It's official - GM to go to 4 brands

[gm4life]

Well, I don't know what is going to happen, but I think it makes more sense to just get rid of Saturn. Perhaps Pontiac could get the Corsa and Astra if they stay around. The OPC versions would make them small, sporty, fun-to-drive cars.

That would be a no-brainer. And a great idea.

[buyacargetacheck]

All this talk about selling or dropping brands I think is just talk to placate Congress and the press. The reality is that there are no buyers for Hummer or Saab or Saturn (or Volvo or Chrysler or Jeep). All the car companies are conserving cash because everyone is hurting. China is badly hurting because exports have dropped, and they are hoarding cash as their own car companies are contracting. The cash-rich oil countries in the Middle East and Russia are hurting because of collapsing oil prices.

GM (and Ford and Chrysler) are likely to keep talking about ridding brands while cutting back production and capital investment. In the meantime, the economy will eventually finish off the Saturn, Saab, Hummer dealers without GM lifting a finger.

The comments about Pontiac becoming niche are misleading too. The strategy won't change much as the only cars that will drop are the old, tired ones: G5, G6 (volume will be made up by Buick Regal), Torrent becomes Terrain. Big deal. The plan sounds radical, but it only amounts to letting the current cars play out their lifecycles on the hope that the economy will get better.

[Chicagoland]

Add in Buick of China's sales #'s and Pontiac pales in comparison.

[ToniCipriani]

Toni: I don't understand what you mean, please. Wrong to your way of thinking or wrong factually based on an official GM statement?

I meant the idea. Wrong as in they're doing it wrong.