Comments on: GM May Kill Off One of Its Brands

By: Tyler Watts

Tyler Watts — Sun, 03 Apr 2005 07:24:00 +0000

A lot of times I think I would never buy a GM vehicle. I have always thought it is rediculous how there is a single truck/car/minivan being sold with a different grill under 4 different names. Doesn't really make sense to compete for customers within your own company. I would, however, buy a GM for the heritage of certain vehicles. Of course the Corvette comes to mind, but there is a car in the GM lineup that has been around just as long as the corvette, yet it's head is on the chopping block.

The Pontiac Bonneville was first introduced in 1954, and has remained in the pontiac lineup ever since. The Bonneville is the only American production car to earn, and not be given, it's racing name. The car earned the Bonneville name after winning land-speed records there in 1956. If GM considers merging/killing off Pontiac, they should consider the heritage of the Bonneville, re-design it, keep it's name, and do away with one (or a few) of the other bland sedans GM has come up with.

By: Begging News

Begging News — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 22:42:27 +0000

GM says that it has no plans to phase out any of its divisions

By: The Q Speaks

The Q Speaks — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 01:50:43 +0000

Whither Buick and Pontiac?
GM might kill off their Buick and Pontiac brands if they don't peform soon after some recent investment in new vehicles...

By: B. Minich, PI

B. Minich, PI — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:40:39 +0000

GM should do what Dodge did with Chrysler. Not that long ago, Chrysler was just "Dodge cars made to look a bit more luxourous." You can't really argue that Town and Country was anything but a repackaged Dodge Caravan with leather seats. They completely retooled the Chrysler line, and it is selling really well now. They seem to have completely ditched the Plymouth line, which had become "Dodge, rebranded and completely unchaged". GM needs to focus in a similar way - a plan of action similar to the one you describe would be one way to do it.

By: denise

denise — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:19:35 +0000

I'd go with eliminating Pontiac; as you said, it is now undifferentiated.

There is a key demographic (older white folks) that is really loyal to Buicks. They shouldn't mess with that.

Btw, I'll never understand the point of making Tiger Woods spokesperson for Buick. It instantly aged him about 47 years, and I don't see that it did anything for the brand.

By: Scott Dillard

Scott Dillard — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:26:26 +0000

Why not just call everything GMC? There's no reason anymore for all these "different" brands. Or maybe do like the Japanese lines, and have one for the main fleet, and a high-end brand, such as Lexus, for the top end.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:19:54 +0000

Oddly, they are phasing it out, which strikes me as worse than killing it.

By: Brian J.

Brian J. — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:14:57 +0000

Didn't they already kill the Oldsmobile line?