All About Japan Autos

Daily Auto News

When GM announced a new, more aggressive restructuring plan yesterday, media attention focused on the auto giant’s decision to stop producing Pontiac cars at the end 2009. Overshadowed, but also present in the plan, were faster timetables for the end of the Saturn and Hummer brands.

Kicking Tires reports, “The company also said it would stop producing new Saturns after the 2009 model year and Hummers by the end of 2009. Previously, GM had said it would build Saturn through 2011. The 2009 model year is currently being sold; GM generally switches over to the new model year during the summer. This means no new Saturns – and likely no new Hummers – will roll off assembly lines after this summer.”

GM has been attempting to sell both brands without much success. Saturn dealers, however, are reportedly attempting to buy the rights to their brand name from GM and spin off a separate company that would sell cars from many different automakers.

The imminent closure of the brands may mean aggressive incentives to help sell the last models. Experts, however, caution consumers not to expect too much too soon. Jesse Toprak, senior industry analyst with Edmunds.com, told the Detroit News, “The best prices and deals on Pontiacs and other dying brands are going to be in the months to come, not right away.” Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds, adds that “buyers will find the best bargains if they’re willing to be flexible on color and amenities.”

The Free Press notes, however, that big bargains may be possible. When General Motors closed its Oldsmobile brand in 2004, “it had roughly two years to sell off inventory. By the end of that period, the final vehicles were selling for about half off.” With GM looking to end Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer in much shorter timeframes, Toprak says, “if they want to really get rid of those by the end of the year, they’ll have to get aggressive.”

If you’re in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals.