[Updated] Pontiac Officially Dead in 2010 as of 04/27/2009

[wildcat]

I didn't say it, they did. Click Here.





PRESS RELEASE:



FOR RELEASE: 2009-04-27



GM Accelerates its Reinvention as a Leaner, More Viable Company



Updated Viability Plan Speeds, Deepens Restructuring of U.S. Operations





DETROIT -- General Motors (NYSE: GM) today presented an updated Viability Plan that will speed the reinvention of GM's U.S. operations into a leaner, more customer-focused, and more cost-competitive automaker.



The Viability Plan is included in an exchange offer whereby GM is offering certain bondholders shares of GM common stock and accrued interest in exchange for certain outstanding notes.



Revised Viability Plan goes further and faster



The Viability Plan announced today builds on the February 17 Viability Plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet...amp;docid=52168. The revised Plan accelerates the timeline for a number of important actions and makes deeper cuts in several key areas of GM's operations, with the objective to make us a leaner, faster, and more customer-focused organization going forward.



Significant changes include:



* A focus on four core brands in the U.S. - Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC - with fewer nameplates and a more competitive level of marketing support per brand.

* A more aggressive restructuring of GM's U.S. dealer organization to better focus dealer resources for improved sales and customer service.

* Improved U.S. capacity utilization through accelerated idling and closures of powertrain, stamping, and assembly plants.

* Lower structural costs, which GM North America (GMNA) projects will enable it to breakeven (on an adjusted EBIT basis) at a U.S. total industry volume of approximately 10 million vehicles, based on the pricing and share assumptions in the plan. This rate is substantially below the 15 to 17 million annual vehicle sales rates recorded from 1995 through 2007.



"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."



Fewer U.S. brands, nameplates, and dealers



As part of the revised Viability Plan and the need to move faster and further, GM in the U.S. will focus its resources on four core brands, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. The Pontiac brand will be phased out by the end of 2010. GM will offer a total of 34 nameplates in 2010, a reduction of 29 percent from 48 nameplates in 2008, reflecting both the reduction in brands and continued emphasis on fewer and stronger entries. This four-brand strategy will enable GM to better focus its new product development programs and provide more competitive levels of market support.



The revised plan moves up the resolution of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer to the end of 2009, at the latest. Updates on these brands will be provided as these initiatives progress.



Working with its dealers, GM anticipates reducing its U.S. dealer count from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010, a reduction of 42 percent. This is a further reduction of 500 dealers, and four years sooner, than in the February 17 Plan. The goal is to accomplish this reduction in an orderly, cost-effective, and customer-focused way. This reduction in U.S. dealers will allow for a more competitive dealer network and higher sales effectiveness in all markets. More details on these initiatives will be provided in May.



Sales volume and market share projections



The Viability Plan anticipates improved financial results despite more conservative U.S. sales volume expectations going forward. The lower volume expectations are the result of managing the business with fewer nameplates and dealers, leaner inventories, and reduced market share. To address the inventory issue, GM on April 23 announced U.S. production schedule reductions of approximately 190,000 vehicles during the second and early third quarters of 2009.



The Viability Plan also reduces GM's market share projections to adjust for the impact of the brand and dealer consolidation, as well as for the short-term impact of speculation regarding a GM bankruptcy. The plan assumes a 19.5 percent share in 2009, with share stabilizing in the 18.4 to 18.9 percent range in subsequent years.



"We have strong new product coming for our four core brands: the Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Cruze and Volt; Buick LaCrosse; GMC Terrain; and Cadillac SRX and CTS Sport Wagon and Coupe," said Henderson. "A tighter focus by GM and its dealers will help give these products the capital investment, marketing and advertising support they need to be truly successful."



Lower structural costs, lower breakeven point



The Viability Plan also lowers GMNA's breakeven volume to a U.S. annual industry volume of 10 million total vehicles, based on the pricing and share assumptions in the plan. This lower breakeven point (at an adjusted EBIT level) better positions GM to generate positive cash flow and earn an adequate return on capital over the course of a normal business cycle, a requirement set forth by the U.S. Treasury in its March 30 viability plan assessment.



