Pontiac G8 not yet dead – GM boss

By David Twomey | June 09th, 2009

Just when we thought we’d heard the final nail being hammered into the Pontiac G8 coffin by General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson along comes his product chief and throws another possible lifeline to the US version of the Holden Commodore.

Speaking in an interview with US automotive journal Automotive News, General Motors’ vice chairman of global product planning, Tom Stephens, has said the Pontiac G8 sedan might survive under another GM brand.

Mr Stephens stepped into former GM product boss Bob Lutz’s rather oversized shoes and now has the task of whipping the company’s somewhat reduced inventory of brands into shape.

As they are saying the US, Pontiac is toast at the end of the 2010 model year, when it will be closed down, or possibly sold off.

While some Australian media have been putting forward the idea of the US version of the Commodore being badged as a Chevrolet and sold to police forces, Mr Stephens doesn’t seem to strong on that idea.

“I know there’s still discussions on it,” said Mr Stephens. “But Chevrolet already has several sedans. How many sedans do you need to cover the waterfront?”

As Automotive News put it, “The G8, engineered and assembled by GM subsidiary Holden in Australia, has been a bright spot for Pontiac.

“With little advertising support, the sporty, rear-drive sedan, which starts at US$29,000, has sold well. Some versions have the same V-8 engine as the Chevrolet Corvette.”

Automotive News says some enthusiasts are lobbying GM to turn the G8 into a Chevrolet Impala SS. The current front-drive Impala SS is being phased out at the end of the 2009 model year.

The reports also suggest the G8 also could morph into a performance sedan for Buick, one of the GM brands that will survive, which has not had a rear-drive performance car since the mid-1980s.

Its also been reported that GM Holden in Australia has put a business case to Cadillac in the US for rear-drive models based on short- and long-wheelbase versions of the VE Commodore.

NRD80Y

Fantastic news for Holden and congrats to GM US for not just throwing away probably one of their best global assets. No matter what brand the G8 lands, let’s just hope GM throw some better advertising dollars behind it this time.
http://www.littlepixiegifts.com.au Gift-Ed

I certainly hope it rises again, I don’t care which brand.
B-Man

This contradicts other stories I’ve read today
Frontman

Gee if he was in politics they would be asking for his resignation….. I wonder what answer we will get tomorrow?? Perhaps, if they thought the audience would be receptive to a GM badged Ford Fusion they would say that was on the cards :p
F6

Yeah sure …….i am positive that with all the billions of US taxpayers money already wasted on GM that people would not be too happy if GM imported a car from australia when their workers have already suffered so much. Bad idea if they want to improve their standing with the US car buying public. It’s only a Commodore anyway for gods sake!!!!
Shane

Agreed with F6, I think it would go against Obama’s goal of creating jobs if GM continue importing a vehicle from Australia. It would be more beneficial for GM to produce the G8 in the USA to keep employment and save $$$. GM can produce the G8 in the USA, they certainly have the capabilities

It does not make sense importing the G8.
DesignEngr

I could see it continue to be imported on a short term if they chose it as a readymade replacement for example the Impala SS. But IF they went down that path, it would be swapped to US production as soon as cash could be allocated for retooling. Either way it would not be a viable long term thing, and Holden may well be better off not having to deal with the problems.
We’re told that there are other export deals coming, although they may be more engines rather than complete cars.
harmful81

Just throwing up an idea, how about transporting the operations from australia to the US and then us importing the US made G8 into australia as the Commodore. Probably makes no financial sense though.
Andrew M

One minute they have to cull models because too many was what got them into trouble in the first place, now they are talking of double dipping in with a new brand/plate?????
Are they coming or going.

I agree it would be a shame for them to lose a decent vehicle like this in the US, but the only real viable way I see it operating is if they manufacture it in the US and use it as a replacement for an existing platform.

That way US jobs are preserved, Double up platforms arent happening again, and they can replace one of the currently inferior GM plates with the G8
Shak

(spam word PONTIAC) Wait most people on this post seem to want jobs taken out of Aussie hands and given to those fat Yanks. What’s wrong with you people. ALTHOUGH Holden may not be a top notch Brand, it deserves to stay on as Australia’s only true brand.
Andrew M

Shak,
I agree that Holden deserve to stay on, but I’m a little puzzled as to why you called it Australias only true brand…..
Wheelnut

If GM do decide to continue selling the VE in the USA it will still keep some americans in a job.. not in the factory but in the dealerships because as the article says Buick hasn’t had a decent RWD performance car in its line up since the mid 80s.. so its just what Buick needs

The only problem being is that the reason they offered the VE as a Pontiac was to try and improve Pontiacs image. Unfortunately though there wasn’t any other cars of equal “quality” in the Pontiac line up to support it – and the same applies to Buick.

If they are serious about keeping the VE they should offer it as the new Chevy Impala – which is what a number of US based car magazines websites and enthusiasts would like to see it sold as

Because unlike a number of ‘Aussies” on this site they love the VE and see it as a real performance sedan particularly in terms of bang for your buck.. which it is.
They would also like to see the Ute and the Sportwagon over there
Wheelnut

The main reason you import a car is either because:
a) its cheaper to do so or
b) you don’t have the facilities etc to build the car in your own country [which then relates back to a]

At the moment GM doesn’t have the facilities in the USA or the tooling to build the VE and I they’re unlikely to fork out the dosh required to remove the current robots from one of their under performing facilities and install the same robots etc that build the VE at the Holden Factory

So until their financial situation improves and/or their restructuring process is complete they will most lkely continue to import the VE from Holden in Australia
Wheelnut

As for importing cars.. I still don’t understand why Holden is building another version of the Cruze which is already being built in 4 other countries from which its cheaper for them to import from
Instead of building the Opel Insignia which is only being built in more expensive Germany – They can do it as GM still own the rights to “intellectual property” such as the design and the platform of the Insignia which was developed under GM ownership

If Holden were to build the Insignia they could help meet demand from overseas whereas given the Cruze is built in 4 other countries I doubt supply will ever be a problem
BK

Cant GM make up there mind with the G8. Seems to be more stupid publicity stunts by GM. Hurry up and die cause we dont need this junk.
Andrew M

Wheelnut,
cant understand why they will build the Cruze here instead of insignia???

Well they need a big volume seller.
The medium segment isnt really fairing any better than the large segment.
Small cars are where the masses are.
Holden and the whole GM empire needs to build mass sellers.
Cruze will sell plenty more than the Insignia.

IMO Cruze = right choice
Shane

Shak,

That is not the case, I would prefer to boost Aussie jobs at the expense of any other nation, but every other nation has that same view. The US will do what they can to boost their economy and create jobs. An example of this would be for GM to build the Commodore in the USA and export to Australia (I am not saying this is the case). It would create jobs in the USA and the car could be sold for less in the USA. That’s two big reasons to why GM would build a RWD sedan in the USA.
Andrew M

Shane,
Im calling for them to build it in the US AND still here in OZ.
Australias market is big enough to still support commodore manufacturing, but simply sharing the development costs with the US would be a great help to the balance sheet.

Building it in the US wouldnt mean they have to cut the production line here for it in return
Frenchie

I think they will sell the G8 badged as Buick. The new G8 will be different, it will be based more like the Calais.
Holden will also export the sportswagon aswell under the Buick banner.
If everything goes to plan I think GM will be selling them February/March 2010 (MY10).

Also they could revitilise the Ute and sell that under the GMC banner. This would satisfiy their CAFE laws. The vehicle was going to be exported but stop at the last minute.

