2010 Pontiac Vibe: A Hidden Gem in the Junkyard

In June 2009, just before General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, they announced the discontinuation of the Pontiac Division, which had been in existence for 83 years. By the end of 2010, Pontiac vehicles would no longer be produced, with only three models being sold in the United States as 2010 models: the Solstice, Vibe, and G6. Today, we focus on one of the last Vibes ever built, discovered in a junkyard near Denver, Colorado.

This particular Vibe holds significance not only as one of the final Pontiac vehicles but also as one of the last cars to come out of the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) GM-Toyota joint venture in California. The NUMMI factory, originally GM's Fremont Assembly, closed in 1982 and was later reopened as NUMMI. The factory produced over eight million vehicles, including the Vibe, before shutting down in April 2010.

Co-developed with Toyota, the Vibe was based on the same platform as the ninth-generation Corolla. The final Vibe was produced in August 2009, with this specific car being built in July of the same year. It was previously in West Texas before ending up in Colorado.

Despite being a base-model front-wheel-drive Vibe, this car is equipped with an optional automatic transmission. It is speculated that it may have been a rental car at some point. The Vibe also had an unsuccessful promotional campaign featuring artist Shwayze in an attempt to appeal to a younger audience.

Overall, this Vibe holds a unique place in automotive history as one of the last Pontiac vehicles and a product of the GM-Toyota joint venture at NUMMI. Its journey from production to a junkyard in Colorado tells a tale of automotive industry changes and the end of an era for the Pontiac Division.