No 2009 Saturn Astra - too many 2008 models still available

Vehicle models have different life spans in different countries, and Americans are used to having new – or at least refreshed – cars pretty much every few years. One model that the U.S. will not be getting new in 2009 is the Saturn Astra. The reason is that Saturn still has a 139-day supply of the 2008 models. Canada will still get a 2009 edition.

The car hasn't been a star seller, having found about 12,000 owners in the U.S. during 2008. GM is planning on resuming new Astra deliveries in late summer or early fall as a 2010 model, but is skipping the 2009 model year altogether. The Saturn Astra is based on the Opel/Vauxhall Astra and is built in GM's plant in Antwerp, Belgium. GM blames the exchange rate between the Euro and the Dollar for the low sales, though we're sure there are other factors at play, as well.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd)

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