I’m usually not a fan of a company handing out free stuff. I mean, sure, people will show up to get their free hot dog with 10 gallon purchase of gas or whatever, but who really needs a three day old hot dog? In this case however, I think General Motors is really on the right track. GM is offering a year’s worth of free service (up to 4 visits) to 1999 and newer Pontiac owners in the hopes that they will visit their nearest Buick/GMC dealer and stay in the family. This plan should work well, as my very own brother owns a Pontiac Grand Prix and will be glad to have free oil changes, tire rotations and inspections of his vehicle for the next year. For more details, head on over to Autoblog.
(Image source: GM)
The GMC Granite concept is quite an interesting vehicle. While many people believe it may have been originally designed as a Pontiac, the vehicle seems to fit GMC’s new image well in my opinion. The vehicle will offer plenty of interior space even with its small packaging on the outside. The Granite is nearly two feet shorter in length than the Terrain, but it features rear-hinged rear-doors to help ease ingress/egress. For more details, head on over to Autoblog.
Or for video of the reveal, head on over here.
(Image source: GM)
GM increases incentives to help dealers move out leftover Saturns and Pontiacs
General Motors is pushing close to $7,000 at dealers in order to move the remaining Saturn and Pontiac models sitting on dealer lots. The move comes as GM was forced to close down 4 brands (Hummer, Saab, Saturn and Pontiac) leaving only GMC, Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet left. Sales of the Saturn and Pontiac brands were down sharply this year, which is to be expected, I mean, who would really want to buy a brand that will no longer be around come spring of 2010? For more details, head on over to MSNBC.
(Image source: GM)
GM to offer test drives at the North American International Auto Show!
General Motors has some extra room this year at the Detroit Auto Show since Saturn, Pontiac and Saab will not be there, so it has decided to do something innovative. The General will offer test drives at the show for the nearly 1 million people who will come through the show this January. With sales down in 2009, automakers are trying to figure out anything they can do to boost sales. This will give potential customers the opportunity to try out one of the many new cars from GM and then talk to sales people on the show floor! For more details, head on over to the Detroit News.
(Image source: GM)
The end of the road (last pun I promise) is finally here for Pontiac. The last G6 sedan has rolled off the assembly line, the final Vibe has been shipped, the G8 sedan was stopped months back, and the Solstice plant will be making cars for Fisker. Pontiac is no more. This is a sensitive subject for me, as Pontiac was finally starting to build some nice vehicles. For more on the downfall of the once great Pontiac brand, head on over to MSNBC.
(Image source: GM)
Get yer Pontiac while supplies last!!! 3600 or less vehicles left on dealer lots!
It was a sad day for many when General Motors announced that they would be closing the doors on the Pontiac brand at the end of 2009. The brand has been around since 1926 and had finally started to produce cars that were actually fun and exciting to drive (Solstice and G8 GXP editions) yet the struggling parent decided it was not worth carrying the brand any longer. If you act now, you can still grab a great deal on one of the remaining 3600 or so Pontiacs still on dealer lots. Don’t worry about service, GM is near the best in quality, and they will still retain their 5 year, 100,000 mile warranty (which is more than Toyota or Honda) and can be serviced at any GM dealer. For more details, head on over to Autoblog.
(Image source: GM)
GM advises dealers to prepare for the new small cars…
General Motors held a conference in Novi last Friday for about 430 of its dealers to explain to them the importance of the new small cars being launched over the next two years. Cars such as the Chevy Cruze and Volt are just two of the new vehicles expected from GM in the next few years. The dealers were also prepped on how the General plans to deal with the 3 million customers who will lose a model, dealer or brand by the end of the year due to the death of Pontiac, and sale of Saab, Hummer and Saturn. For more details, head on over to The Detroit Free Press.
(Image source: GM)
GM to sell Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and GMC models on eBay???
In a deal that is sure to be the first of its kind, General Motors has teamed up with eBay Motors to sell some of its new cars online. The program is being run through 225 of GM’s 250 California dealerships before possibly being rolled out nationwide. Some vehicles up for sale feature a bottom-line “buy it now” price, while others will follow the traditional eBay auction type sale.
For more details, head on over to GM’s Fastlane, or the Detroit Free Press or heck even Autoblog.
General Motor’s Delaware assembly plant, home of the Kappa based roadsters, closed yesterday. It really is a sad end to what was a great product. Sure, it had some quirks, but the vehicles were moved from concept to production in a very short amount of time. It just goes to show you, the general public is full of morons. Feedback from the public at auto shows was the reason the cars were given the green light and then no one decided to follow through and buy one. People say the American companies don’t make cars people want…well here are two reasons why.
U.S. Judge Robert Gerbe has given General Motors the go-ahead to sell off its best assets to a newly formed company, referred to as “New GM.” This “New GM” will consist of the plants that were not slated to be closed, as well as the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands.
The rest will be left in “Old GM” and will consist of shuttered plants, Pontiac and all of its debt and liabilities.
For the full story, head on over to the Detroit Free Press.