The other rumour I heard is that Holden is to export the WM Caprice as a Caddy.
Frosty

Andrew M, dou you not really know the History of the Holden nameplate prior to it being put in as part of the G.M empire? You will find that the Holden nameplate is Australian unlike Ford or Toyota who are not even Australian names. Do some reading up on the Brand Holden and you will find its not a American name that G.M decided to take to Australia. So basically in Name Holden is the Only Australian named one so its right for it to be called Australia’s own. The Commodore export program I believe will continue until the time is right for the U.S to retool for the Commodore’s platform. This will now be a few years away so a few years of U.S exports is better than none and along with exports to Europe which will come, will secure the Commodore for its new generation due sometime around 2012.
B-Man

So the name is Australian. So what? The company is American, all holden vehicles except commodore and caprice are imported, and the V8′s for those vehicles are imported from mexico. That does not an Australian company make.
Frontman

Ferchrissakes people, who gives a toss if they are owned by Australians or not!! They employ Australians directly and indirectly. IF you were only going to by Australian stuff if it came from Australian owned companies then everything you buy would come from overseas…
B-Man

I know what you are trying to say Frontman but that post made absolutly no sense.
I am not ‘anti-holden,’ but people with blind faith in a brand that they perceve as ‘Australian’ are mistaken.
Either way, if Holden can find a way to continue export of the commodore than it can only be a good thing for local industry.
Will

Australian designed cars look sooo ugly, eek, and they don’t even have a diesel, let alone one in their performance line up. Got the Klutz alzheimers bug.

Anyway, to the subject at hand…this brand is being bolstered for a fire sale, one of the pitches that it potentially has access to a lucrative market.

Doh.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Will seems you know nothing about Australian cars going on that comment.

Ford have a diesel its testing currently for its models and have you heard of a little in-line 6 tucked in the engine bay of the F6….. Lacks performance does it ?
Sam-R

IMO the stronger US$ compared to our AUS$ makes it viable for GM to import the G8 in the short term. If sales skyrocket due to the quality and performance the G8 has over the lame US built cars then I see production start in the US because I can’t see the AUS Holden factory keeping up with the demand.
Yianni

I wouldn’t look in to currencies too much as they’re changing day by day.

I’m sure GM aren’t really worried about the currency exchange when they looked in to getting the G8 since our dollar was extremely strong at the time yet they still went ahead with the G8.

The AUD is already up above .80 USD and is tipped to rise over .90 USD in 12 months. This then opens the road for parity once things stabilise and economies start to boom after the crisis.

If they want the car get it regardless.
Andrew M

Frosty,
I am aware of Holdens heritage.

The name has nothing to do with it.
In a nut shell GM bought the name and started producing their existing models here.
Holden is Really no more Australian than Ford.
Both Ford and Holden have unique models to Australia that ensure many jobs in Australia, and design and develop their models in Australia for Australians.
If you want to get technical, Ford have actually been doing that for much longer than Holden.
Mumble Duck

Andrew M, Ford did built cars before Holden, from the year 1925 with the Model T in Geelong. But, Holden were doing plenty of other things in Australia way before Ford did as a company.
DesignEngr

Duck, but that was the Australian Holden, before GM bought the whole thing, turning it into the US owned GM-H and then started to make cars.
Jake the kangaroo

Greetings from Jake the kangaroo.

Do you have a pet peeve, I Do, Look – Just where to start, okay, The name Holden is the ONLY thing about the Australian car builder that is part of this country.
Did you notice I said builder, Not manufacturer, Holden before GM built, horse drawn stuff, wagons etc.
The australian Car industry today is as the 1920s.
All the Brands and cars are imports to the place, Not anything to do with a people or indentity
Australian.
Holden still continue thier tradition of building other peoples cars – There has never been a Australian manufactured car.
Britian was Rolls Royce as France or America etc were known for manufacturing transport etc, Proudly Do I
call myself Australian – But – Australian History and Belief is – perticular.
GM bodies have been exported world wide but in each country called different brand names to made them local
Vauxhall seaches will come up with the same bodies and shell in other overseas GM markets – Spin mades a local
product.
This is today as it was yesterday,if you can say- Holden, You might as well say Vauxhall- Monaro ‘ HQ or
Victor this is also Ford, Australia’s XD Britian’s Granada etc.

This comes with Chips, Sorry, Just true.