We are still Saturn

[Jill Lajdziak]

From our very beginning, Saturn has always sought a better way. We pioneered no haggle-no hassle shopping, built dent-resistant cars, set a new benchmark for customer service and forged a unique relationship with our retailers, workers and customers. From the beginning, Saturn was launched as a “Different kind of Car Company.”

Well, here we go again.

You may have read that General Motors delivered a plan to the U.S. government that outlined the corporation’s plan for long term viability. In that plan, GM stated that Saturn would work with its retailers to investigate options for the future of the Saturn brand. We said that all ideas were on the table and we meant it.

Today, we confirmed that Saturn and GM would further investigate one of those options: a spin-off of an independent Saturn Distribution Corporation.

The Saturn Distribution Corporation already exists as an indirect subsidiary of GM. It’s the entity with which our retailers currently have their franchise agreement. An independent Saturn would still have its great retailers, and it would continue to source current products from GM through 2011 and if successful, SDC at that point would source products from other manufacturers.

The goal -- from a product perspective – would be to find future vehicles that match the Saturn brand: fuel efficient, safe, reliable and affordable. From a retailing perspective, we would build on our core strength of unmatched customer service. The same hassle-free experience that is a hallmark of the brand could be taken to even higher levels.

While this process proceeds, we will continue to do what we have always done best: Sell great vehicles and take care of our customers. We have a fresh portfolio of award-winning, fuel-efficient vehicles and a network of retailers that is second to none. And our new vehicles are still backed by a 100,000 mile/5-year (whichever comes first) Transferable Powertrain Limited Warranty. When you add Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation Programs, we believe it is the industry’s best overall coverage. It is coverage that GM and Saturn will continue to firmly stand behind and GM will support the continued availability of Saturn parts and service as needed.

This is an exciting time at the Saturn brand, and I have to confess, it feels a bit like it did back in the 1980’s when the original Saturn project was being developed. As loyal Saturn owners and enthusiasts, I know you support this brand and you can believe we are working towards a vibrant future. Difficult times sometimes yield the most innovative solutions, and those who are willing to take on the challenge will emerge victorious. Stay tuned.

- Jill Lajdziak

[mattm]

Hello Jill. I would like to give you some insight into why your company is in this position. We have owned 5 Saturns. Our last Saturn was a 2004 L300 that we purchased new. This car had multiple issues that all of your retailers refused to fix. The reason they quoted was that the vehicles were operating as designed. Once I realized that the "operating as designed" stance was an effort to intentionally dodge vehicle repairs for known issues I realized that I must move away from Saturn. This occurred during you subpar leadership of Saturn. You should be ashamed of your tenure at this company and should voluntarily resign and relinquish any golden parachute that you have included in your contract. It would be the only way for you to exit the company with any honor at all.

Just wanted to inform you that your policies drove away a multi-vehicle customer. In fact the experience has driven me to avoid ANY GM product for the foreseeable future. Congratulations.

[Denny]

I bought my Saturn because it is a GM product, the best GM vehicle of its class/type available here. If Saturn were selling someone else's products (non-GM) they would cease to have any attraction for me. Sadly, in today's market there are way too many choices for consumers and the industry is choked with massive production capacity. Everyone is fighting for a (now) much smaller piece of the pie, so small right now, in fact, that very few companies can avoid losing great sums of money at it. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall" is the reality right now and GM carries big liabilities that depend on a heathly market. I truly believe GM was heading for better times in 2010, their house in order and well positioned to be competitive with the best of them. Unfortunately, the legacy of poor lending practices in the mortgage industry came home to roost, took the wheel and hit the brakes. My fondest dream is seeing GM return to world automotive domination, with all of her brands intact. And that includes Saturn, Saab, Hummer and Pontiac. Heck, I'd even like Oldsmobile back! I don't expect this to happen, however... These are sad times for anyone with loyalty and affection for the American auto industry (IMHO we should be able to easily identified these folks simply as "Americans" but...) and the people who make it their business and life's dedication to making it the best it can be. God save General Motors! To me, they will always be the builders of dreams. Sigh...

[slightlySt00pid1]

Saturn should distribute the electric line of BYD Auto...BYD enters North America in 2011 and Saturn runs out of supplied vehicles...makes perfect sense.

[sjsjedi]

The real question here is can Saturn become the Sears of the autoworld selling cars like Sears sells Kenmore Appliances. Sears doesn't make jack squat Kenmore anything its all subcontracted out as GE & Frigidaire make all the Kenmore refrigerators whereas Whirlpool makes all the dishwashers etc.

It might be a parts/inventory nightmare but if you could get decent cars subcontracted out from various companies with decent platforms in each targeted segment with Saturn specific interiors or exteriors much like VW did with the Town & Country their could be hope if the automobile equivalent of Whirlpool, GE, and Electorlux are willing to sell them to you.

[Joel]

Well, I must say I have been very disappointed by GMs decision. Although I do support Saturn very much, I am also a supporter of Saturn, as is my family. We have been buying GMs for years. One of the things that attracted me to Saturn was the fact that it was a GM.

Before I make a decision on what I will do in the future, I will have to see what happens with the brand. I truly hope Saturn continues on. It is such a great brand, as we all know, with a truly inspiring story from the beginning. We've had a good run, and I hope we continue to do so.

I hope that Saturn finds a home somewhere else, sourced with vehicles from another U.S. company.

We'll see what happens. While this can be an exciting time for Saturn, I feel it is equally as sad. Saturn began from GM. It was their effort to fight imports, and I think it is very sad that GM will be cutting their ties with Saturn.

[Natalia]

I am very disappointed about GM's "kill the Saturn" decision. Between my husband and myself, we have had 4 Saturns already! Currently, I am driving a 3-door 2008 Astra XR, and he is driivng 2004 VUE- they are both great! My sister-in-law drives a 2004 VUE as well, and my mother-in-law says she wants to buy one. Why get rid of something that is so good?! Dealers are nice, customer service has been one of the best in the industry for years, models consistently won "best of the year" in various categories, cars are good value-for money.. I know I am preaching to the converted...I wish GM discontinue something uglier...like Chevrolet trucks! (no offense to the drivers!)

[PSVUE]

It's an interesting idea but it's ultimate will come down to whether you can manufacture and sell high quality vehicles and make a profit doing it. In some ways you are probably better off without the constraints of GM but you will have to figure out a way to raise large amounts of capital without them. Of course given their fate of late that was a given anyway. LOL Get yourself access to the brightest and most innovative financial minds and give it a try. I wish you well.

[captsam]

I'll do the wait and see... I still find it annoying what GM has done to the Saturn Brand. I'll continue to drive S-Series cars 'til I no longer can. If you can build a car similar to the S-Series, with dent resistant panels... and is as fuel efficient as a hybrid or a clean diesel, I'll be the first in line to buy. Just be certain not to make the car so dependent on the ECTS this time.

I suspect people will be looking for an inexpensive practical car again... as they were in the early 90's when the S-Series was King.

[BES4Saturns]

I agree with some of the other comments. Source future Saturns from Opel and we'll have vehicles with BMW like cachet and Saturn's buying and service experience. That would be a winning combination!

[Rick Murphy (RicksVue)]

I hate to be a "glass half full" person, but folks have complained a lot about GM dragging Saturn into being an Opel redistribution arm and no longer independent. Well, here's a chance for Saturn to get back to it's roots, independent of GM. Let's see what happens before we write the obituary.

I'd like for Saturn to survive, to support the three Saturns in my driveway, but much more importantly for the loyal Saturn employees that made all this possible. Godspeed, Jill.