Motor Authority - blog Category: Vibe

General Motors has confirmed that it will dump its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) joint venture that it established with Toyota more than 25 years ago. Located in Fremont, California, the NUMMI plant was last responsible for versions of the Toyota Corolla and Tacoma, as well as the Pontiac Vibe.

But with GM’s decision to discontinue the Pontiac brand, the automaker decided to stop selling the Vibe. There was hope that GM would use the facility to produce another model but it appears that all chances have since been eroded.

Troy Clarke, GM’s North American chief said in a statement that GM... General Motors has confirmed that it will dump its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) joint venture that it established with Toyota more than 25 years ago. Located in Fremont, California, the NUMMI plant was last responsible for versions of the Toyota Corolla and Tacoma, as well as the Pontiac Vibe. But with GM’s decision to discontinue the Pontiac brand, the automaker decided to stop selling the Vibe. There was hope that GM would use the facility to produce another model but it appears that all chances have since been eroded. Troy Clarke, GM’s North American chief said in a statement that GM and Toyota could not reach an agreement on a future product “that made sense to all parties.” As a result, NUMMI would be considered part of the “Old GM” and sold off as the company works its way through bankruptcy. Clarke also said there were no future GM vehicles planned for the joint venture at this time. “We have enjoyed a very positive and beneficial partnership with Toyota for the past 25 years, and we remain open to future opportunities of mutual interest,” he said. The NUMMI facility currently employs more than 4,500 UAW workers and 890 salaried personnel. The plant produces about 250,000 cars and 170,000 trucks a year. Read More

Earlier this week news broke that General Motors would in fact be discontinuing the Pontiac Vibe, built alongside the Toyota Matrix at the California New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) the two carmakers share. Since then, speculation as to what sort of joint GM-Toyota project might emerge from the void has run wild.

Earlier reports, originating before the announcement of the Vibe's discontinuation, indicated that Toyota and GM were already in talks about a model to replace the Vibe. No further developments in those discussions have been made public, however.

Instead, pundits and analysts have turned to guessing games, suggesting... Earlier this week news broke that General Motors would in fact be discontinuing the Pontiac Vibe, built alongside the Toyota Matrix at the California New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) the two carmakers share. Since then, speculation as to what sort of joint GM-Toyota project might emerge from the void has run wild. Earlier reports, originating before the announcement of the Vibe's discontinuation, indicated that Toyota and GM were already in talks about a model to replace the Vibe. No further developments in those discussions have been made public, however. Instead, pundits and analysts have turned to guessing games, suggesting that one possibility could be a licensed hybrid using Toyota's Synergy Drive system found in the Prius. But GM's president of North American operations, Troy Clarke, shut that rumor down in a chat on the company-run GM Fastlane Blog today, reports Edmunds. Clarke said in response to a question about the potential for licensing Toyota's hybrid tech, "We are not in current discussions with Toyota on licensing their synergy drive. I would point out that we are working like crazy on our own hybrid technology." That last reference to GM's own hybrid technology no doubt refers to both the Volt extended-range electric vehicle and the two-mode hybrid powertrain GM may be rolling into the next-gen Buick Enclave. The Buick angle in particular was part of Clarke's discussion. "I will tell you that you will be pleasantly surprised at the product line up we have for the new Buick. It will go places product wise we haven't gone with Buick before," said Clarke. Read More

General Motors revealed in its latest viability plan that it will cut more than 21,000 jobs and reduce its total number of assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants in the U.S. from 47 last year to just 31 by 2012, but the company is still in talks with Toyota about sourcing a new model to replace the Pontiac Vibe. The compact hatch is essentially a rebadged Toyota Matrix and is built at the shared New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in California.

