Pontiac’s death to cost Holden $729 million a year

Posted: Apr 28, 2009
 Email 12 Comments

By now, all of you should know that GM has finalized phasing out the Pontiac brand by the end of 2010 and along with it, the Pontiac G8 sedan which is produced by GM’s Australian unit – Holden. Reports say that Holden, which also makes the Vauxhall VXR8, is going to lose up to $729 million a year from the death of Pontiac.

Holden has reportedly spent millions on converting its factory to build left-hand models and had ambitions to export 30,000 units of the G8 annually to the United States. Holden had hoped to export 70,000 VE Commodores a year, which is the basis for the Vauxhall VXR8 and G8.

The Australian unit is now fearing job cuts and is preparing cost cutting method due to the death of Pontiac.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: AutoCar


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  • kabluey

    Make it a Chevy or a really rad Buick!

  • neil

    This is the real reason Pontiac had to die, it had the least effect on American workers

  • GMfan87

    uhh…thats just G8 production…21,000 americans will lose jobs in this process, granted not all from pontiac, but most

  • neil

    And it probably will be more before they are done!

    but it would have been more now if they take out Buick for instance.
    The G6 is made at Lordstown on the Epsilon Platform (originally Opel designed). And Lordstown is getting the Cruze so job losses there will be minimized.

    Pontiac casues the least white-collar losses within GM – now whether that is a good thing as it is the management of GM that has messed the company up as much as anyone.

  • Matt

    There is no reason Pontiacs worthwile plates could not have been salvaged. My experience with Kappa cars is that the finish product wasnt quite finished, and if GM could invest just enough to make a Kappa V1.2, im sure they'd have a real contender on hand. The G8, well, it would make a hell of a chevelle. Can some photo shop some pinstripes on one? I'd love to see what it would looke like.

    Agreed, they could not cut Buick (too many jobs, to important in the east), but they should really rework the buick lineup. Even 5 years ago i used to be able to tell the family of Buick sedans apart, now they all seem the same. Maybe they are the same; I cant tell. its like there is badge engineering going on within one badge.

    GM was on a role until the MAN got involved. I'd almost rather see them go in a blaze of glory, than die in hospital bed after a prolonged and painful death.

  • GMfan87

    ah, i see what you're saying now

  • kabluey

    Make it a Chevy or a really rad Buick!

  • neil

    This is the real reason Pontiac had to die, it had the least effect on American workers

  • GMfan87

    uhh…thats just G8 production…21,000 americans will lose jobs in this process, granted not all from pontiac, but most

  • neil

    And it probably will be more before they are done!

    but it would have been more now if they take out Buick for instance.
    The G6 is made at Lordstown on the Epsilon Platform (originally Opel designed). And Lordstown is getting the Cruze so job losses there will be minimized.

    Pontiac casues the least white-collar losses within GM – now whether that is a good thing as it is the management of GM that has messed the company up as much as anyone.

  • Matt

    There is no reason Pontiacs worthwile plates could not have been salvaged. My experience with Kappa cars is that the finish product wasnt quite finished, and if GM could invest just enough to make a Kappa V1.2, im sure they'd have a real contender on hand. The G8, well, it would make a hell of a chevelle. Can some photo shop some pinstripes on one? I'd love to see what it would looke like.

    Agreed, they could not cut Buick (too many jobs, to important in the east), but they should really rework the buick lineup. Even 5 years ago i used to be able to tell the family of Buick sedans apart, now they all seem the same. Maybe they are the same; I cant tell. its like there is badge engineering going on within one badge.

    GM was on a role until the MAN got involved. I'd almost rather see them go in a blaze of glory, than die in hospital bed after a prolonged and painful death.

  • GMfan87

    ah, i see what you're saying now