Saturn FAQs

[Saturn team]

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We appreciate the many comments we have received from ImSaturn members, and we want to do our best to answer your questions and to keep you update on developments with the Saturn brand.

Q. UPDATE (4/28/09): In his press conference April 27, CEO Fritz Henderson said Saturn production will be phased out by the end of 2009. What does that mean?

A. In our need to move "faster and deeper" with restructuring, GM is accelerating a resolution for the Saturn brand. That means GM will be reviewing expressions of interest from potential investors until June 1, 2009, and will work to have an agreement in place with the winning investor by the end of this year.

Q. What does that mean for Saturn owners?

A. You can still get your Saturn vehicle serviced by any Saturn retailer. Your warranty will be honored, and, as noted in question 3 below, and you can find the retailer nearest you by visiting Saturn.com. If there is no Saturn retailer nearby, or if it is an emergency situation, you can bring your Saturn to any GM dealer for warranty repairs. If you have trouble securing warranty service at a non-Saturn GM dealership, please contact Saturn Customer Assistance, or call 1-800-553-6000.

Q. If GM sells Saturn, who will make Saturn cars?

A. That will be up to the buyer of the Saturn brand, not GM, to decide. We have told potential investors, however, that we are looking for a partner to provide vehicles that are right for the Saturn brand: fuel-efficient, safe, and affordable.

Q. Would a new buyer have cars ready for 2010?

A. Depending on the deal negotiated, GM would consider offering contract manufacturing for the new owner of the Saturn brand.

Q. UPDATE (4/17/09) What’s the latest update on Saturn? Is the offer by Black Oaks Partners/Telesto legitimate?

A. Since mid-February, a sub-committee of Saturn retailers has been studying the feasibility of alternative options for the future of the Saturn brand. Steve Girsky has been working with them on this process.They have identified multiple parties who are interested in the possible sale or spin-off of Saturn. The group led by Black Oaks Partners is one of those groups. We cannot provide information on other interested parties, and it is simply too early to speculate about any eventual outcome.

UPDATE (3/31/09): See Jill’s email to owners

UPDATE (3/9/08): Newspaper Report: Retailers May Save Saturn Brand
There have been many media reports recently about the future of the Saturn brand. One of the most comprehensive articles appeared on March 8 in the Nashville Tennessean.

UPDATE (3/7/09)Well-known consultant retained by Saturn retailers: The Saturn Franchise Operation Team (FOT) sub-committee that is evaluating the potential spin-off of the Saturn Distribution Corporation has retained the services of advisor Steve Girsky, of S.J. Girsky and Co. Girsky will act as an independent business consultant to the sub-committee as they study options for the potential operation of the Saturn brand as a standalone enterprise.

“The spin-off of an independent Saturn would break new ground in the auto industry and would give the brand a new chance to build on its tradition of innovation,” said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. “Girsky’s extensive expertise will be a tremendous asset to the FOT sub-committee as this process continues.”

UPDATE (3/2/09)
Below are a few answers to some of frequently asked questions.

1. Why is GM phasing out Saturn? While Saturn has been a strong brand with loyal customers, it has continued to be unprofitable for the manufacturer under the current business model. Saturn retailers, however, have historically been profitable. That is why Saturn is investigating the potential sale of the brand.
2. If Saturn goes away, what happens to my warranty? Will I be able to get replacement parts? Absolutely nothing happens to the warranty. General Motors stands firmly behind its warranty obligations for every vehicle it produces. GM is also committed to maintaining the availability of service parts.
3. The Saturn retailer where I bought my vehicle has closed. Where should I take my vehicle for warranty repairs? You can take your vehicle to any Saturn retailer for warranty service. To find the nearest Saturn retailer, visit Saturn.com. You can also call the Saturn Customer Assistance center at 1-800-553-6000 if you have other questions.
4. If Saturn is sold, who would design and manufacture its products? That would be negotiated between the new owners of the brand and potential vehicle suppliers.
5. If Saturn never turned a profit as part of GM, what factors will allow it to make money as an independent entity? While Saturn has not been profitable at the manufacturing level, Saturn retailers have traditionally earned a profit. Saturn has a number of unique attributes that could make the spin-off a realistic alternative, such as the size, distribution and unmatched quality of our retail network.
6. What can I do to show my support for Saturn? The best thing to do is to remind your friends and family that Saturn is still open for business. Remind them that we have a great line-up of new fuel efficient vehicles and assure them that Saturn and GM will stand behind all warranty obligations.

Please leave a comment below if you would like to submit a question that we have not addressed.

[J]

If it was not for my Family all working for or retired from GM I would write them off totally. Saturn is the perfect example of how stupid this compay can be.

Take a look outside and you will see Honda's Toyota's VW's etc everywhere. People want QUALITY small compacts. The Daewoo crap that Pontiac and Chev sell may get a few new buyers. Then as they encounter problems with the crap GM sold them, they will swear off ever buying GM again.

Saturn had a name these buyers and educated buyers recognized as quality. The whole experience was better than the average. Yet, GM did virtually nothing with this brand. Only recently bringing thegreat experience of Opel into the small cars here.

