Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Officially Official: GM kills Pontiac *UPDATED with LIVE webcast embed*]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/27/officially-official-gm-kills-pontiac/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/27/officially-official-gm-kills-pontiac/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/27/officially-official-gm-kills-pontiac/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Rumors from late last week have come home to roost, and as part of its restructuring efforts, General Motors has just announced that Pontiac will be "phased out by the end of 2010." GM will continue to build its accelerated viability plan around four brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC.

As part of its latest announcement, GM also announced that it plans to have "the resolution" of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer by the end of 2009 "at the latest." In total, GM plans to end up with just 34 nameplates for 2010, as compared to 48 for 2008 - a reduction of some 29%. Further, as part of its viability plan tendered to President Obama's Auto Task Force, the automaker's revised viability plan projects that GM's total market share will dip to 18.4 to 18.9% - the plan is banking on a 19.5 percent share for this year.

A media conference call is scheduled for later this morning and we will have more details and analysis following that, but for now, the official press release after the jump.

*UPDATE: LIVE WEBCAST of GM press conference embedded after the jump... going on right now! (Concluded)

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Officially Official: GM kills Pontiac *UPDATED with LIVE webcast embed*

Officially Official: GM kills Pontiac *UPDATED with LIVE webcast embed* originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailoutbreakingG3G5G6G8general motorsGeneralMotorsGMPontiacSolsticeThe GeneralTheGeneralTorrentMon, 27 Apr 2009 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: GM to shed 1,600 white-collar jobs by May 1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/report-gm-to-shed-1-600-white-collar-jobs-by-may-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/report-gm-to-shed-1-600-white-collar-jobs-by-may-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/report-gm-to-shed-1-600-white-collar-jobs-by-may-1/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



According to General Motors spokesman Tom Wilkinson, the struggling automaker will shed 1,600 white-collar jobs by May 1 as part of its continuing restructuring efforts. The cuts, which are scheduled to begin this week, are part of a larger action to shed 3,400 white-collar jobs this year.

Details about what brands and/or aspects of GM's business will be most affected by the headcount reduction are not being disclosed at this time. According to the AFP news bureau, GM has thus far reduced its workforce globally by some 47,000 jobs (26,000 of which are outside of the U.S.), and it presently has about 200,000 employees.

[Source: AFP via Google | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

REPORT: GM to shed 1,600 white-collar jobs by May 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>General MotorsGeneralMotorsGMlayoffrestructuringThe GeneralTheGeneralTom WilkinsonTomWilkinsonwhite collarwhite-collarWhiteCollarMon, 20 Apr 2009 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Henderson says GM bankruptcy decision still in doubt; Hummer decision expected before month's end]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/henderson-says-gm-bankruptcy-decision-still-in-doubt-hummer-dec/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/henderson-says-gm-bankruptcy-decision-still-in-doubt-hummer-dec/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/henderson-says-gm-bankruptcy-decision-still-in-doubt-hummer-dec/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



We were on General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson's teleconference with reporters this morning, and while the proceedings were light on revelatory news (okay, there really wasn't any), some important things were clarified:

Namely, Henderson denied that the company has reached a decision on whether to pursue bankruptcy, and officials are still hard at work on a two-track strategy (one with, and one without), with the company's preference still being to keep matters out of the courts. When it comes time to make a decision (June 1), Henderson admitted that "The Treasury would be a key player in that decision," though he didn't rule out his company's own role as being part of the process.

Additionally, Henderson said that the company is still pursuing a "four-core brand strategy," meaning that it plans to keep Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC, with Pontiac still in the mix as a niche brand. Henderson called both GMC and Buick "very profitable," and added that some of the products that GM has in its pipeline that it is most excited about are slated to carry the Buick badge. When asked point blank as to the security of the two brands, however, he declined to guarantee survival of any particular marque in the company's portfolio.

Henderson all but confirmed that the company plans to keep the likewise "highly profitable A.C. Delco parts business, but he acknowledged that a decision looms for Hummer, with final bids from three purchasers expected by next week. The company expects to make a sale decision on the SUV brand by month's end.

In regards to Saab, the GM CEO reiterated that a number of parties are interested in the Swedish brand, and that their "books are open" to serious bidders. Unsurprisingly, Henderson also acknowledged that it is pursuing buyers for Saturn, but he denied that there was only one serious bidder in the mix.