GM will lower its breakeven point by cutting its structural costs faster and deeper than had previously been planned:



* Manufacturing: Consistent with the mandate to accelerate restructuring, we plan to reduce the total number of assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants in the U.S. from 47 in 2008 to 34 by the end of 2010, a reduction of 28 percent, and to 31 by 2012. This would reflect the acceleration of six plant idling/closures from the February 17 plan, and one additional plant idling. Throughout this transition, GM will continue to implement its flexible global manufacturing strategy (GMS), which allows multiple body styles and architectures to be built in one plant. This enables GM to use its capital more efficiently, increase capacity utilization, and respond more quickly to market shifts.



* Employment: 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. This further planned reduction of an additional 7,000 to 8,000 employees from the February 17 Plan is primarily the result of the previously discussed operational efficiencies, nameplate reductions, and plant closings. GM also anticipates a further decline in salaried and executive employment as it continues to assess its structure and execute the Viability Plan. More details will be announced as soon as they are finalized with the various stakeholders.

* Labor costs: The Viability Plan assumes a reduction of U.S. hourly labor costs from $7.6 billion in 2008 to $5 billion in 2010, a 34 percent reduction. GM will continue to work with its UAW partners to accomplish this through a reduction in total U.S. hourly employment as well as through modifications in the collective bargaining agreement.



As a result of these and other actions, GMNA's structural costs are projected to decline 25 percent, from $30.8 billion in 2008 to $23.2 billion in 2010, a further decline of $1.8 billion by 2010 versus the February 17 Plan.



Strengthening GM's balance sheet



Another key element of GM's restructuring will be taking the necessary actions to strengthen its balance sheet. GM today took an important step in improving its balance sheet by launching a bond exchange offer for approximately $27 billion of its unsecured public debt. If successful, the bond exchange would result in the conversion of a large majority of this debt to equity.



"A stronger balance sheet would free the company to invest in the products and technologies of the future," Henderson said. "It will also help provide stability and security to our customers, our dealers, our employees, and our suppliers."



Another important part of improving the balance sheet will be the ongoing discussions with the UAW to modify the terms of the Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA), and with the U.S. Treasury regarding possible conversion of its debt to equity. The current bond exchange offer is conditioned on the converting to equity of at least 50 percent of GM's outstanding U.S. Treasury debt at June 1, 2009, and at least 50 percent of GM's future financial obligations to the new VEBA. GM expects a debt reduction of at least $20 billion between the two actions.



In total, the U.S. Treasury debt conversion, VEBA modification and bond exchange could result in at least $44 billion in debt reduction.



Throughout the Plan, GM will continue to make significant investment in future products and new technologies, with an investment of $5.4 billion in 2009, and investments ranging from $5.3 to $6.7 billion from 2010 to 2014. Very importantly, development and testing of the Chevy Volt extended-range electric car remains on track for start of production by the end of 2010 and arrival in Chevrolet dealer showrooms soon thereafter.



"The Viability Plan reflects the direction of President Obama and the U.S. Treasury that GM should go further and faster on our restructuring," Henderson said. "We appreciate their support and direction. This stronger, leaner business model will enable GM to keep doing what it does best - provide great new cars, trucks and crossovers to our customers, and continue to develop new advanced propulsion technologies that are vital for our country's economy and environment."



# # #



About GM - General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world's largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 243,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.



Forward-Looking Statements - In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "ensure," "promote," "believe," "improve," "intend," "enable," "continue," "will," "may," "would," "could," "should," "project," "positioned" or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to comply with the requirements of our credit agreement with the U.S. Treasury; our ability to execute the restructuring plans that we have disclosed, our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; the ability of our foreign subsidiaries to restructure and receive financial support from their local governments or other sources; our ability to restore consumers' confidence in our viability and to continue to attract customers, particularly for our new products; our ability to sell, spin-off or phase out some of our brands, to manage the distribution channels for our products, and to complete other planned asset sales; and the overall strength and stability of general economic conditions and of the automotive industry, both in the U.S. and globally.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Car is dead (apparently)

Whatever...

I'm over it... I've watched GM f@#k everything up my entire life... Looks like the "new GM" will be no different.

