Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Saturn dealers want to spin-off from GM, start own company]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/saturn-dealers-want-to-spin-off-from-gm-start-own-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/saturn-dealers-want-to-spin-off-from-gm-start-own-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/saturn-dealers-want-to-spin-off-from-gm-start-own-company/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Saturn dealers must be feeling pretty unloved by their parent company right about now. Yesterday, General Motors announced as part of its updated restructuring plan that the interstellar brand would not be getting any new products, meaning that it's left to die on the vine when the current range reaches the end of its lifespan. GM has experience with this routine, having euthanized Oldsmobile earlier this decade, spending enormous amounts of money paying off franchised dealerships along the way.

Understandably then, both GM and Saturn dealers have a vested interest in keeping the brand alive. According to GM CEO Rick Wagoner, "[Saturn has] a good distribution network. If someone comes up with an offer, we're very open to that." Dealership owners are reportedly also interested in exploring that option. Dan Januska, owner of Saturn of Scottsdale and member of the Saturn Dealer Council says, "There are not a whole lot of alternatives. Someone is going to see the value of us and I don't know who it will be."

This may or may not be the best time to launch an offensive on the U.S. automotive market, but it would seem that any foreign automakers (China, India...) that are looking for a way to distribute their vehicles in America now have a extremely intriguing new option to consider.

[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req.]

Saturn dealers want to spin-off from GM, start own company originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>saturnsaturn dealersaturn dealerssaturn dealershipssaturn futureSaturnDealerSaturnDealersSaturnDealershipsSaturnFutureWed, 18 Feb 2009 15:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1464388/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/02/18/saturn-dealers-want-to-spin-off-from-gm-start-own-company/1464388/article-detail.xml 1464388 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/sat_rem_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/sat_rem.jpg <![CDATA[Official: GM shrinking to four brands; Pontiac to four models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/official-gm-shrinking-to-four-brands-pontiac-to-four-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/official-gm-shrinking-to-four-brands-pontiac-to-four-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/official-gm-shrinking-to-four-brands-pontiac-to-four-models/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

In an interview Sunday with Automotive News (sub. req'd), Troy Clarke, GM's North American president, said that General Motors will be able to make good on its promise to Congress to drastically cut costs. Clarke said that GM will now focus its "product and marketing resources" on Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. That would leave Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and HUMMER in automotive limbo. As part of that same plan presented to lawmakers, GM said it would sell or close Saturn. And since no one has yet stepped forward with cash, the future is not at all certain for the unique brand despite what GM's marketing VP Mark LaNeve says.

In a separate interview, Bob Lutz told AN that Pontiac will also have to get by with only four models: the G8, G5, Vibe and Solstice. Or five models if you count the Solstice coupe separately as Lutz does. Shrinking the brand would complete yet another promise GM made to Congress to make Pontiac a niche brand.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Official: GM shrinking to four brands; Pontiac to four models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automaker bailoutAutomakerBailoutbailoutbob lutzBobLutzgeneral motorsGeneralMotorshummermark laneveMarkLanevepontiacsaabsaturnsaturn futureSaturnFutureMon, 12 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1426503/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/12/official-gm-shrinking-to-four-brands-pontiac-to-four-models/1426503/article-detail.xml 1426503 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/gm_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/gm.jpg <![CDATA[GM's LaNeve: "We are completely behind Saturn"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/gms-laneve-we-are-completely-behind-saturn/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/gms-laneve-we-are-completely-behind-saturn/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/24/gms-laneve-we-are-completely-behind-saturn/#commentsFiled under: ,

It sounds as if it's about time to get Bob Lutz some face-time with Mark LaNeve, 'cause the two men are trumpeting vastly different statements regarding the future of The General's interstellar brand. Recall that Lutz was recently quoted as saying, "It's really much better to have fewer brands, do it well and then market the hell out of them." This statement was directed squarely at the Saturn Aura, which is selling in much lower quantities than its platform-mate, the Chevy Malibu. Much of the blame can be attributed to the fact that these two vehicles are fighting for the exact same customers, yet only the Malibu gets the big ad bucks for promotion, which is probably as it should be considering that the Malibu is GM's best and most recent midsize sedan.

So, what to do with Saturn in these troubled times of belt-tightening? Ditch the brand entirely? Not so fast, counters LaNeve, who recently told dealers that, "We are completely behind Saturn." Hopefully, being "behind" the brand means cutting the number of models it sells and reducing that internal competition between rival GM brands while still keeping the Saturn name alive with new and exciting - not to mention well marketed - products. Sounds easy, right?

[Source: CNN]

GM's LaNeve: "We are completely behind Saturn" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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