GM TO MERGE TWO DIVISIONS
By Adnews Staff
General Motors of Detroit is merging its Pontiac and GMC divisions. The car maker will combine the staff of the two divisions as well as dealer networks. They will be merged into a single marketing unit headed by Roy Roberts, currently general manager of the GMC truck division. The re-organized division will sell GMC sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, and Pontiac cars such as the Firefly, Sunbird and Grand Am. The products are designed for young, middle income buyers. In Canada GM officials couldn't comment on the move yesterday because they hadn't received official word from the U.S., assistant advertising manager Russ Seton told Adnews. He did say that it will likely have minimal impact on Canada because the company is run differently here. Pontiac, Buick and GMC dealerships are already aligned, as are Chevrolet, Geo and Oldsmobile. Advertising for GM in Canada is done by MacLaren McCann of Toronto. Merging the Pontiac and GMC units is the easiest step for GM to take in consolidating its divisions because they have the least overlap. About two-thirds of its U.S. Pontiac and GMC dealers already sell vehicles from both divisions.