pontiac_logoThe Pontiac brand is being put out by General Motors. Is this a move of logic by General Motors or is this a pressure move from the Federal Government which stands to take over more than 50% of GM stock in cancelling a chunk of bailout debt? Pontiac is a “performance” brand name with a history of muscle cars, sports cars and racing heritage. The current administration is certainly waist deep in “green” cohorts and may not want to have a controlling interest in a brand known for burning rubber and turning fast laps. Is Pontiac really losing money or is it a show of “green” power? Currently, Pontiac power plants and car models are running and winning on the track. Just recently at Virginia International Raceway, a Pontiac powered Daytona Prototype won the class in the Bosch Engineering 250. On the same track running with the DP class, a Pontiac GXP.R won the GT class. Pontiacs are selling. They are out on the road with their split grills and diamond point logos. So the question remains…  are they really losing so much on the showroom floor? More so than other brands…?  Really?

1969 Pontiac GTO "The Judge"
1969 Pontiac GTO "The Judge"

The historic Pontiac GTO has been a staple of muscle cars since it was introduced. Now, General Motors is ready to throw it in the ditch and keep Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick. Buick!? Are you kidding? Think… Can you remember the last time you saw a Buick on the road? What is it that says keeping Buick and dropping Pontiac makes sense? Is the bottom line on Buick really so fantastic? Is the bottom line on Pontiac really so dismal? Is this a “business” decision or is this a mandate from a government being lead by a man who was driving a Chrysler 300 up to the point he announced a campaign and politically embraced “climate change” verbage with the purchase of a hybrid to show how “green” he could appear to be?

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

Pontiac is not the only brand in line with the scrap yard. Hummer is on the list. Why anyone wanted one of these toned-down military knock-offs in the first place was amazing. They make Pontiac look “green” as country meadow! Saturn is on the list to go. Really? Saturns have a pretty good reputation for dependability and economy so why would they be out there on a limb? Saab is GM owned but they don’t want it any longer. Saab has always been a niche luxury sports car with a loyal, but smaller, following. Saab has, however, made some good moves with styling and performance but perhaps was too little, too late.

The questions concerning Pontiac just scratch the surface. The economic turn down has made the magnifying glass turn on every aspect of modern business. Larger questions remain. Right now, as things stand to continue to go downhill or could swing towards growth, a large question concerns trust. How much do we trust those that are telling us things are bad and drastic measures must be taken? How much do we know about the coincidence of chopping performance cars off just as those that push the “green” agenda gain access to those in power? How much is real and how much is manufactured? Time will tell. When it does will we realize we’ve been duped or saved?