Dec. 31, 2009...which autobrands don't make it?
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Dec. 31, 2009...which autobrands don't make it?
In the coming year...
• I think Saab and Hummer will be sold. I'm not sure if Saab will still be a US brand.
• Saturn will get the axe
• Mercury will get the axe
• Isuzu .... wait are they still around?
• I also will go out on a limb and say they Mitsubishi and Suzuki announce they will stop selling cars in the USA..that or the merge with another brand.
• I think Saab and Hummer will be sold. I'm not sure if Saab will still be a US brand.
• Saturn will get the axe
• Mercury will get the axe
• Isuzu .... wait are they still around?
• I also will go out on a limb and say they Mitsubishi and Suzuki announce they will stop selling cars in the USA..that or the merge with another brand.
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This was announced for Isuzu almost a year ago:
http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/4660...a-in-2009.html
Isuzu Motors Ltd. has decided to stop distributing new passenger vehicles in North America starting Jan. 31, 2009.
The Japanese company blamed the move on General Motors Corp. ceasing production for Isuzu of the Ascender sport utility vehicle and i-290 and i-370 pickup trucks.
"It has always been our intention to remain in the U.S. market," Terry Maloney, Isuzu president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. "However, we were unable to secure any commercially viable replacements for these vehicles."
Isuzu spokesman Chip Letzgus would give no more details about the decision Wednesday, saying the company was still talking to dealers and employees. He said Isuzu will likely release further details later this week.
Isuzu sold only 7,098 vehicles in the U.S. in 2007, down nearly 18 percent from the previous year, according to Autodata Corp.
The company said in a statement that it will back its products and dealers for years to come, honoring all product warranties and roadside assistance programs.
Isuzu will offer all current U.S. vehicle dealers the chance to stay on as service-only dealers, the company said.
"Isuzu will discontinue the sales of vehicles only. Our parts and service operation will remain fully functional," Maloney's statement said. "We expect the vast majority of our dealers will continue as service-only dealers."
GM makes the Ascender at its plant in Moraine, Ohio, near Dayton, and the pickups are manufactured at a factory in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Japanese company blamed the move on General Motors Corp. ceasing production for Isuzu of the Ascender sport utility vehicle and i-290 and i-370 pickup trucks.
"It has always been our intention to remain in the U.S. market," Terry Maloney, Isuzu president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. "However, we were unable to secure any commercially viable replacements for these vehicles."
Isuzu spokesman Chip Letzgus would give no more details about the decision Wednesday, saying the company was still talking to dealers and employees. He said Isuzu will likely release further details later this week.
Isuzu sold only 7,098 vehicles in the U.S. in 2007, down nearly 18 percent from the previous year, according to Autodata Corp.
The company said in a statement that it will back its products and dealers for years to come, honoring all product warranties and roadside assistance programs.
Isuzu will offer all current U.S. vehicle dealers the chance to stay on as service-only dealers, the company said.
"Isuzu will discontinue the sales of vehicles only. Our parts and service operation will remain fully functional," Maloney's statement said. "We expect the vast majority of our dealers will continue as service-only dealers."
GM makes the Ascender at its plant in Moraine, Ohio, near Dayton, and the pickups are manufactured at a factory in Shreveport, Louisiana.
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From: Pewee Valley, KY
In the coming year...
• I think Saab and Hummer will be sold. I'm not sure if Saab will still be a US brand.
• Saturn will get the axe
• Mercury will get the axe
• Isuzu .... wait are they still around?
• I also will go out on a limb and say they Mitsubishi and Suzuki announce they will stop selling cars in the USA..that or the merge with another brand.
• I think Saab and Hummer will be sold. I'm not sure if Saab will still be a US brand.
• Saturn will get the axe
• Mercury will get the axe
• Isuzu .... wait are they still around?
• I also will go out on a limb and say they Mitsubishi and Suzuki announce they will stop selling cars in the USA..that or the merge with another brand.
Saturn dealers will likely be offered something else and then product starved for a decade or so before they are axed (like Ford is doing to Mercury).
Isuzu is gone.
Suzuki is getting a Frontier rebadge (which Dodge should do with the Dakota) and the SX4 is doing well so they will be around a few years longer, but with less Daewoo rebadges.
Mitsu should pair up with someone and just sell the Evo through them and shutter the rest of the lineup.
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Mercury is going to be around for a couple more years, only because Ford doesn't have the dealership situation sorted yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was gone by 2012 .. or down to a model or two.
Saab I think is going to stick around. Even if they are sold off, their American presence is an asset.
Saab I think is going to stick around. Even if they are sold off, their American presence is an asset.
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I don't think that any brands will go away during 2009. The federal government won't allow any of the automakers to go out of business, and I don't think GM has the guts yet to get rid of Saturn, Saab, or Hummer. 5 years from now is a different story.
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From: The Golden State
I think Sweden will step in and try & save Saab, though.
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From: BFE, Ohio
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Ford has said it is committed to Mercury and if it does indeed invest in the division, why not try to build it into something successful and expand share? Small cars are where it's at right now and Mercury has a lot of potential. (As does EVERY old line Detroit division) If Ford doesn't realize that, they're no smarter than GM IMO.
As for 2009... I think most of the drama will come from Japan (surprisingly enough) All of the european companies are secure. The domestics just inked their lifeline. But the smaller asian companies are starting to have turmoil and haven't got many options.
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Ford has said it is committed to Mercury and if it does indeed invest in the division, why not try to build it into something successful and expand share? Small cars are where it's at right now and Mercury has a lot of potential. (As does EVERY old line Detroit division) If Ford doesn't realize that, they're no smarter than GM IMO.
As for 2009... I think most of the drama will come from Japan (surprisingly enough) All of the european companies are secure. The domestics just inked their lifeline. But the smaller asian companies are starting to have turmoil and haven't got many options.
As for 2009... I think most of the drama will come from Japan (surprisingly enough) All of the european companies are secure. The domestics just inked their lifeline. But the smaller asian companies are starting to have turmoil and haven't got many options.
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From: Albany, NY
Well I got one, Isuzu is done this quarter http://www.leftlanenews.com/end-of-t...his-month.html