GM Officially Announces Pontiac's Death, Saab, Hummer and Saturn to be Gone by 2009
Cars

GM Officially Announces Pontiac's Death, Saab, Hummer and Saturn to be Gone by 2009


This is the end of the road for Pontiac as General Motors confirmed earlier media reports by officially announcing on Monday the death of the 83-year-old marque that will be phased out by the end of 2010. As part of its revised "Viability Plan" that accelerates the timeline for a number of important actions, GM said that it will speed up "the resolution of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer to the end of 2009, at the latest." The General will focus on four core brands in the U.S., Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, offering a total of 34 nameplates in 2010 compared to 48 in 2008, a reduction of 29 percent.

"We are taking tough but necessary actions that are critical to GM's long-term viability," said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. "Our responsibility is clear - to secure GM's future - and we intend to succeed. At the same time, we also understand the impact these actions will have on our employees, dealers, unions, suppliers, shareholders, bondholders, and communities, and we will do whatever we can to mitigate the effects on the extended GM team."

Other significant changes in GM's updated "Viability Plan" include the accelerated idling and closures of powertrain, stamping, and assembly plants while the firm will almost cut its U.S. dealer count in half, from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010. This is a further reduction of 500 dealers, and four years sooner, than the previous plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury on February 17.

And how will all these measures affect U.S. workers? According to GM, the updated plan will see an additional reduction of 7,000 to 8,000 hourly employees. Overall, U.S. hourly employment levels are projected to be reduced from about 61,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2010, a 34 percent reduction, and level off at about 38,000 starting in 2011.





- Gm Records $6 Billion Net Loss In First Quarter, Burns $10.2 Billion In Cash
The first quarter numbers are in for General Motors and things aren't looking bright for the largest U.S. automaker as the Obama administration's June 1st bankruptcy deadline nears its end. General Motors recorded a net loss of $6.0 billion in...

- Breaking: Gm Issues Official Statement On Pontiac Death Rumors
General Motors decided to take action and issue an official statement in regards of news reports from Edmund's Insideline and Autonews saying that the automaker had decided to axe the Pontiac brand instead of keeping it as a 'specialty-marque'...

- Ford Reports $2.7 Billion Operating Loss In Q3, Burns $7.7 Billion In Cash, Announces Job Cuts
It can't get any worse for Ford Motor Company - or can it? The American automaker today announced a third quarter net loss of $129 million which is actually smaller than the same period a year ago when FoMoCo lost $390 million. However, the company...

- Chrysler Announces More Than 8,500 Job Cuts Along With Cancellation Of 4-models
Shortly after Chrysler LLC confirmed UAW ratification of labour agreement, the third largest American carmaker announced that it will proceed to a reduction of 8,500-10,000 additional hourly jobs through 2008. Chrysler LLC also revealed plans to eliminate...

- General Motors Plan For Congress By The Numbers
The United States Congress wants specifics, General Motors plans to offer Congress specifics. Well, some specifics. With the emphasis on the Numbers, GoodCarBadCar.net has narrowed down GM's tentative plan for consumption. ----- 3- brands to be...



Cars








.