Speaking with Automotive News, Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said GM is in talks with Toyota and NUMMI itself to determine another vehicle to be produced there. "We're clearly not... General Motors revealed in its latest viability plan that it will cut more than 21,000 jobs and reduce its total number of assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants in the U.S. from 47 last year to just 31 by 2012, but the company is still in talks with Toyota about sourcing a new model to replace the Pontiac Vibe. The compact hatch is essentially a rebadged Toyota Matrix and is built at the shared New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in California. Speaking with Automotive News, Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said GM is in talks with Toyota and NUMMI itself to determine another vehicle to be produced there. "We're clearly not backing away from our partnership at NUMMI. There's no issue of us backing away from NUMMI," he said. Hopson confirmed that GM won’t keep the Vibe on under a different brand but failed to reveal what Toyota model GM would replace it with. If a new model can be found it will be sold under one of GM’s remaining four core brands – most likely Chevrolet. GM and Toyota have been building vehicles at the NUMMI site since 1984. Today, Toyota builds its Tacoma pickup at the site, while GM builds the Vibe. Read More

We've all heard the argument for why someone drives that big SUV instead of a fuel-sipping mini-car on their epic two-hour commute: crash safety. And while there's a good bit of sense to that point, at least from the SUV driver's perspective, small cars are improving their safety marks according to the latest round of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing.

Only one of the cars tested scored poorly, and though none did well enough to secure the IIHS 'Top Safety Pick' award, most did surprisingly well. The testing involves frontal and side impacts plus whiplash testing on the front seats. The side-impact sled, weighted at... We've all heard the argument for why someone drives that big SUV instead of a fuel-sipping mini-car on their epic two-hour commute: crash safety. And while there's a good bit of sense to that point, at least from the SUV driver's perspective, small cars are improving their safety marks according to the latest round of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing. Only one of the cars tested scored poorly, and though none did well enough to secure the IIHS 'Top Safety Pick' award, most did surprisingly well. The testing involves frontal and side impacts plus whiplash testing on the front seats. The side-impact sled, weighted at 3,300lb (1,500kg), simulates a somewhat larger car striking the small cars, which in the case of the Mini Cooper, at least, weigh as little as 2,500lb (1,130kg). The best performers were the Suzuki SX-4 and the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix. Both scored Good/Good in front impact and side impact ratings. The SX-4 scored 'marginal' on seat whiplash protection, while the Vibe/Matrix wasn't tested. The only small car to perform poorly in the testing was the aging Chrysler PT Cruiser, which score Poor in side impact and Poor in whiplash protection, though it did earn a Good rating in frontal impact testing. The Poor rating means passengers in the PT Cruiser were likely to suffer serious injuries in the event of a side impact. Part of the score is the result of the unavailability of side airbags for rear-seat passengers. Other top scorers include the Ford Focus sedan, which earned Good and Acceptable marks in front and side impact protection, while also earning a rating of Good in whiplash protection. Chevy's HHR scored similarly to the Focus, but with only Marginal protection from whiplash. It does, however, feature standard electronic stability control on all 2009 models. "Automakers have made big improvements to small cars to better protect people in frontal crashes," said Joe Nolan, an Institute senior vice president. "They've also added stronger structures and standard head-protecting side air bags to help in side crashes, which are tougher on smaller, lighter cars." Improvements in side impact protection have also been dramatic in a short period of time. Two years ago, only three of 19 cars tested received a top rating of Good in side-impact testing, while this time around 11 of the 21 cars tested achieved the top mark. Read More

Not to be outdone by the massive release of models ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, GM has released a first teaser image of the all-new 2009 Pontiac Vibe. Pegged as smaller, more practical mix between a SUV and station wagon, the Vibe is the result of a joint venture between GM and Toyota and is built alongside the Toyota Matrix.

GM’s press release states there will be a GT version as well as all-wheel-drive variants, and that it hits dealerships in 2008. No technical specifications have been released yet, but the new model will get major mechanical changes.

The edgy styling separates the new Vibe from the pack, but we’ll have to... Not to be outdone by the massive release of models ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, GM has released a first teaser image of the all-new 2009 Pontiac Vibe. Pegged as smaller, more practical mix between a SUV and station wagon, the Vibe is the result of a joint venture between GM and Toyota and is built alongside the Toyota Matrix. GM’s press release states there will be a GT version as well as all-wheel-drive variants, and that it hits dealerships in 2008. No technical specifications have been released yet, but the new model will get major mechanical changes. The edgy styling separates the new Vibe from the pack, but we’ll have to wait to see it in person before we can pass a verdict on the styling. First impressions are positive, though.Vibe Read More