GM says goodbye to Pontiac brand

The demise of Pontiac is sad but necessary if General Motors is to survive, say some of those who build and sell the models.

“If we have to give up a brand for the health of the patient, that’s what we’ll have to do,” said Dave Sweeney, co-owner of Sweeney Buick-Pontiac GMC in Boardman.

Dave Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714 in Lordstown, said GM has to scale back its number of brands in order to transform itself into a profitable company.

Local officials commented today after GM’s announced that it plans to kill the Pontiac brand by next year and offer the government and UAW large amounts of company stock in exchange for the money owed to both.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com