Wall St Jrl on-line 6-23-09 GM end Pontiac Production in AUgust

[jake75]

June 23, 2009, 11:06 amG.M. to End Pontiac Vibe Production in AugustBy Jerry GarrettGeneral Motors can’t shut Pontiac down fast enough.Two weeks ago, G.M. said that Pontiac would sell only two 2010 model-year cars, the Vibe and the G6, though the G6 would be sold only to fleet customers.Pontiac had planned to continue building the Vibe through next year. But now G.M. has confirmed that production of the Vibe will cease this August. Sales of the compact wagon are down 35 percent through May.The Pontiac Vibe is produced in Fremont, Calif., at New United Motor Manufacturing (known as Nummi), G.M.’s joint venture with Toyota, which produces an almost identical car, the Matrix.No plans have been announced for a replacement G.M. model. And it is unclear whether the joint venture will survive G.M.’s bankruptcy restructuring. Nummi will continue to produce the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Corolla, Lance Tomasu, a plant spokesman, told Bloomberg. The factory will focus on building high-quality vehicles and work on lowering its costs while G.M. and Toyota discuss Nummi’s future direction. Production of the Solstice sports car is also due to wind down this summer at a Delaware plant that G.M. marked for death. Also, production of the G6 will end in September, according to The Detroit News.

[psiu]

Nice looking, versatile, fuell efficient car? SHUT IT DOWN WE DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT AROUND HERE!Sometimes...I feel like

[bodhi_tree777]

I can't believe that they're chopping one of their most reliable, efficient vehicles with no plans for anything else to fill that gap in their line-up. Awesome, way to go guys.

[Neouka]

All the more reason my next car will likely be a German diesel. By the looks of things there's some good, affordable ones on the horizon.

[bodhi_tree777]

Quote, originally posted by Neouka »All the more reason my next car will likely be a German diesel. By the looks of things there's some good, affordable ones on the horizon.VW? I hear the new Polo is nice.I think my next car will be German as well, but probably from the late 60's or early 70's

[Chango]

Not too surprising. Nobody in this country wants a vehicle with the carrying capacity of an SUV and the gas mileage of a compact car. That's just silly.

[Old Tele man]

1) the average carbuying populus doesn't know that the VIBE and MATRIX are sisters just wearing different dresses.2) in current economy, most people are shying away from "orphaned" cars for fear of: (a) loss of dealership support/service (and warranty--do you honestly believe Uncle Sam is better than Mr. Goodwrench?) (b) huge depreciation of car value (unless you PLAN on keeping it for a long time), and, (c) the BIG "wait-n-see" attitude.