In an effort to convince the US government that they can slim down and compete in the changing world market General Motors have finally ditched their famous muscle car the Pontiac, a car which has been watered down in recent years as fuel prices have killed large engine gas guzzlers in the states. In stating their intent to focus on Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac this could also mean bad news for Saab and the disastrous monstrosity and MTV Cribs favourite the Hummer. With Pontiac, however a car with a classic history is consigned to the scrap heap, perhaps to be joined by others whilst the world car market struggles to re-invent itself.
On the other side of the coin however, whilst most car plants worldwide are cutting capacity and slashing labour, Volkswagen are bucking the trend and are intent, it would appear, on world domination. It plans to triple sales in the US in the next 10 years, equal to more than 800,000 cars sold. With its continued share of the European market on an upward curve and the resources and model line up almost complete, VW certainly seem to have a strong case for emerging as the leading world car maker in the future years. Not only are they pouring millions in to green technology but are most importantly still making cars that people want to buy at a profitable price, something which cannot be said for many of its competitors at present.
If this proves to be correct, watch out for extended lead-times and model shortages in the UK as VW look to ramp up production from Mexico and Europe and in its newly built US plant to achieve its long term aims.
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