GM May Drop Pontiac & GMC Brands

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-16-2009, 02:39 AM

Another couple of brands may be gone soon.

http://www.reuters.com/article/busin...53F0A120090416

Ron

Ronbo · #2 (**permalink**) 04-16-2009, 08:06 PM

I think Pontiac was next on the chopping block after Olds anyway. The last (I think) Pontiac dealership around here folded about two months ago.

Buick will probably get clipped down the road as well. Mercury may not be around much longer either I suspect.

Seems like the whole car industry is moving to white-coller / blue-coller branding. (?)

Buzz · #3 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 11:25 AM

The days of the individual corporate brands having any real identity or meaning are long gone. For the past three decades GM played upon the brand loyalties of their customers as long as they could by slapping different bumpers, badges and paint codes on identical cars. The people who remember when a Pontiac had a Pontiac engine or when Cadillacs, Buicks and Olds had their own identities aren't buying the ruse anymore and the newer generations have no emotional ties to the brands. We can say a heartfelt farewell to to some of the iconic brands that stirred our souls back then because there ain't never gonna be cars like those again. But that's not necessarily as bad as it sounds.

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 11:43 AM

Buzz,

I have to agree. Though I hate to see some of the old brands go, the new technology makes for far better cars and vehicles than they were, and maybe it is time for some name changes that mean something besides just the things you mentioned. Besides I still have my first car, a zero emission Fred Flintstone type with stone wheels.

Ron

Cobrabill · #5 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 03:47 PM

News flash!!!Pontiac died in 1981.They just haven't buried the corpse yet.

Buick isn't going anywhere.It's GMs number one seller over-seas.

stuartb · #6 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 06:31 PM

American car manufacturers have been trying to play catch up for the last ten years maybe 20. The japs make them a little better for about the same price, and the germans just make a better all around car. We spent to much time with pick-ups and suv and are the car companies are paying for it. Don't get me wrong I loved my Ford diesel pick-ups and expedetion, but the audi I had and the lexus I own now are way better in ride handling and quality than any American car I have been in.