Holden says no immediate impact from Pontiac's demise

Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu automobiles are shown at the Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan. Photo / AP

Adelaide - Car maker Holden will lose one of its biggest export models with a move by United States parent company General Motors to dump the Pontiac brand.

Holden produces the Pontiac G8, a version of the Commodore, for the US market.

But GM said it would phase out Pontiac by the end of 2010 to focus on four core brands in the US - Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.

It will also accelerate the shutdown of some American car assembly operations and cut extra jobs in the US.

But Holden spokesman Scott Whiffin said there would not be any impact on jobs in Australia.

"G8s are assembled at our plant at Elizabeth where we have been modifying our production volumes and we will continue to do so," he said.

"Notwithstanding the fact that this has only just been announced, we don't envisage there will be any job losses at Elizabeth as a result of this decision."

Holden has already announced a decision to axe its afternoon shift from early next month with plans to run two teams on a single day shift, each working one week on and one week off.

The move will cut wages for local workers but retain the 3,000 jobs at the Elizabeth manufacturing facility in Adelaide.

The company said it would also push ahead with plans to build a new small car in Adelaide from 2010.

- AAP