When Saturn Closes 25% Of GM's Hybrid Sales Will Go With It

When Saturn Closes 25% Of GM's Hybrid Sales Will Go With It
When General Motors closes down Saturn later this year, it will lose just over a quarter of its sales of fuel-saving hybrids -- the type of vehicles that the Obama administration wants automakers to build more of.

And it's not yet clear how the end of Saturn affects GM's ability to meet toughening corporate average fuel economy standards. Because Saturn does not offer a V-8 engine or have trucks or body-on-frame SUVs, it is GM's most fuel-efficient North American division.


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ChevyFan100ChevyFan100 - 4/28/2009 6:28:31 PM
+3 Boost
Who cares if Saturn has lots of small cars. It's also one of GM's worst sellers and every car that Saturn offers has fuel economy ratings that can be beat or matched by a Chevrolet.


LuxuryFanLuxuryFan - 4/28/2009 11:03:10 PM
+1 Boost
But the 'ick factor' of Chevrolet is substantially higher than Saturn.


Chaordic1Chaordic1 - 4/29/2009 3:26:55 AM
+1 Boost
It now appears that Saturn's hybrids are going to be rebadged and sold as Buicks. The updated Saturn Aura (virtually a clone of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia) will now be the new Buick Regal (positioned below the LaCrosse). The Saturn Vue will be similarly rebadged.

This is not unprecedented either. When Oldsmobile went out of business the Oldsmobile Bravada SUV was rebadged as the Buick Ranier, and the Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan was rebadged as the Buick Terrazza.



dumpstydumpsty - 4/29/2009 9:38:58 AM
+1 Boost
I kinda figured that GM would introduce the "Saturn Hybrid" tech in over vehicles by the time production ends or 1-2 years following the Saturn division's complete shut down. I guess that would include temporarily rebadging the Vue & Aura as Buicks. I would like to see the 2-mode system on the next SRX and Equinox/Terrain SUVs. And after being successfully included in mid-sized SUVs, the 2-mode should be ready for GM's large/full-size cars.


dumpstydumpsty - 4/29/2009 9:43:45 AM
+1 Boost
...and it's entirely possible that GM wants to continue to use Opel-aided designs for future Chevy & Buick vehicles in the US & China. If GM does sell the Saturn brand, what will the buyer actually get? Besides the brand name & maybe some dealers.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/29/2009 11:47:43 AM
+1 Boost
They're gonna shut down thier only desirable brand?
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