GM CEO nixes reborn G8?

Mixed in among the shrapnel of bad tidings surrounding the establishment of 'the new GM' was this little shard: Holden's Commodore has reportedly been denied a return engagement in the US.

The news was reported by website Jalopnik.com, based on a response from the new GM CEO (or should that be the new CEO of the new GM?) during a web chat. According to Jalopnik, Fritz Henderson's words to describe the prospects of the Pontiac G8 remarketed with Chevy badging for the American market were "no chance".

American correspondents to the site have reacted badly to the news. Some had anticipated that the Commodore would be reborn in Chevy guise and continue to sell in North America. Since the Commodore is also built in left-hand drive form and sold with the appropriate hang-ons and badging as the Chevrolet Lumina in the Middle East, the 'federalised' G8 could be readily converted to a Chevrolet for American consumption -- and at zero development cost.

Leading up to the announcement that the Pontiac division would be closed and the subsequent news that GM had filed for protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy legislation, the G8 had been gaining positive reviews from motoring writers in North America. The high-powered G8 GXP, in particular, had earned plaudits for its dynamics and was picking up sales from those who had wanted their Pontiac with a manual transmission all along.

Even prior to Henderson's alleged statement yesterday, G8 owners in America had contacted the Carsales Network to express their dismay at the loss of the Pontiac division and the G8 with it.

"I own an American Pontiac G8, best car I ever had," said Curtis Leath. "All the recent news is unfortunate."

"I live in the US and am sad to see Pontiac go," says Angie Rogers, who came to Australia for her honeymoon. "I own the 2008 G8 in orange, and I love it."

On this side of the Pacific, Holden MD Mark Reuss told the press earlier this week (more here) that the local manufacturer was looking for other export prospects. As reported by Jalopnik, it now seems that the Commodore for the North American market won't be one of those prospects.

National Media Manager for Holden, Scott Whiffin, hosed down speculation today.

"Where we stand right now; what we've said is that we've got a great car," he told the Carsales Network. "We're looking at all opportunities in terms of potential for export markets. We haven't gone any further than that.

"It's a pretty universal view that [the G8] is a super car... having a great product, you're halfway there. Finding the market is what we're trying to do now."

Whiffin, describing the article as "one pebble on the beach", counselled against drawing conclusions from the Jalopnik report -- based on its brevity and scant information.

The Jalopnik article and readers' responses can be read here.

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