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Another chunk of GM is gone... the Saturn brand

rudder

rudder

Lifer
Now belongs to Penske.

I guess we will have to wait to see if Roger Penske was a Republican donor or Democratic donor to see if he got a good deal from the Government.

It looks as if GM will be still building them... but I wonder if under the same union contracts. For the longest time the original Saturn plant (now building the traverse and being idled) operated under a different contract than GM.
 
Yah I found it pretty 'hilarious' that they shifted the Saturn production from here and retro-fitted the plant to build a fucking SUV. Great forward thinking.
 
Well, I guess it pays to be a Saturn dealer right now compared to a GM or god forbid Chrysler dealer. Many dealerships...some of which had been around for literally one hundred years...are having both contracts cancelled. Saturn really has something going for it in terms of its dealers. With Penske at the wheel, we could see other manufacturers building for them eventually. Hell, they already distribute the Smart car, and the Forfour concept fits Saturn's historical niche anyway. This could get interesting...
 
Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Well, I guess it pays to be a Saturn dealer right now compared to a GM or god forbid Chrysler dealer. Many dealerships...some of which had been around for literally one hundred years...are having both contracts cancelled. Saturn really has something going for it in terms of its dealers. With Penske at the wheel, we could see other manufacturers building for them eventually. Hell, they already distribute the Smart car, and the Forfour concept fits Saturn's historical niche anyway. This could get interesting...
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They already have an agreement with GM to continue the Outlook, Aura and Vue which is a good start for the brand again.
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Yah I found it pretty 'hilarious' that they shifted the Saturn production from here and retro-fitted the plant to build a fucking SUV. Great forward thinking.
Click to expand...

I think Saturn got punished for being the first GM brand to make a heavy push for a switch to eco-friendly cars.

It's sad that Saturn was put on the chopping block when they (appeared to be) a quickly growing segment of GM.

I'd be curious on the numbers of Saturn vs the others in percentages of sales growth / dips.
 
GM's been so lame for decades that they could screw up a wet dream. At least, Penske's a car guy. Maybe he can come up with something better to do with the brand than GM managed to do. At least, he's a ray of hope for some part of the current Saturn workforce and dealer net.
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Yah I found it pretty 'hilarious' that they shifted the Saturn production from here and retro-fitted the plant to build a fucking SUV. Great forward thinking.
Click to expand...

Exactly what Toyota did. That's moving forward.
 
Originally posted by: Harvey
GM's been so lame for decades that they could screw up a wet dream. At least, Penske's a car guy. Maybe he can come up with something better to do with the brand than GM managed to do. At least, he's a ray of hope for some part of the current Saturn workforce and dealer net.
Click to expand...

Well here's Penske's Plan for Saturn.

Samsung Cars

If you ask me the cars GM had it right by bring over Opels as Saturns. I don't think anyone in their right mind would find those Samsung cars more attractive than the Opels. Unless you just want to spite GM.
 
My question is, why did GM just "discontinue" the Pontiac brand, instead of selling it (like they did with Saturn and Hummer)? Pontiac seemed to be one of the more "hip" brands of GM.
 
All because of the unions. When you're paying the union workers an aggregate of 80 dollars an hour per working member, you need to sell more expensive cars. More expensive=less demand=you're fucked. Thanks unions, you ruined another great company.
 
Originally posted by: ebaycj
My question is, why did GM just "discontinue" the Pontiac brand, instead of selling it (like they did with Saturn and Hummer)? Pontiac seemed to be one of the more "hip" brands of GM.
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Because Saturn operates separately from the other dealers while Pontiac is often paired with GM, Chevy or Buick.

Saturn was easy to sell due to its independence. Sounds like Penske is just buying the dealership network and an agreement for GM to supply it cars for a few years until it heads off on its own.
 
Saturn isn't a growing segment of GM. Saturn did well in the early 1990's, but lost its way after that. They had something of a renaissance recently with sporty European inspired products like the Astra (which is an Opel) and the Sky roadster, but these didn't sell well on the market despite reviewing well. The Saturn Outlook crossover is unnecessary, as is the Saturn Vue (both have Chevy counterparts). I'm glad GM found some use for Saturn, because my guess would have been that the brand was so redundant it might as well have its plug pulled.

Fallacies:

I think Saturn got punished for being the first GM brand to make a heavy push for a switch to eco-friendly cars.
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Saturn is just a GM division. This point makes no sense. Also what "switch" to eco friendly cars? This is just marketing mumbo jumbo. In fact Saturn's average fuel economy has gotten worse over the years as its gone from compact to compacts + midsize to compact + midsize + small SUV to compact + midsize + small SUV + large SUV + roadster.

It's sad that Saturn was put on the chopping block when they (appeared to be) a quickly growing segment of GM.
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It wasn't. Look at the long term sales data.

My guess is that Penske's new Saturn will eventually be a motley crew of low rent third world cars imported and sold under the Saturn brand. The Chinese will get the benefit of an established dealer network and known brand, which is a huge barrier to entry for them. They also get Penske's sales expertise.
 
Originally posted by: ebaycj
My question is, why did GM just "discontinue" the Pontiac brand, instead of selling it (like they did with Saturn and Hummer)? Pontiac seemed to be one of the more "hip" brands of GM.
Click to expand...

Because, for years, all "mainstream" GM brands were built on a limited number of common platforms differing primarily by chrome frosting and interior details and feature set. With some exceptions, Pontiac had become just one more "me too" brand while Saturn started out with a unique identity, which, as others have noted, GM managed to trash along the way.
 
Originally posted by: Harvey
Originally posted by: ebaycj
My question is, why did GM just "discontinue" the Pontiac brand, instead of selling it (like they did with Saturn and Hummer)? Pontiac seemed to be one of the more "hip" brands of GM.
Click to expand...

Because, for years, all "mainstream" GM brands were built on a limited number of common platforms differing primarily by chrome frosting and interior details and feature set. With some exceptions, Pontiac had become just one more "me too" brand while Saturn started out with a unique identity, which, as others have noted, GM managed to trash along the way.
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this. Did GM really need four or five differently badged Novas and Cavaliers?
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
All because of the unions. When you're paying the union workers an aggregate of 80 dollars an hour per working member, you need to sell more expensive cars. More expensive=less demand=you're fucked. Thanks unions, you ruined another great company.
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You keep stating this. Show me proof that GM/Chrysler/Ford is/was paying "each" union member $80+ an hour. 2007 statistics show that Toyota in Georgetown, KY paid on average more per worker than the average UAW worker of the former big 3 (including benefit costs). Now it might take $80 per hour worked in current wages and "legacy" costs, but the UAW worker does not make $80 an hour including benefits, period (and I dislike unions for the most part with a passion).
 
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Trimming the fat feels good.
Click to expand...

It better, we paid 50 billion for the knife.
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Too bad it was a butter knife.
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All this fat and butter sounds like it will raise our health care costs.
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And then another $50 trillion to cut health care costs with a paring knife, when all you need is a $50 butcher knife.
 
Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: TruePaige
Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Trimming the fat feels good.
Click to expand...

It better, we paid 50 billion for the knife.
Click to expand...

Too bad it was a butter knife.
Click to expand...

All this fat and butter sounds like it will raise our health care costs.
Click to expand...

And then another $50 trillion to cut health care costs with a paring knife, when all you need is a $50 butcher knife.
Click to expand...

Oh but the committee to get the butcher hired, and the extensive training, and the resolutions to ensure an unbiased cut...it would never happen! 😉
 
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