Anyone want to take bets as to how long Buick lasts or how long until Obama and his minions assassinate GMC?

[wildcat]

I posted this 3 minutes ago in the Pontiac forum.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I posted this 3 minutes ago in the Pontiac forum.

DAMN!

Oh well,

If one of the mods wants to combine the topics or delete this one...

[deftonesfan867]

There's so many "sources" saying stuff IDK what to believe.

[SoCalCTS]

Pontiac died a long LONG time ago.

[Drew Dowdell]

Watch the politics. You have no idea if the administration was even involved in the decision.

[Intrepidation]

Just as the G8 reawakened our interest in 83-year-old Pontiac, the brand falls victim to bad times and old mistakes. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Watch the politics. You have no idea if the administration was even involved in the decision.

I never said they were.

I'm betting their sites are set on the next "target"

[FloydHendershot]

Car is dead (apparently)

Whatever...

I'm over it... I've watched GM f@#k everything up my entire life... Looks like the "new GM" will be no different.

Anyone want to take bets as to how long Buick lasts or how long until Obama and his minions assassinate GMC?

Obama and his "minions" are the only thing that has kept GM even functioning. Your anger is all over the place.

Edited April 23, 2009 by FloydHendershot

[Intrepidation]

The writing has been on the wall since before GM went to the government for aid.

[hyperv6]

Too much damage too little money.

Even in niche status it is a little too late. Lets face it GM has too little money to even do Niche right.

I think you will see little outrage from the non Pontiac public. That is very sad!

[FAPTurbo]

If the decision was politically based, that doesn't change the fact that for ages, GM didn't manage the brand all too well.

[Intrepidation]

Makes me wish I had the money for a G8 GXP for the prices skyrocket. The G8 will be a collector car and a future classic.

[z28luvr01]

Still speculation at this point. Y'all know my feelings on the issue. No need to repeat them.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Obama and his "minions" are the only thing that has kept GM even functioning. Your anger is all over the place.

Read the news lately?

I'm only commenting on what I'm 'told'.

And damn right I'm angry... There is no reason for the stupidity that this company has displayed for the better part of 5 years. And there is no reason for the continued stupidity that our government officials (affiliation doesn't matter, they're all just as ignorant as the next guy) continue to exhibit.

A GLOBAL manufacturing force that actually benefits america is crumbling, yet they don't seem to care. Have fun working at Walmart or McDonalds. That looks to be our future!

Edited April 23, 2009 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Too much damage too little money.

Even in niche status it is a little too late. Lets face it GM has too little money to even do Niche right.

I think you will see little outrage from the non Pontiac public. That is very sad!

In a society in which 60% of population wishes for the failure of the automakers?!?! I'd say that's not sad, it's par for the course. Or a cause for celebration (for some)

[MyerShift]

Pardon my language, but aside from jobs, the economy, and all that, what is really left of GM for me to care about?

Everything that has been any good lately has been killed early or cancelled entirely.

I suppose that I no longer care what happens to GM, and even though I still root for Chrysler, if they don't do something "magic" I'll no longer care for them either.

It's a sad, sad day.

[daves87rs]

The writing has been on the wall since before GM went to the government for aid.

You got it-that is what I have been saying for months..and it sucks!

For those who are actually car lovers, these next years will be very hard to take.

A rough guess would say about 16 models will not see the end of this decade.

This is just the beginning of the nasty......

[trinacriabob]

I think that without an albeit more streamlined, but still existent, Pontiac line, the GM stable becomes weak. That "segment" is not anchored.

Growing up, Pontiac was always equated with provocative. The earlier Firebirds and Grand Prixs were very popular and well-received cars. Movies always "cast" Pontiacs as cool cars. What happened?. People got "too cool" and graduated to Japanese and German iron. I say that with a smirk.

The signature Pontiac snout, alongside that of Cadillac, was probably the most recognizable in GM and possibly of all American-made cars. I, too, think that this division is more likely to be axed than the others. They will need to add a model to Chevy or Buick somewhere down the line, so this will free up some "room." Thus, within a decade, I've watched my 2 favorite car brands of my childhood - Oldsmobile and Pontiac - disappear. I'll never forget the Oldsmobile announcement...it came a few weeks before Christmas 2000 and too close to my birthday. It sent a shudder through me. It was like a "quick erase" of all my childhood memories and stories. I was entertaining buying a new Intrigue at the time.

[Robert Hall]

This was one of those things that has seemed inevitable the last few years, GM has largely ignored Pontiac and invested very little in it. GM may end up just Chevy and Cadillac before all is said and done.

The market has moved such that it seems difficult for automakers to have middle brands between their entry-mainstream and premium brands. Mercury seems barely there; Plymouth went away and Dodge moved down sort of. And in the US, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, VW etc have no middle brands--just broad mass-market brands and premium ones that start at the top of the mainstream ones.

Oh well...what will be, will be.

[daves87rs]

Still speculation at this point. Y'all know my feelings on the issue. No need to repeat them.

Not for too much longer....

[FloydHendershot]

Read the news lately?

I'm only commenting on what I'm 'told'.

And damn right I'm angry... There is no reason for the stupidity that this company has displayed for the better part of 5 years. And there is no reason for the continued stupidity that our government officials (affiliation doesn't matter, they're all just as ignorant as the next guy) continue to exhibit.

A GLOBAL manufacturing force that actually benefits america is crumbling, yet they don't seem to care. Have fun working at Walmart or McDonalds. That looks to be our future!

If "they" did not care there would be no loans in the first place. GM had their hands out in need of a partner to keep them functioning and the US Gov't agreed to that with conditions. Conditions to prove they can remain intact as a Global manufacturing force. This may be GM's response to meet those criteria. There just may not be another way presuming this is even true and not some internet bologna.

I don't think the gov't or GM wants to close factories for longer than the usual two weeks but they are and will. I don't think the government wants to think what the cost of rampant unemployment and welfare checks would mean either. To say nothing of Toyota and what crumbling satelite companies including parts companies would like to happen. It is in all concerned best interest to get this right. It may not be your or my cup of tea but there is a bottom line and tough times call for these kinds of decisions.

It's too bad once they got one foot out of the grave the other was on a banana peel.

Edited April 23, 2009 by FloydHendershot

[FloydHendershot]

If the decision was politically based, that doesn't change the fact that for ages, GM didn't manage the brand all too well.

That is why they are where they are now. If they were raking in the cash it wouldn't even be on the table.

[Camino LS6]

I'll wait for official confirmation.

I've already said everything else I have to say on this short of said confirmation.

I no longer give any creedence to articles based on "sources".

[daves87rs]

I'll wait for official confirmation.

I've already said everything else I have to say on this short of said confirmation.

I no longer give any creedence to articles based on "sources".

Even other members?

[Camino LS6]

Even other members?

Do you really have to ask?

[CaddyXLR-V]

Sadly, I have expected this from GM. As such, about a year ago I started to buy non-GM vehicles, so that when Pontiac is gone, there would be less of a transition for me. Without Pontiac, I will never buy a GM vehicle again. GM-converting American car fan to non-American car fan one tens of thousands at a time.

[cire]

Even if they cut the brand down to just the one Zeta based sedan then it would be worth holding on to. It doesn't seem like one affordable RWD sports sedan is goint to melt all the polar icecaps, suck up all the world's oil, etc...

I hate to say it, but I could almost understand shutting down the Kappa project. It's been an unprofitable endeavor on an unflexible platform that is used to build very low volume and impractical products. If the corporation wasn't dependent on government loans while it continues to bleed red ink, then I would be against it. Since they are, then unprofitable pet projects like Kappa need to go.

At least the G8 has some practicality since it could do double duty as a family car as well as an affordable sports sedan. Supposedly, Holden has a downsized next gen Zeta based Commodore in the works that will be compatible with some of the corporation's more fuel efficient engines. Why not let Pontiac continue with that one sedan? It would be low volume so it shouldn't throw GM's overall CAFE figures off at all (besides the next gen is supposedly going to have more fuel efficient engine choices).

