GM to stop building Saturn vehicles at the end of 2009

Posted: Apr 27, 2009
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GM CEO Fritz Henderson said today that the ailing Detroit automaker will stop building Saturn vehicles at the end of this year, two years earlier than it had originally planned.

In its Feb. 17 plan submitted to the U.S. auto task force, GM said that it will build Saturn vehicles through 2011. Under a more aggressive and revised restructuring plan unveiled today, GM said that it will no longer build Saturns after the 2009 model year. He also said that GM will no longer build Hummer cars after the current model year.

Henderson said that GM has begun talks with private equity groups working with Saturn dealers to sell the brand. It was reported earlier this month that Telesto Ventures, an investment group, wants to acquire Saturn and provide the brand with mostly overseas models.

 

“If a sale of Saturn does not occur, we intend to phase out the Saturn brand by the end of 2009,” Henderson said.

 

After getting rid of Pontiac in 2010, GM will be left with four core brands including Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick.

- By: Omar Rana


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  • zermatt

    I still say that there is no reason for GM to hold on to the redundant GMC and the incontinent Buick.

    For anyone that believes that Buick is exporting a huge number of cars to China they need to think again. The Buick Excelle (made in Koerea by Daewoo and sold exclusively in China) outsells the Lacrosse almost 4 to 1.

  • Ivan Gutierrez

    I think if you get rid of either of those you have to get rid of the other since they're paired at dealerships. I don't think neither Buick nor GMC has a good enough lineup to merit their own dealership. Besides I think GM is pretty committed to the Chinese Market, they probably believe it’s better to have a small presence than none at all. On the other hand I think that if you can get rid of Pontiac, which has a much more diverse and more fuel efficient lineup than GMC, why not get rid of GMC also?

  • Ivan Gutierrez

    I think if you get rid of either of those you have to get rid of the other since they're paired at dealerships. I don't think neither Buick nor GMC has a good enough lineup to merit their own dealership. Besides I think GM is pretty committed to the Chinese Market, they probably believe it’s better to have a small presence than none at all. On the other hand I think that if you can get rid of Pontiac, which has a much more diverse and more fuel efficient lineup than GMC, why not get rid of GMC also?