The Corsa would be in my driveway right now if it was sold here. It is an amazing little car. And you can bet, the owner of sleek Corsa would come back for another GM car instead of cursing the cheap build of an Aveo.

IDIOTS!!

[BES4Saturns]

Count me as a supporter of the comments on bringing Opel vehicles to the US and Canada as Saturn's!

[Carolyn]

I would buy stock (returning to the market) if Saturn was independant of GM. Otherwise myself and my husband have no real love for GM and the overpaid union workers and a
lack of leadership when it comes to telling the goverment to take a hike with stupid mandates
on what an automobile should be!

[Bob A.]

PS: Plastic no rust body would be good too... and most importantly, that inovative pioneering spirit and customer first attitude, and reliability above all of the early SW and SL models and early Saturn Corp.

Be well and best wishes for great success!

[Bob A.]

I am on my 4 th and 5th Saturn.

The third ran to 235k miles.

Suggestion: Need

1. Inexpensive
2. Fuel efficient (60 mpg or greater)
3. Strong, well built and reliable.
4. Real bumpers that can take a true 5mph or greater hit (like the 95 SW1) with no damage.
5. Full blooded extended warranties.

Suggestion: Source from China, and look at Aptura (300 mpg, production beginning this year, deposits taken now). They need dealer networks, why not you?

[RICK FRANTZ]

I'M LOOKING FOR A TRUCK AND WOULD STILL LIKE TO DEAL WITH SATURN STAFF. MAYBE WHEN THE NEW LINE COMES UP THERE WILL BE A FEW CHOICES. MY WIFE WILL BE DISAPOINTED BECAUSE THE SATURN SHE OWNS NOW WILL BE HER LAST. THAT'S THE SAD PART.

[Rob]

If anyone thinks only the US automakers are having trouble, think again. Even import "darling" Toyota is in trouble.

Toyota Bailout

So where is all of the media coverage regarding Toyota, Honda and Nissan's economic woes? Why is GM the only one subjected to it?

[Smartest Alex]

Saturn has made great strides recently to reinvent their entire product line. I am actually convinced that Saturn can survive and be reborn. Ive said on a GM blog before that saturn can become a viable full-line automotive retailer as the complete importer of Opel vehicles to the United states.

I would recomend re-naming Saturn as Opel with the Opel logo and allowing it to import modified versions of the successful european line up that Opel has in countries outside of the United States.

of course Vauxhall,Opel and Saturn all produce similar vehicles under three different name plates. so all three brands should be merged into either Opel or Vauxhall that way 3 brands become one and GM creates an international powerhouse brand that is diversified and united, instead of continuing to pursue a regional brand strategy.

The same theory could be applied to pontiac which is a uniquely american regional niche brand. if you took Daewoo,Holden and Pontiac and folded them into either the Holden or Pontiac brand name (preferably Holden) it would be a jolt to the pontiac line up by becoming the importer of all holden vehicles, while allowing GM to focus on their core of Cadillac and Chevrolet.

Chevrolet and GMC could further be folded into simply Chevrolet as they sell the same products through the same retail distribution channels, and Buick can remain as a niche in its current form. if sales do not improve for Buick, GM could consider a Phase out of the brand.

Not only do these steps reinvigorate Pontiac and Saturn, but they create internationally recognized and acclaimed brands for GM.

Along with the sale/closure of Hummer and SAAB, GM can successfully trim their brands from the current 12, down to five focused brands. from there it could further trim those brands to four if Buick is eventually shuttered.

The multibrand strategy no longer works and drains an excessive amount of capital from GM.

Heres how GM worldwide should look in the future Chevrolet, Cadillac, Holden,Opel, and Buick. the trimming of brands allows for massive savings and strength for the company going forward.

Jill, you should really submit these plans to your superiors as a way to save Saturn and GM as well.

[Russ]

Bye-Bye Jill, Bye-Bye Saturn, Bye-Bye GM (again). I knew I should have bought that Fusion to go along with my Freestyle and Mustang. I stopped purchasing GM's after my 2002 Tahoe because GM was not building with an eye to the future. Well, I drove the 2008 Saturn Aura and my wife loves it. I still say it is the best bang for the buck in the Automotive world. But they closed the dealership I bought it at 4 months later. This will likely be my first and last Saturn. I will NOT purchase a Saturn that sources cars from outside the US. I bought my Aura because it is MADE IN THE USA. GM and the UAW are not the problem. Americans buying Toyotas, Nissans, Hondas, etc from a non-USA based company is the problem. When are people going to realize that just because some foreign brands are assembled here, the US content on average is much less than the 51% it requires to be able to say it is Made in USA. Sending the profit dollars back to the foreign parent company and fueling the huge US trade deficit is a big part of the trouble the US is in.

[PSVUE]

Yes vette I know they don't own them however GM certainly made an initial effort to support the establishment of the initial retail network and may or may not have had an ongoing effort to recruit more dealers. That of course is history, but the line of questioning may have even greater relevance to a new restructured Saturn. How extensive a retail network is necessary to sell enough cars that will cover the costs of manufacturing as well as fund a sufficient national marketing budget ? I don't expect you to answer that but I hope that someone working on the new Saturn business model is thinking that through.