On its European front, Henderson says that "well more than six" parties have expressed interest in Opel, which he characterized as financial and industry players. Henderson said GM expects work to get done within the next two-to-three weeks, and he acknowledged that Germany's cash-for-clunkers and the early success for the new Insignia have helped liquidity issues. As such, Opel can now evidently sustain itself through late in the second quarter, if not further.


[Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Henderson says GM bankruptcy decision still in doubt; Hummer decision expected before month's end originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptbankruptcydetroitfritz hendersonFritzHendersongeneral motorsGeneralMotorsGMobama administrationObamaAdministrationThe GeneralTheGeneraltreasury departmentTreasuryDepartmentFri, 17 Apr 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Snip-Snip: GM slashing $800M from marketing budget (yes, even Transformers)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/27/snip-snip-gm-slashing-800m-from-marketing-budget-yes-even-tr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/27/snip-snip-gm-slashing-800m-from-marketing-budget-yes-even-tr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/27/snip-snip-gm-slashing-800m-from-marketing-budget-yes-even-tr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Transformers cars from GM

When you're forced into a life-and-death situation like General Motors, a lot of tough calls have to be made - yet some are more obvious than others. In this case, The General has made it clear that it plans to slash its North American marketing spending - by some $800 million dollars.

That's an extra $200M on top of the $600M that already GM vowed it would cut by 2010 in a disclosure it made back in December. And it isn't just things like SuperBowl commercials, and print ads - vehicle incentives will also be impacted, something that will doubtlessly affect the already tough sledding that dealers are experiencing.

Another example: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Despite early efforts to tie Chevrolet to the Shia LaBeouf/Megan Fox Paramount sequel with efforts like the Corvette Centennial Concept and "Jolt" Volt unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show, trade publication Advertising Age is reporting that GM will not spend much money to co-promote the movie.

For the initial 2007 Transformers movie, GM is said to have spent "tens of millions" of dollars in advertising-related initiatives, but not only can the financially-strapped automaker not afford to do so, it realizes it may also not be a good idea in light of the taxpayer bailout. AdAge is quoting one insider as saying:
"You're not going to see any TV media that I know of. Even though you can make a case for it from a marketing standpoint, it's the kind of thing that might get you roundly criticized in light of today's climate. It's viewed as too risky, sort of like Citibank's deal with the Mets. GM can't afford to do that.
The message is clear: Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Jolt and Mudflap... you're on your own.

Gallery: Chicago 2009: GM Transformers cars LIVE


[Sources: Automotive News; Advertising Age]

Snip-Snip: GM slashing $800M from marketing budget (yes, even Transformers) originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingautobotBumblebeeCamarodecepticonsgeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMmarketingMegan FoxMeganFoxMudflapparamountParamount picturesParamountPicturesShia labeoufShiaLabeoufSideswipeThe GeneralTheGeneralFri, 27 Feb 2009 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: John Schneider's General Lee going for $2.3 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-john-schneider-sells-his-general-lee-for-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-john-schneider-sells-his-general-lee-for-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-john-schneider-sells-his-general-lee-for-o/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image for full gallery of John Schneider's original General Lee

While we might stop just short of calling it "The most famous model of the most famous car in the world!" as the seller does, we wholeheartedly agree that this is one of the most iconic cars in cinematic history. And when the seller happens to be one of the stars of the show that made the car famous, well, this is easily one of the most valuable star cars in recent memory. Bo Duke, aka John Schneider, (aka Jonathan Kent - Ed.) is auctioning off his personal "General Lee" Dodge Charger R/T. According to John, this particular car was one of the cars featured in the last REAL Dukes of Hazzard movie, "Dukes Go To Hollywood". The underside of the the hood is autographed by all of the surviving orginal cast members and crew from the TV show, as well. It was also the prototype for all of the General Lees used in the most recent Jessica Simpson Dukes of Hazzard movie.

Thanks for the tip, Matt!

[Source: eBay]

Gallery: General Lee Charger

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: John Schneider's General Lee going for $2.3 million

eBay Find of the Day: John Schneider's General Lee going for $2.3 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2007 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bo DukeBoDukeDodge ChargerDodgeChargerDukes of HazzardDukesOfHazzardGeneral LeeGeneralLeeJohn SchneiderJohnSchneiderThe GeneralTheGeneralWed, 02 May 2007 14:25:00 EST