When did Chevy buy Pontiac?
General Motors (GM) acquired the Pontiac brand in 1926 when it purchased the Oakland Motor Car Company, which had been producing the Pontiac line of vehicles. Pontiac remained a GM brand until 2010 when the company decided to discontinue the Pontiac line as part of its restructuring efforts during the Great Recession.
The History of Pontiac and its Acquisition by Chevy
Pontiac was founded in 1926 as a division of the Oakland Motor Car Company. At the time, Oakland was struggling to compete with more popular brands like Chevrolet, so the company decided to create a new, more affordable line of cars under the Pontiac name.
In 1926, GM acquired the Oakland Motor Car Company and incorporated Pontiac as one of its brands. Pontiac quickly became a popular and successful line of vehicles, known for its stylish designs and powerful engines.
Pontiac remained a GM brand for over 80 years, during which time it developed a loyal following and became known for models like the Firebird, Trans Am, and Grand Prix. However, in the late 2000s, as GM struggled with the economic downturn, the company decided to discontinue the Pontiac brand as part of its restructuring efforts.
The last Pontiac-badged vehicles were produced in 2010, marking the end of the brand's long history as part of the GM lineup. While Pontiac is no longer in production, its legacy as a popular and iconic American car brand lives on.
What killed Pontiac?
This put Pontiac in a fatal position given that GM was experiencing severe financial problems ahead of its bankruptcy in 2009. Pontiac was selling rebadged Chevrolet vehicles often at a lower price than Chevrolet, thereby not only earning a loss for itself, but also undercutting the Chevrolet brand altogether.
What did GTO stand for on the Pontiac?
grand tourer homologated
The name, GTO was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO. The moniker is an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato ("grand tourer homologated"), designating being certified by the FIA for racing in the grand tourer class as a production car with at least a hundred units made.
Was Pontiac owned by Chevy?
Pontiac, or formally the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, was an American automobile brand owned, manufactured, and commercialized by General Motors. It was originally introduced as a companion make for GM's more expensive line of Oakland automobiles.
Why did Buick survive and not Pontiac?
While the demise of Pontiac was based on its lack of profit in the U.S. at the time, the bigger reason for it to receive the axe while Buick survived was Buick's prominence in China.
Did China buy Buick?
Buick entered the Chinese market in 1998 through a joint venture with SAIC Motor. The joint venture is called SAIC-GM Buick. Buick is one of the most popular car brands in China, and it has a wide range of vehicles in its lineup, including sedans, SUVs, and MPVs.
Why did GM drop Pontiac?
Amid the financial crisis, General Motors needed a government bailout. Congress agreed but required the company to restructure its business and cut costs. In the end, GM decided to eliminate several brands, including Pontiac. The last car to wear the arrowhead badge was a G6, which ended production in early 2010.
What does Mustang GTO stand for?
GTO: Meaning And Origins
Grand Turismo Omolgato in Italian (Grand Touring Homologated in English) refers to road-racing vehicles. In this case, the additional “O” is added to denote that the cars produced are not one-offs with limited production and public sales.
When did GM buy Buick?
William Durant formed General Motors in Flint, Michigan in 1908. One of his first moves that year was the purchase of Buick, another company that he had helped form. On October 1, 1908, the brand was acquired, and General Motors went on to purchase a number of other automakers.
Did Pontiac use Chevy engines?
Pontiac continued to manufacture its own engines, distinct from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, or Oldsmobile, until 1981. Pontiac engines were used in its U.S.-market cars; Canadian-built Pontiac automobiles generally used Chevrolet engines.
Why did GM discontinue Oldsmobile?
In spite of Oldsmobile's critical successes since the mid-1990s, a reported shortfall in sales and overall profitability prompted General Motors to announce in December 2000 its plans to shut down the Oldsmobile organization.
