Autoblog

Mitsubishi interested in supplying Saturn dealers?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saturn

Regardless of what entity General Motors eventually unloads its network of 380 Saturn dealerships upon, it's not planning to continue supplying vehicles to the displaced automaker past 2011 at the latest. This being the case, the majority of prospective Saturn bidders will need to find an alternate source for cars and trucks to stock its newly purchased showroom floors. But who?

According to The Detroit News, both Mitsubishi and Nissan are in talks with various parties that are considering making a bid for Saturn. Of those two options, Mitsubishi seems to make a bit more sense as it only has about 430 dealerships in the U.S. and it is therefore not nearly as well represented as Nissan. However, Nissan has a much deeper product portfolio and it already demonstrated that it is capable of selling in significantly higher sales volumes. At this point, it's unclear whether the Nissan or Mitsubishi-supplied vehicles would be badged and sold as Saturns, but given Mitsubishi's damaged reputation in the States (save the Evo), selling its wares under a brand with a reputation for strong customer service and ownership satisfaction could be just the opening it needs to find success in the U.S. market.

In related news, the DetNews is also reporting that the list of potential bidders for Saturn has been whittled down to "two or three," which likely includes Penske Automotive Group, Magna International and investor group Telesto Ventures.

[Source: Detroit News]

Mitsubishi interested in supplying Saturn dealers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Saturn dealers giving up a different kind of car company

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:26:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Saturn

Saturn was created by General Motors chairman Roger Smith in the late 1980s to be a Different Kind of Car Company. While the first Saturns were generally pretty unremarkable, it was the retail experience that really set the automaker apart from other domestic brands. Saturn was the first marque to adopt a complete no-haggle, no rebate pricing policy and they treated customers like friends. It now appears that the dealers who were the core of the Saturn experience are getting out while the getting is good.

As GM teaters on the brink of insolvency, it's become clear that Saturn will get no new vehicles sourced from within GM and some dealers have decided to close up their stores. Since January 1, two dozen Saturn outlets have shuttered bringing the current total down to 394 with four more in Wisconsin due to close this week. With General Motors making it clear the Saturn brand will either become a separate company or close up entirely, customers are getting the hint and staying away even more than before. Unless a buyer steps up to the plate soon, Saturn will have a tough time making it to the 2012 deadline, even if GM survives.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Saturn dealers giving up a different kind of car company originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: GM asks Saturn dealers to hang on for 60 days

Dan Roth — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Saturn

Thank you for calling the General Motors emergency hotline, please hold while we sort out what the heck to do with you...

Saturn dealers are being asked by GM to hold on and not do anything drastic for 60 days while the automaker figures out its next move. There are several options possible, some more feasible than others. The one that's gotten the most attention recently is spinning off Saturn into an independent business, which has everyone intrigued. GM could even remain a supplier to Saturn if it cuts the right deal, as an independent Saturn would be purchasing products from other sources.

Some dealers think the brand could turn into a sort of automotive Costco, sourcing product from all over the place and putting the house brand on the grille. Perhaps the most likely scenario is GM steering its Saturn unit into bankruptcy, and hurrying the process along before the current product ages out in 2012. It's certainly a thorny little chestnut for GM to crack, and for now, Saturn dealers are being asked to refrain from doing anything like closing, or rolling another brand into their showrooms for at least 60 days.

[Source: Auto News - sub req]

REPORT: GM asks Saturn dealers to hang on for 60 days originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Saturn dealers want to spin-off from GM, start own company

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Saturn, Earnings/Financials

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

GM funds Saturn through 2012

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Saturn, Earnings/Financials

The good news: Saturns will remain in production until 2012 or 2013... at least. The bad news: the Saturns currently being produced might not get any new updates or engineering before then. That's the bitter and the sweet that GM revealed to Saturn dealers at the NADA conference.

On the warm, fuzzy side of things, dealers are -- for the moment -- just happy to hear that Saturn isn't "going away in 30 days." While on the cold, dark side of reality it's clear that GM doesn't have much money, doesn't know how much it's ultimately going to get in loans, and can't fully fund all of its brands. That means that refreshing and re-engineering the current offerings might have to wait until the crystal ball is a little clearer.

It also means that Saturn could still be killed, it simply won't happen for another three or four years. Saturn's general manager said the brand's future should be known in the next three or four weeks and that the prime directive of the future will be to operate with a profitable business model, which has only happened once in Saturn's 20 years.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

GM funds Saturn through 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM's LaNeve: "We are completely behind Saturn"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Saturn

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Saturn dealers to offer Camry, Accord drives to Aura shoppers

Alex Nunez — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Saturn

The reinvigorated Saturn is one of the best things GM's got going right now. May 2007 sales were up 68% over the previous year (what a difference appealing product makes), and overall, it's up 30% YTD versus 2006.

Now comes word from Bloomberg News that starting tomorrow, June 11, all but 5 of the 430 Saturn dealers in the US will offer prospective Aura shoppers comparison test drives in the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. According to Saturn's Lisa Hutchinson, its participating dealers are buying the imports that'll be used for the program, which runs through July 31. GM's showing a lot of confidence in its new products -- remember, Chevy dealers will have Camrys on the floor to compare to the new Malibu when it arrives, too. This is all good, and it could probably be even better. Follow the jump for a bit of editorializing.

[Source: Bloomberg News]

Gallery: 2007 Saturn Aura XR - In the Autoblog Garage

Gallery: 2007 Saturn Aura Geen Line

Continue reading Saturn dealers to offer Camry, Accord drives to Aura shoppers

Saturn dealers to offer Camry, Accord drives to Aura shoppers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments