Penske Terminates Saturn Discussion, GM Prepares to Kill Brand

FenwickHockey65 · 09-30-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

BREAKING: Penske Terminates Saturn Discussions
Penske "terminates" discussions regarding Saturn, brand now on death row.
www.gminsidenews.com
September 30, 2009
By: Nick Saporito

Earlier today General Motors released a press release stating that talks with Penske Automotive Group (PAG) regarding the sale of the Saturn brand to them. Back on June 5th, while in bankruptcy protection, General Motors announced that they were in discussions to sell the entire Saturn Distribution Corporation to PAG; the deal was to allow the Saturn brand and dealerships to avoid being killed off like what is happening to the Pontiac brand. According to GM, PAG's decision to terminate talks regarding Saturn was not based on interactions with GM or Saturn, but because of the inability to source new products beyond what it had asked GM to build for them.

Due to today's announcement, GM will now begin a "wind down" of the Saturn brand like what is happening with Pontiac. In the coming days and weeks GM is expected to announce further details on the wind down plan for Saturn. We at GMI expect the brand to be phased out fairly quickly.

GM states that Saturn customers and owners will be able to purchase vehicles and service them at their existing Saturn retailers for now. As Saturn progresses in the wind down process Saturn owners will have to transition to traditional GM dealerships for service and warranty repairs.

GM had this to say in their release, "Today’s disappointing news comes at a time when we’d hoped for a successful launch of the Saturn brand into a new chapter. We will be working closely with our dealers to ensure Saturn customers are cared for as we transition them to other GM dealers in the months ahead. I’d also like to thank every GM employee and Saturn retailer who worked so hard to try to make this new beginning happen for Saturn."

Oneday · 09-30-2009, 05:55 PM

:flag1:

Show-Me-SS · 09-30-2009, 05:56 PM

I'm glad I got my Saturn Sky when it 1st came out. Just like the Camaro. I plan on keeping the sky forever! It's a really fun car to drive. I just hope nothing happens to it because it will be hard to replace. They never really made a whole lot of them. I think their is already more 2010 Camaro's on the road right now then the production total of the sky. RIP Saturn !

Morepwr · 09-30-2009, 06:02 PM

Thats a shame. Saturn built a damn good car. I had a '94 that I sold with
223K miles on it with no major repairs. It went farther than my friends honda did! I always liked the Sky too.:(

patriotpa · 09-30-2009, 06:35 PM

GM is stupid for killing Saturn. WISE UP GUYS! HEY GM! I know you read this forum! Saturn is a brand you NEED to keep!

Captain Awesome · 09-30-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriotpa

GM is stupid for killing Saturn. WISE UP GUYS! HEY GM! I know you read this forum! Saturn is a brand you NEED to keep!

They could then sell a Saturn badged G8!

PAUL SS · 09-30-2009, 09:49 PM

That's too bad, I thought Penske could have done great things with Saturn.

Xmicro_SS · 09-30-2009, 09:57 PM

A moment of Silence........................................... ..........

meanmike · 09-30-2009, 10:00 PM

It should have been Pontiac being saved anyhow.

*Mr. Wyndham* · 09-30-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriotpa

GM is stupid for killing Saturn. WISE UP GUYS! HEY GM! I know you read this forum! Saturn is a brand you NEED to keep!

Mmm...no, sadly. :( Saturn is a lost cause. And the stupid mistake would actually be spending the capital, resources, and time to try and save it.

Saturn, over the past 5 years, was given the best in vehicles, the best in sales experience, and even the best in marketing (remember "that's a Saturn?"). It was(is) a unique brand with a TON of potential. The trouble is, it has cost GM lots of money to keep it alive. It made them $0.00 and it wasn't for lack of trying on their part. I refer to it as the Saturn Phenomenon: People just don't buy them.

It's sad to hear this news. I loved the Sky, and the Vue -- and the Aura was a killer prelude to the Malibu. :( I had hoped Penske could do something different with the brand.

I think it's ulitmately better for GM in the short and long-term to discontinue it, though. Saves money, and allows a redirection of attention to the 4 core brands.

FenwickHockey65 · 09-30-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanmike

It should have been Pontiac being saved anyhow.

As big a Pontiac fan as I am, Pontiac had no future. It was extremely limited in brand direction and focus. The only two Pontiacs worth a damn towards the end was the G8 and Solstice, and that was a case of too little, too late.

Xmicro_SS · 09-30-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Mmm...no, sadly. :( Saturn is a lost cause. And the stupid mistake would actually be spending the capital, resources, and time to try and save it.

