[boblaw]

http://www.motorauthority.com/report...ebuild-it.html

Why is GM selling Saturn but phasing out Pontiac? Life's not fare. However, I think Pontiac might be resurected once GM is profitable again.

[Citizen Z]

Originally Posted by boblaw

http://www.motorauthority.com/report...ebuild-it.html

Why is GM selling Saturn but phasing out Pontiac? Life's not fair. However, I think Pontiac might be resurected once GM is profitable again.

I don't agree but if they do, I can almost guarentee it won't happen until GM has repaid its Federal loans, which may take over 10 years if the car industry in the US remains below 11m units/yr. If they do bring Pontiac back, it won't be as a full range brand, more of a botique performance division akin to Viper or Shelby or SVT.

[ptack]

I'm sure there's quite a bit of value in the brand. Once all of the Pontiac cost ballast is thrown overboard, don't be surprised if they selectively use the brand name on few models (made and sold at remaining GM plants and dealers).

Unless - as part of the legal settlements they have to bury the brand name. That seems extreme, but so is GM going under.

[vAnt826]

Saturn isn't 100% here to stay yet.

They haven't secured a buyer yet. They don't even know if the buyer is just interested in the infrastructure or the brand. My guess is that the Saturn brand will die and this will become the stepping stone for asian car companies.

[boymonkey]

A lot of Pontiac cars have similar Chevrolet counterparts, so I don't think GM would want to sell Pontiac and have it compete directly with their Chevrolet products. There's probably too much shared production to sell off separately anyway. And the value in the brand name is better than Saturn.

[JB135i]

I'd give'm bout' $3.50 for it...

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by Citizen Z

I don't agree but if they do, I can almost guarantee it won't happen until GM has repaid its Federal loans, which may take over 10 years if the car industry in the US remains below 11m units/yr. If they do bring Pontiac back, it won't be as a full range brand, more of a boutique performance division akin to Viper or Shelby or SVT.

Is there a stipulation that they aren't allowed to?

[Citizen Z]

Originally Posted by BForbes

Is there a stipulation that they aren't allowed to?

Yes; its called the terms of their Federal automotive bailouts as described by their own viability plan required by February and now again in June.

[Bobble]

Should be interesting to see what they value Saturn at? I have an acquaintance who owns several car dealerships one of which is a Saturn dealer. I asked him several months ago about all the rumors and he felt it was basically like selling "junk bonds" and he said he sticks more money, required by his contract with GM, then he makes on that dealership. Good thing is they were taking care of him with other things like allocations at his Chevy/Cadillac dealership. I'll wager the folks owning the dealerships come out on the short side of any deal especially if they sell to a foreign entity.

[Bimmer007]

i actually like Saturn's cars, reminds me of the Opel's. it's nice to see something different, to name just a few... like the cobalt, tahoe, and impala cookie cutters within the gm brand.