What's going to happen to Saturn... next week?
by Damon Lavrinc on Feb 9th, 2009 at 4:00PM
General Motors is throwing together its viability report for the feds before the automaker's homework is due on February 17th, and a large part of the plan is to eliminate its most unprofitable brands. GM execs have said on more than one occasion that the automaker's core brands – Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC – are the vehicles (pun intended) to bring the General back from the brink, but where does that leave HUMMER, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn?
According to a report from Automotive News, Saturn dealers are well aware that their brand hasn't made the cut and that after a two-day meeting last week between GM and the Saturn Franchise Operation Team, a handful of options are on the table. GM's marketing chief, Mark LaNeve, said that the options include, "everything from a new dualing pattern to a spinoff to a partnership to an outright sale." LaNeve goes on to say, "Everything is fluid. You can't commit to any option... I'll say this: You don't need four options to kill a brand."
Saturn's uncertain future is apparently apparent on the showroom floor, with customers reportedly voicing their concerns about the brand's future and the availability of parts and service.
Hopefully, once GM files its viability plan on the 17th, all of the details about the automaker's brands will be disclosed. Dealers don't seem too optimistic, including Todd Ingersoll, a member of the franchise team and the owner of Saturn of Danbury and Watertown in Connecticut. He thinks after the report is filed, GM's decision on Saturn will be disclosed "within hours."
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
by Damon Lavrinc on Feb 9th, 2009 at 4:00PM
General Motors is throwing together its viability report for the feds before the automaker's homework is due on February 17th, and a large part of the plan is to eliminate its most unprofitable brands. GM execs have said on more than one occasion that the automaker's core brands – Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC – are the vehicles (pun intended) to bring the General back from the brink, but where does that leave HUMMER, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn?
According to a report from Automotive News, Saturn dealers are well aware that their brand hasn't made the cut and that after a two-day meeting last week between GM and the Saturn Franchise Operation Team, a handful of options are on the table. GM's marketing chief, Mark LaNeve, said that the options include, "everything from a new dualing pattern to a spinoff to a partnership to an outright sale." LaNeve goes on to say, "Everything is fluid. You can't commit to any option... I'll say this: You don't need four options to kill a brand."
Saturn's uncertain future is apparently apparent on the showroom floor, with customers reportedly voicing their concerns about the brand's future and the availability of parts and service.
Hopefully, once GM files its viability plan on the 17th, all of the details about the automaker's brands will be disclosed. Dealers don't seem too optimistic, including Todd Ingersoll, a member of the franchise team and the owner of Saturn of Danbury and Watertown in Connecticut. He thinks after the report is filed, GM's decision on Saturn will be disclosed "within hours."
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Anyhoo this basically just says the final decision on Saturn will be made within 24 hours or so, whether or not it will live on, be sold, axed, etc.
On another note. The Saturn dealership in Watertown is about 10-15 miles from me! (?) That was actually the first dealership we went to to look at cars the summer after I turned 16. (It was the only one open past 5pm ). On that road there's a Saab, Audi, BMW, Nissan, Hummer, and one other dealership besides the Saturn one.
I will update this thread with new info as it comes out. I made it a sticky. I will edit the title as well.
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