauxhall.

[franknbeans]

can't understand why they confirmed closing the door son Saturn before Hummer.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by franknbeans

can't understand why they confirmed closing the door son Saturn before Hummer.

Hummer is up for sale. Killing an independent brand is harder than killing a brand that can be rebadged as something else.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by franknbeans

can't understand why they confirmed closing the door son Saturn before Hummer.

Hummer sale talks are still in progress. Last I heard, a company in China was interested.

[PQ]

Wow. Daewoo? I didn't even know that still existed. And what the heck is a Vauxhall?

I'm not one to spend much time studying all of the makes and models of the automotive industry but if I haven't even heard of it, can it be that good of a thing. Maybe we're just 'In a hole' in Alabama.

As far as Saturn, who cares? At this point it's time to trim fat. I agree with Blur though, the Sky is a great car. I know a few people who bought them and they have certainly not had anything bad to say. Chevy Sky would even be a good badge.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by irpq11

Wow. Daewoo? I didn't even know that still existed. And what the heck is a Vauxhall?

GM Europe is divided mainly between Opel/Vauxhall. Mainland Europe gets Opels, the UK gets Vauxhalls. Basically same cars, just different brands and different locations.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

GM Europe is divided mainly between Opel/Vauxhall. Mainland Europe gets Opels, the UK gets Vauxhalls. Basically same cars, just different brands and different locations.

Thanx for the clarification. I don't even have to point out I had never heard of the Opel.

This is why I like this forum.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by irpq11

Thanx for the clarification. I don't even have to point out I had never heard of the Opel.

This is why I like this forum.

Sure thing.

And Daewoo is GM's Korean subsidiary. It still exists in the US as the Chevy Aveo and Pontiac G3 ().

GM's Global Brands include...

Buick
Chevrolet
Cadillac
Pontiac
GMC
Hummer
Saab
Saturn
Holden (Australia)
Vauxhall (UK)
Opel (Europe, Asia)
Daewoo (Korea)

[PQ]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Sure thing.

And Daewoo is GM's Korean subsidiary. It still exists in the US as the Chevy Aveo and Pontiac G3 ().

GM's Global Brands include...

Buick
Chevrolet
Cadillac
Pontiac
GMC
Hummer
Saab
Saturn
Holden (Australia)
Vauxhall (UK)
Opel (Europe, Asia)
Daewoo (Korea)

Why do they do that?
Do the foreign brands (Holden, Vauxhall, Opel, Daewoo) have the same bodys as say Chevy, Pontiac, or Buick?

And so I was right anyway. Alabama wont see many Vauxhalls.

[Angrybird 12]

Well I guess my Sky will become an orphan.... Gonna hang on to it as long as I can. Who knows, It may be a collector car someday.

I think all GM needs to look at the Saturn customer service and emulate it. I never had one bad experience at my Saturn dealership. Usually they went above and beyond what I expected in the way of service.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by irpq11

Why do they do that?
Do the foreign brands (Holden, Vauxhall, Opel, Daewoo) have the same bodys as say Chevy, Pontiac, or Buick?

And so I was right anyway. Alabama wont see many Vauxhalls.

Not always. For the most part, North American designs are limited to the US/Canada. GMT-based trucks are almost NA exclusive, Lambdas are NA exclusive, a few American designs (CTS, Corvette) are sold in other countries, but for the most part, GM NA designs cars for North America only.

However, there are exceptions...

The Pontiac G8 is nothing more than a rebadged Holden Commodore imported from Australia.

The Saturn Vue, Saturn Astra, and Saturn Sky all have Opel counterparts, the Opel Antara, Opel Astra, and Opel GT.

Buick in the US and Buick in China will be sharing product in the future. For example, the Buick Regal in China, a rebadged Opel Insignia, will be brought stateside as the Buick Regal here.

Chevrolet's becoming a global brand, so expect to see Asian-designed Chevrolets on US soil soon, such as the upcoming Chevy Spark.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Not always. For the most part, North American designs are limited to the US/Canada. GMT-based trucks are almost NA exclusive, Lambdas are NA exclusive, a few American designs (CTS, Corvette) are sold in other countries, but for the most part, GM NA designs cars for North America only.

However, there are exceptions...

The Pontiac G8 is nothing more than a rebadged Holden Commodore imported from Australia.

The Saturn Vue, Saturn Astra, and Saturn Sky all have Opel counterparts, the Opel Antara, Opel Astra, and Opel GT.

Buick in the US and Buick in China will be sharing product in the future. For example, the Buick Regal in China, a rebadged Opel Insignia, will be brought stateside as the Buick Regal here.

Chevrolet's becoming a global brand, so expect to see Asian-designed Chevrolets on US soil soon, such as the upcoming Chevy Spark.

\
OK, you've definately taught me something here today. I am going to educate myself more. I knew from going to car shows that this took place like on the Nissan 350Z in Japan is .... a Skyline or something like that and some of these car shows will have a car they selfimported and it's like a big deal. I've even seen cars that they just rebadged themselves to make it seem self imported. Kinda dumb to me but not to them and I don't judge. Some people think It's dumb, the amount of time I spend watching the OU Sooners and Buffalo Bills but each to their own.
Thanx.