Who was Pontiac owned by?
Pontiac was an American automobile brand that was owned and operated by General Motors (GM) from 1926 to 2010. Pontiac was known for producing a wide range of vehicles, from sporty muscle cars to practical family sedans, and played a significant role in the automotive industry for over eight decades.
The Origins of Pontiac
Pontiac was founded in 1926 as a division of GM, named after the famous Native American leader Chief Pontiac. The brand was initially created to serve as a mid-priced offering between GM's more affordable Chevrolet and its more luxurious Oldsmobile and Buick brands.
Pontiac's Heyday: The Muscle Car Era
Pontiac's most iconic and successful period was during the muscle car era of the 1960s and 1970s. The brand's sporty and performance-oriented models, such as the Pontiac GTO, Firebird, and Trans Am, became synonymous with American automotive culture and the thrill of high-powered driving.
Pontiac's Decline and Closure
Despite its popularity and success, Pontiac faced challenges in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including declining sales, changing consumer preferences, and the broader economic challenges facing the automotive industry. In 2009, during the Great Recession, GM announced that it would be phasing out the Pontiac brand as part of its restructuring efforts. The last Pontiac-badged vehicle, a G6 sedan, rolled off the assembly line in 2010, marking the end of the Pontiac brand after 84 years of operation.
Pontiac's Legacy
While Pontiac is no longer in production, the brand's legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of automotive enthusiasts. Pontiac's iconic models, such as the GTO, Firebird, and Trans Am, continue to be highly sought after by collectors and car enthusiasts, and the brand's influence can still be felt in the automotive industry today.p>
Who is the parent company of Pontiac?
General Motors, their parent company, decided to focus on their main four: Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. Basically, they were like "Sorry Saturn, you're out!" but it wasn't personal. Here's the thing: Saturn, along with Pontiac, Hummer, and Saab (RIP Oldsmobile, gone in 2004) just weren't bringing in the big bucks.
Are LeMans and GTO the same?
Shortly after the start of the 1964 model year, the LeMans became available with a new performance package designated as the GTO, or 'Gran Turismo Omologato.
What does GT stand for?
Grand tourerGrand tourer / Full name
The concept of the GT car emerged from Europe in the mid-1900s, with the goal of being both a high-performance automobile and a long-distance driver. So GT — meaning grand tourer or gran tourer — makes sense.
What was Pontiac's last car?
G6
The last Pontiac, a white 2010 model year G6 4-door sedan, was built at the Orion Township Assembly Line in January 2010. Pontiac was one of three brands General Motors eliminated in 2010; the other two being Hummer and Saturn.
What killed Pontiac?
Facing financial problems in the late 2000s and a need to restructure, as a prequisite for a $53 billion government bailout, GM agreed to discontinue the Pontiac brand; the final Pontiac, a white G6, was assembled on January 4, 2010.
Why did GM discontinue 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.
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.
Does China own 49 of GM?
SAIC General Motors Sales Co., Ltd., a national sales company. GM China has a 49 percent stake and SAIC a 51 percent stake.
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.
Who owns General Motors Corporation?
In the past, the U.S. government was a majority shareholder in the company (after the 2008 bailouts). However, in 2010 GM broke free from the government's yoke and was reborn in its current incarnation. Today, the top three individual GM shareholders are Mary Barra, Mark Reuss and Dan Ammann.
