Pontiac is a marque of automobile produced by General Motors and sold in the United
States, Canada and Mexico from 1926 to the present. In the GM brand lineup,
Pontiac is a mid-level brand featuring a sportier, high-performance driving experience
for a reasonable price, and its advertisements appeal to younger customers.
The
Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as the
'companion' marque to GM's Oakland Motor Car line. The Pontiac name was first
used in 1906 by the Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works and linked to Chief Pontiac
who led an unsuccessful uprising against the British shortly after the French and
Indian War. The Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works Company
merged in November 1908 under the name of the Oakland Motor Car Company. The
operations of both companies were joined together in Pontiac, Michigan (in Oakland
County) to build the Cartercar. Oakland was purchased by General Motors in
1909. The first General Motors Pontiac was conceived as an affordable six cylinder
that was intended to compete with more inexpensive four cylinder models. Within
months of its introduction, Pontiac outsold Oakland. As Pontiac's sales rose
and Oakland's sales began to decline, Pontiac became the only 'companion' marque
to survive its 'parent', when Oakland ceased production in 1932. |