I am starting to believe that GM will be disconnected from B-P-G before long. Pontiac is rumored to be going. There have been rumors about the Chinese purchasing Buick. GM also claims that Buick would be aligned with Opel, yet there are rumors that Opel might soon be disassociated with GM. GMC is probably viewed as the second coming of Hummer by environmentalists (a division that strictly sells trucks, SUVs, and CUVs must look extremely intimidating to these people), so there is probably government sourced pressure to dump this brand also. Things are starting to look very dim for GM's future indeed. I still think Buick would be crucial to GM's future since this is the brand that can effectively sell premium vehicles based off the corporation's FWD platforms (unless Cadillac is going back to being primarily FWD in the future, which would be incredibly sad and pathetic).

[Camino LS6]

IF BPG disconnects from GM as a unit, I wouldn't need GM anymore.

Especially if Holden goes with BPG.

Don't see things happening that way, but I wouldn't complain too much.

[gm4life]

I'll wait for official confirmation.

I've already said everything else I have to say on this short of said confirmation.

I no longer give any creedence to articles based on "sources".

Do you really think they are gone? Or will they become a "niche" brand?

[mustang84]

IF BPG disconnects from GM as a unit, I wouldn't need GM anymore.

Especially if Holden goes with BPG.

Don't see things happening that way, but I wouldn't complain too much.

Agreed

[Camino LS6]

Do you really think they are gone? Or will they become a "niche" brand?

I'm not making any predictions at this point.

[gm4life]

I'm not making any predictions at this point.

Then I am not liking what I am hearing. Having said that Edmunds has been known to "screw up" more than once. I refuse to believe this till it is confirmed.

GM getting rid of Pontiac would be a HUGE mistake, the image still resonates with many people. I bet in this annoucement or whatever they are calling it will tell us Opel is gone.

Edited April 24, 2009 by gm4life

[Satty]

This news would be full of EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if it were actually news, not something we've all known for quite some time.

[Intrepidation]

edmunds is actually fairly reliable. It's when rags like the NY Times posts something that you should be skeptical.

Guess we'll see what happens on Monday.

[Camino LS6]

If you've been reading my posts lately, you already know that what I think will happen and what I think should happen are two different things.

[gm4life]

edmunds is actually fairly reliable. It's when rags like the NY Times posts something that you should be skeptical.

Guess we'll see what happens on Monday.

Well I'll hope for the best. I will not let this go down without a fight or a letter or two.

[Cory Wolfe]

GM is doomed. I stopped caring about them long ago... and for good reason.

[Camino LS6]

Oh I still care, otherwise this nightmare would be easier to witness.

[Sixty8panther]

I'm almost numb from all this back & forth.

For the record, I too take this with a grain of salt.

Time will tell.

Oh I still care, otherwise this nightmare would be easier to witness.

Yup. GM is like a super hot old G/F that you love/hate.

It's like just when the nasty personality reminds you

of what you're NOT missing... the mini-skirt & a whiff

of that perfume makes you reminisce.

[Robert Hall]

Probably best not to read any news related to GM for the rest of the year....liable to get messy.

[Camino LS6]

Probably best not to read any news related to GM for the rest of the year....liable to get messy.

It won't take that long...

[Robert Hall]

It won't take that long...

Yeah, it's all going to go down between now and June 1, I think.

[Daryl Z71]

Wow this is sad... I think im gonna go trade my truck in on and F-150 now since it looks so bad for GM.

[gm4life]

It is here too, but this makes it very clear that nothing offical has been said. Well I have come to accept it but this what you get when you take government money.

Autoblog Pontiac to be dead on Monday

[Oracle of Delphi]

It was always a matter of time, or timing anyway ...

[Robert Hall]

It is here too, but this makes it very clear that nothing offical has been said. Well I have come to accept it but this what you get when you take government money.

Autoblog Pontiac to be dead on Monday

Well, if they hadn't gone for the assistance, they'd already be dead, most likely. This is just postponing the inevitable.

[Satty]

Blaming this on the government is flat out dumb. GM has been mismanaging its eleventy-billion brands for decades, they were going to have to do something sooner or later.

[Daryl Z71]

It is here too, but this makes it very clear that nothing offical has been said. Well I have come to accept it but this what you get when you take government money.

Autoblog Pontiac to be dead on Monday

Now we don't know that the government had a part in this.