Saturn, over the past 5 years, was given the best in vehicles, the best in sales experience, and even the best in marketing (remember "that's a Saturn?"). It was(is) a unique brand with a TON of potential. The trouble is, it has cost GM lots of money to keep it alive. It made them $0.00 and it wasn't for lack of trying on their part. I refer to it as the Saturn Phenomenon: People just don't buy them.

It's sad to hear this news. I loved the Sky, and the Vue -- and the Aura was a killer prelude to the Malibu. :( I had hoped Penske could do something different with the brand.

I think it's ulitmately better for GM in the short and long-term to discontinue it, though. Saves money, and allows a redirection of attention to the 4 core brands.

Very Well said and Very True!

Us Kappa platform owners (SKY and SOLSTICE) went to a factory tour and they actually told us that they were backwards by $4,000.00 on every SKY and Solstice they sold................why...........a Halo Car to get people back to Saturn and Pontiac......I am afraid too late and poor timing.

But now at least I have a future possible collectible on my hands!

Beamer · 09-30-2009, 10:45 PM

Guess I may just end up getting a nice deal on a Sky RL if I can find one. Sad news though, Satty was starting to come out with nice product as was Pontiac :(

comiskeybum · 09-30-2009, 11:38 PM

i say good riddance. GM never needed this stupid brand in the first place. the vue is just an equinox. one is there a need to have 2 vehicles named differently?

Ford needs to get rid of Mercury now and we'll be set.

09-30-2009, 06:02 PM	#4
Morepwr woohoo Drives: Silverado, 70cutlass, 57chevy&more Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 557	Thats a shame. Saturn built a damn good car. I had a '94 that I sold with 223K miles on it with no major repairs. It went farther than my friends honda did! I always liked the Sky too.:( __________________ I am not useless, I can still be used as a bad example!

09-30-2009, 09:49 PM	#7
PAUL SS The Mark of Excellence Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS RS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Smallest State in the Union Posts: 8,688 View My Garage	That's too bad, I thought Penske could have done great things with Saturn. __________________ BMR, CAI, DynoMax, Elite Eng., Hurst, Jannetty, Clear Image Headers & Hi Flow cats, Jet Hot, LSR, TSW, VMax, Vredestein

09-30-2009, 09:57 PM	#8
Xmicro_SS Thank You GM Drives: Sky Redline & Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,876	A moment of Silence........................................... .......... Attached Images __________________ ITS HERE! : 2010 Camaro 2SS / 6 Speed Manual (No other way) / Silver Ice Metallic / Inferno Orange Interior Accent / RS Package / Polished Wheels / SOLO MACH X CAT BACK

09-30-2009, 10:45 PM	#13
Beamer N00B Drives: 07 Cobalt SS/SC-Toy \| 97Cavalier-DD Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indian Trail, NC(outside Charlotte) Posts: 140 View My Garage	Guess I may just end up getting a nice deal on a Sky RL if I can find one. Sad news though, Satty was starting to come out with nice product as was Pontiac :( __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
CAMARO WIKI	Tran	Wiki	67	11-27-2024 09:02 AM
2010 Camaro Review Compilation	Tran	Camaro Price \| Ordering \| Tracking \| Dealers Discussions	213	07-29-2011 02:59 PM
Saturn just may survive!	Silver Streak	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	4	02-19-2009 10:46 AM
GM's dropping Saturn, Pontiac to become niche brand	FenwickHockey65	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	91	02-18-2009 08:58 PM

09-30-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
Oneday Drives: 2010 2LT RS / Chrysler 300c Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 88	:flag1:

09-30-2009, 05:56 PM	#3
Show-Me-SS Drives: Saturn Sky,Camaro1SS Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 86	I'm glad I got my Saturn Sky when it 1st came out. Just like the Camaro. I plan on keeping the sky forever! It's a really fun car to drive. I just hope nothing happens to it because it will be hard to replace. They never really made a whole lot of them. I think their is already more 2010 Camaro's on the road right now then the production total of the sky. RIP Saturn !

09-30-2009, 06:35 PM	#5
patriotpa Account Suspended Drives: 02 Silverado, 09 Vue, 10 1SS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tired of apologizing when we should be kickin' butt! Posts: 1,962 View My Garage	GM is stupid for killing Saturn. WISE UP GUYS! HEY GM! I know you read this forum! Saturn is a brand you NEED to keep!

09-30-2009, 10:00 PM	#9
meanmike Account Suspended Drives: FIRST ON RACE DAY Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,170	It should have been Pontiac being saved anyhow.

09-30-2009, 11:38 PM	#14
comiskeybum Banned Drives: 2010 Chevy Equinox LS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Bend, Indiana Posts: 799	i say good riddance. GM never needed this stupid brand in the first place. the vue is just an equinox. one is there a need to have 2 vehicles named differently? Ford needs to get rid of Mercury now and we'll be set.