Pontiac G8 production to cease this year with no Pontiac models to survive beyond 2010

General Motors officially announced on Monday its Pontiac brand will be phased out by the end of 2010, but the marque's brightest star - the G8 - won't even make it that far. GM CEO Fritz Henderson announced earlier today the G8 sedan will be phased out by the end of this year.

According to Henderson, Pontiac's relationship with Holden - GM's Australian subsidiary and maker of the G8 - will end by the end of 2009. Henderson said production of the Pontiac G8 will wind down by the end of the year, with the automaker prepared to offer heavy incentives to get the performance sedan off dealer lots. News AU estimates the end of the Pontiac G8 will cost Holden more than $750 million in lost revenue.

Additionally, Henderson said GM has no plans to move any Pontiac models to other brands. That means the Pontiac Solstice will ride off into the sunset shortly after the G8, with the Vibe likely to be the last model standing in the Pontiac lineup. The Vibe is made at a joint-venture plant with Toyota, with the five-door wagon set to be produced through 2010. The Pontiac G3 -- essentially a rebadged version of the Chevy Aveo -- and the G6, a platform mate of the Chevy Malibu, will also be discontinued.