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Rethink. Saturn—The Next GM Brand to be Jettisoned?
According to Automotive News . . .

"Saturn will likely be the next brand to go -- its own independent dealer network makes it an attractive asset for an overseas buyer looking to gain a foothold in the United States, two bankers said.

"While the sale is good because they have too many brands and they need the capital, it's also bad because it empowers another competitor in the U.S. market," one banker said of a possible Saturn divestment in a saturated industry."


I'm one of those people who think ideally GM should have two brands: Chevrolet and Cadillac, which would make them a much more potent and focused automaker. Having two strong brands would solve GM's biggest remaining problem which is too many brands/duplicative models/dealers.

From a practical standpoint, however, it would be risky to shutter brands such as its Buick-Pontiac-GMC division, which accounts for nearly a million units of sales. So I don't see GM doing that unless they are really up against the wall.

But what about selling off Saturn? Even Bob Lutz suggested yesterday that the division was not performing well, even though Saturn arguably has its strongest line-up ever.

Read Article
Rethink. Saturn—The Next GM Brand to be Jettisoned?



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DexDiamondsDexDiamonds - 7/16/2008 1:05:50 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The article list creating a new competitor as a negative. There's nothing wrong with competition. It increases product quality.

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EnnNorakEnnNorak - 7/16/2008 2:33:31 PM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The whole problem at GM is that poor product design and ridiculous marketing hype should be dealt with by jettisoning the marketing and other execs responsible and not the brand. A poor workman blames his tools and,similarly, certain poor execs blame the brand. What GM needs to do is jettison certain vehicle designs regardless of brand. Brands can be saved.


Homer007Homer007 - 7/16/2008 1:37:03 PM
-7 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Anything GM does is going to turn like a crap. Anything they get involved turns into a giant mound of crap, period.

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mpwrmpwr - 7/16/2008 1:53:37 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
dont hold back, tell us how u really feel


0to600to60 - 7/16/2008 2:22:05 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Are you an example of their offspring?


damikcodamikco - 7/16/2008 2:25:38 PMView My AgentSpace
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
You say this but you pproduce no valid points.


Agent63Agent63 - 7/17/2008 6:46:34 AMView My AgentSpace
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The new CTS and upcoming CTS-V sedan and coupes aren't crap.


mpwrmpwr - 7/16/2008 1:58:10 PM
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IMHO Saturn has some of the nicest, most modern styled cars of all the rebadging that goes on at GM, if its jettisoned then I hope that styling will end up at Chevy

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ShredmoShredmo - 7/16/2008 2:20:11 PM
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I don't see how GM can "sell" any of it's divisions. Aren't all of the Saturn vehicles produced at facilities that build other GM products? There are no stand alone manufacturing facilities for Saturn.

Same with all of GM's vehicle line-up.

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mpwrmpwr - 7/16/2008 2:34:12 PM
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MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE IN FACT BUILT IN SATURN FACTORIES, THE ONE IN MY STATE ONLY BUILT SATURN'S AND THEY JUST FINISHED RETOOLING TO BUILD A GMC



91z4me91z4me - 7/16/2008 3:48:31 PM
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mpwr, That is no longer true. Saturns are just rebadged Opels from Europe.


mpwrmpwr - 7/16/2008 4:45:56 PM
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Very true, my comment was meant to be in past tense, as I stated where I live they now make GMC's and not Saturn's. Personally the Opel styling is my fave for most of the line so why not just call them Opel's and be done with it. Oh I know why, most people think that they are made here, and are still a Saturn. IMAGE IS EVERYTHING



mattman953mattman953 - 7/16/2008 6:02:05 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Horrible management led to an almost kaput GM. If they would jetison the extra weight, they might be able to stay afloat!


BoredBored - 7/16/2008 5:44:30 PM
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I'm probably mistaken but when Saturn was started, wasn't it ran as an independent arm of GM, where it was quite successful? Maybe it should be allowed to run on its own terms first (or again) before going as far as selling it or killing it off.

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91z4me91z4me - 7/16/2008 6:17:36 PM
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In profitability Saturn has never been a success. They are a success in terms of marketing and customer perception.


mattman953mattman953 - 7/16/2008 5:59:39 PM
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I have an old SL2, great car! I haven't been interested in Saturn since the S series died. The new Astra is ho-hum, but I'm glad we got it. Buick, GMC, and HUMMER need to go first. Any kind of money set aside for those brands could be allocated towards making the remaing arms of GM class competitive, maybe even bring it back up the ladder?

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atomicbriatomicbri - 7/16/2008 5:59:44 PMView My AgentSpace
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What needs to be jettisoned are those ridiculous fools that run the place and make and exhorbant amount of cash. Get rid of em all... all the stock holders should hold a coup and just ditch them. Saturn began to falter once they took it back under the corporate wing and changed the way it did business.... sad really. More really "great" moves by GM's idiots at the top and in accounting.... Damn I wish I could go in there and turn things around. I actually have some simple plans.... that could turn some much need profits for the now. Now some things like the UAW and healthcare still need work, but branding and imaging, I have a few ideas to be winners.... email me GM...

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bulldogzbulldogz - 7/16/2008 6:46:00 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
That little 2 seater convertible is so much nicer looking than the Pontiac version IMHO...yet I think I've only seen one on the road since launch.

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mattman953mattman953 - 7/16/2008 7:01:01 PM
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The sky is VERY nice looking. I wouldn't touch one with that roof though. Miata rules in this area. I miss my 91 =)


MercedesBenz00ZMercedesBenz00Z - 7/17/2008 1:42:51 AM
-2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Hello, GM!
Just
Bankrupt
NOW! =D

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ktu01ktu01 - 7/17/2008 1:57:00 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I've always wished GM brought over Opels under the Opel brand (and not rebadge, re-engineer, or dumb down their rebadged versions here). Having Opel here would perhaps provide them with an imported brand with an affordable European alternative not only to Honda/Toyota, etc., but also to VW. The modern Corsas, Astras, Vectras are all pretty decent cars. Not to mention the earlier Lotus-based roadster, the Speedster Turbo!

I understand Saturn is a more established brand in the US than Opel, but I wonder if they had spent the time, effort, and $$ long ago when investing in starting up Saturn to establish the Opel brand in the US, how it would be now?

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TexLandRoverTexLandRover - 7/17/2008 4:05:55 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Problem is GM sunk most of their past R&D into their truck/SUV products. Sort of put all their bets on this product line, and now the product demand went way down. Its a long road back to getting refocused on car line up and the potential profits are not there with cars like it was with trucks.

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