Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile's 2004 discontinuation ended the oldest American automobile brand (founded 1897) and demonstrates how demographic aging can kill brands. The nameplate beloved by their grandparents became radioactive to young buyers. GM's attempts to make Oldsmobile cool ('Not Your Father's Oldsmobile') only highlighted the problem. Like a species whose territory is abandoned by prey animals, Oldsmobile had no one left to sell to.