The Plans to export the Holden ute to the US where it would be sold as a Pontiac have been dropped as GM feels the economic pinch.

The Pontiac G8 ST sport truck was unveiled at the 2008 Detroit motor show last January, and was to be powered by a V8 engine. Holden confirmed in March 2008 that its Commodore Ute would be restyled and rebadged for the US market.

Unfortunately, Holden this morning confirmed that it was given the bad news overnight by Pontiac, one of numerous General Motors brands that has been the result of intense speculation over its long term future.

The Ute was scheduled to go on sale in America in the second half of 2009 as the Pontiac G8 ST sport truck, but Pontiac has axed the model as part of General Motors' restructuring plan designed to stave off a financial collapse.

In the other hands, Holden already exports the Commodore sedan to the US, where it is sold as the Pontiac G8. It's believed almost 15,000 G8s have been exported to and sold in the US, but that tens of thousands are still waiting to be sold as demand in the States wanes. Pontiac had been hoping to sell double that number in 2008.

Source: drive.com.au