Description:  Pontiac, the brand that invented the muscle car under its flamboyant engineer John Z. DeLorean, helped Burt Reynolds elude Sheriff Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit” and taught baby boomers to salivate over horsepower, but produced mostly forgettable cars for their children, will endure a lonely death on Sunday after about 40 million in sales.

Source: NYTimes.com
 
Date: 10/29/2010

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/business/30pontiac.html?ref=business

Questions for discussion:

• Do you think closing down the Pontiac brand was a good move by GM?
• Why do you think management took that decision?
• Would they have benefited more by selling off the brand to another firm?
• What other car brands are likely to face tough economic times as the cost of fuel rises?