Pontiac Succeeds Despite GM Playing Favorites
Pontiac has become one of the General’s stronger performers.
By Gunnar Heinrich
SHOULD General Motors survive from… pick possible cause of impending doom:
- Chapter 11
- UAW
- The Obama Administration
- Act of God
it would then be wise for the good folks at GM to reconsider Pontiac’s future.
That the General intends to keep Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC as part of a focused core of four comes as no real surprise when you consider how company management lavishes those divisions with extra-special love and affection.
Such is the top brass’ favoritism that time and again the company’s resorted to taking R&D limelight away from other divisions (ex. Saab) to benefit the cherished ones (ex.Cadillac).
Meanwhile Pontiac which didn’t make the final four cut, has been treated more like the redheaded step child.
Yet for all of GM’s bad parenting, the present-day sales numbers tell an illuminating story.
Year to date sales in March for both of GM’s upper market divisions – Buick and Cadillac – have been dismal. Cadillac sold 8,209 units while Buick parted with 7,369 so far this year. That’s down from last year by 53% and 40%, respectively.
But, you say, it’s the economy!
Well, consider then the dreaded foreign competition.
In the same period, Lexus sold 14,239 L-Badged Toyotas, Mercedes-Benz parted with 15,602 tri-stars, and BMW – 17,520 roundels.
And those figures were down from last year by 43%, 25%, and 24%, respectively. This tells us that Cadillac and Buick sales weren’t all that strong to begin with.
Pontiac, on the other hand…
GM’s sporting division which has produced the most-excellent G8 GT (can I get an Amen?) was down 30% from last year with sales to date adding up to…drum roll please… 17,583 units.
Nice.
Pontiac sales have so far eclipsed all of GM’s luxury competitors and are still more than all of this year’s Buick and Cadillac sales combined. So much for playing favorites. In GM’s American family, only GMC and Chevy have sold more cars this year.
So, should GM survive, Detroit would do well to consider giving Pontiac another shot.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
Jim | Apr 2, 2009 | Reply
Among your causes you forgot the bond holders, but on second thought they consider themselves gods so that maybe covered.
Its going to be Chevy and Cadillac and the G8 is the next Impala.
Tom | Apr 2, 2009 | Reply
Without multiple brands kind of defeats the purpose of a “General Motors”