Only a week after General Motors stated that the Vibe would be the only Pontiac model to be offered for retail sale in the brand's 2010MY portfolio, the automaker announced today its decision to discontinue production of the compact crossover by the end of August 2009. The Vibe is produced alongside its sister model, the Toyota Matrix, at the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) facility jointly operated by GM and Toyota in Fremont, California.

"While no replacement for Vibe production has been determined, GM and Toyota remain in active discussions regarding potential future production at NUMMI," General Motors said in a statement.

As we speak, the automaker's original plan is to gradually phase out the Pontiac brand by the end of 2010, though we wouldn't be at all surprised if General Motors decides to pull the plug on the historic marque at an earlier point.

Source: CarScoop

The 2010 model lineup for the soon-to-be-terminated Pontiac brand will consist of just one model - the Vibe.

Recently GM interim CEO Fritz Henderson reiterated the company’s position that the G8 would not carry on as either a Buick, Chevy or Cadillac. The G3 and G5 will also cease production this year, while the G6 will only be made available to government, corporate and rental car fleets.

There has been no word lately on the Solstice model. GM had made it known that it would consider offers for the Solstice (as well as the Saturn Sky and Opel GT) as a separate entity, but with the sale of Saturn to Penske, that now seems unlikely.

In an effort to spice up sales of the final run of the Vibe, Pontiac will offer the car with air conditioning standard, and make it available in a new color - Ignition Orange.

GM’s official line is that it wants to work with Toyota on a new vehicle to build at the joint GM-Toyota NUMI plant in California where sister cars the Vibe and Martix are produced, but our sources have indicated that GM wants out.

While the Vibe is a great car, we hope the sad irony of a vehicle built for utilitarian purposes being the last one offered by the company’s performance brand is not lost on the folks at GM.

Source: Auto Guide

This month’s first recall concerns 662,178 MY 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and subsequently its Pontiac counterpart, Vibe due to a problem with the front electric powered windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts may loosen and come off, leading the door glass to separate from the window regulator.

This could cause the door glass to bind and shatter during operation of the power windows, causing driver distraction and/or injury. Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts with newly designed bolts free of charge.

General Motors has released the first official image of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe. Little information was released with the image but it is known that the GT trim level will return for 2009 and that an all-wheel drive option will be available. The new Vibe is scheduled to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show later this year with its sister car — the Toyota Matrix — both will be on display at SEMA at the end of this month in Las Vegas.