Could Saturn Become a Company Again

One-time car manufacturing subsidiary of Full general Motors

Saturn LLC

Type	Subsidiary, LLC
Industry	Automotive
Founded	Jan vii, 1985; 37 years agone  (January vii, 1985)
Defunct	October 31, 2010; 11 years ago  (2010-10-31)
Fate	Dissolved
Headquarters	Jump Hill, Tennessee, U.S. (1985–2007) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. (2007–2010)
Area served	U.s., Canada
Key people	Roger B. Smith (1985–1990) F. James McDonald Joseph J. Sanchez (1985) William East. Hoglund (1985–1986) Richard G. "Skip" LeFauve Don Hudler Cynthia Trudell (1998–2004) Jill Lajdziak (2004–2009) Frederick Henderson (2009) Edward Whitacre, Jr. (2010)
Products	Automobiles
Parent	Motors Liquidation Visitor General Motors
Website	Saturn.com

The Saturn Corporation, also known equally Saturn LLC, was an American motorcar manufacturer, a registered trademark established on January vii, 1985, as a subsidiary of General Motors.^[i] The company was an attempt by GM to compete direct with Japanese imports and transplants, initially in the Usa meaty car market.

The make marketed itself as a "dissimilar kind of car company" and operated quasi-independently from its parent company,^{[2] [3]} — comprehensively introducing a new car, dealer network, pricing construction, workforce and independently managed factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The offset cars themselves launched v years later the visitor's inception, and they advanced GM's spaceframe structure — manifesting Saturn's market place proffer with their paring-resistant polymer exterior panels.

Over time, as Saturn drained resources from GM's all-encompassing brand network and as GM struggled with the 2008 economic collapse, the parent visitor curtailed Saturn's development budgets — leaving Saturn to badge engineer products from other divisions, notably a series of federalized models from Opel. With this, Saturn gradually lost its unique selling proposition, and the market lost involvement.^[4] Annual sales accomplished their highest level in 1994, with 286,003 vehicles marketed.^[4]

Following a failed attempt by Penske Automotive to acquire Saturn in September 2009, GM concluded product in October of 2009, concluded outstanding franchises in October of 2010 and discontinued the brand — 25 years after it began.

History [edit]

1982–1989: Formation [edit]

Alex C. Mair began discussions of a "revolutionary new" modest car project, codenamed Saturn, in June 1982, soon after the GM J platform was introduced internationally. In November 1983, the Saturn idea was publicized by Full general Motors' Chairman Roger B. Smith and GM's President F. James McDonald. Twelve months later on, the showtime Saturn demonstration vehicle was revealed. On January 7, 1985, the Saturn Corporation was officially founded. Citing full disclosure, Saturn was founded as a private, employee-owned company, by one-time GM leadership. They remained individual until GM bought them out, and effectively "rewrote" company history.^[5]

In the mid-1980s, GM released the Saturn Concept Car. The car, which resembled the first Saturn SL, was not originally meant to start up a brand, however; GM planned to release the Saturn car under i of its brands, which, at the fourth dimension, were Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac and GMC. In 1985, GM inverse their program and founded Saturn as its ain make, with its first cars being the Saturn SC and Saturn SL. Production of both Saturn vehicles started in 1990 as early 1991 model year vehicles. The Saturn SW was later added for 1993. GM had plans for a sedan, a coupe, a convertible, a wagon, and even a sport utility vehicle; still, Saturn's commencement sport utility vehicle, the Vue did not appear until the 2002 model yr. and Saturn's first convertible the Sky did not appear until the 2006 model yr.

1990–2000: "A new kind of auto company" [edit]

On July 30, 1990, the first Saturn was built, a ruddy 1991 model-yr Saturn SL2. The first Saturn dealership opened in Memphis, Tennessee. Saturn Corporation was launched equally a "unlike kind of machine company", and Saturn even had its own unique automobile models (although afterward models shared platforms with other GM vehicles to be more cost effective in the market), and their own dealership network that was carve up from the rest of GM.

Results at Saturn were more doubtful than positive. According to The Wall Street Journal, the project was too aggressive, as "everything at Saturn is new: the car, the constitute, the workforce, the dealer network and the manufacturing process. Not fifty-fifty Toyota, a highly successful and experienced automaker, tackles more than two new items on any single project." While Saturn cars proved pop with buyers,^{[ commendation needed ]} actual sales never met the optimistic projected targets, in part because of the early 1990s recession. It too proved cannibalistic every bit 41% of Saturn buyers already owned a GM car. Its separation from the rest of its GM parent, plus the fact that it drained $5 billion from other car projects, stirred discontent within GM's other divisions. Also, Saturn opened at considerably higher cost than the Japanese transplants (factories that Japanese automakers established in the United states).^{[6] [seven]}

The brand was immediately known for its "no haggle" prices. The first Saturn model, the S-Series, was significantly successful.^{[ commendation needed ]} A year later, Saturn entered the Canadian market. In 1993, Saturn's 500,000th car, "Carla", was built. In May 1995, Saturn's one millionth car entered the market. In 1996, Saturn dealerships distributed the electric GM EV1, the first electric car released nether the GM marque. In 1997, Saturn became the first Full general Motors North American vehicle to be fully built with right-paw-bulldoze on the same assembly line as the left-hand-drive vehicles (the previous right-hand-drive GM Northward American vehicle were built in countries with left-mitt road rule using knock-downward kit and customized dashboard and steering components) as it entered the Japanese market.^{[ citation needed ]} In Jan 1999, Saturn rolled out its two millionth automobile. Too in 1999, Saturn began production of its all-new 50-Series for the 2000 model year.

By the fourth dimension the Saturn brand was launched in Nippon, the Japanese economy was already in a sharp refuse following the 1990 collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble.

2000–2008: Model expansion [edit]

Saturn'southward get-go compact crossover SUV was introduced in 2001 for the 2002 model year as the VUE based on a globally used GM design. In 2002 for the 2003 model year, Saturn introduced the ION every bit a replacement for the Southward-Series. In 2004 for the 2005 model year Saturn began selling the RELAY, a minivan and the first Saturn based on like models from other GM brands. That aforementioned year, the L-Series was discontinued. The Sky roadster was introduced in 2006 every bit a 2007 model. In 2006 for the 2007 model year, the Aura midsize sedan fabricated its fashion to dealerships, aslope the Outlook, a larger CUV than the Vue, and 2006 was the concluding year that the Ion was produced. The Ion was replaced by the European-built Astra in 2008. During the 2008 North American International Motorcar Show (NAIAS), Saturn revealed its Flextreme concept vehicle, which was a rebadged Opel Flextreme.^[v]

Saturn was believed to have had a disagreement with GM and was non very accepting of the visitor closing. In 2004, GM and the United Machine Workers dissolved their unique labor contract for the Bound Colina manufacturing constitute, allowing Saturn operations to be integrated with the rest of GM.^[viii]

2008–2009: Attempt to sell brand, marketplace changes [edit]

In US Congressional hearings on December 2, 2008, Full general Motors announced its intentions to focus on their four cadre brands (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC), with the sale, consolidation, or closure of Saturn and the remaining brands (Pontiac, Hummer, and Saab, with Oldsmobile having already discontinued product in 2004).^[9] General Motors chairman and former CEO Rick Wagoner announced during a news briefing on Feb 17, 2009, that Saturn would remain in functioning through the end of the planned life cycle for all Saturn products (2010–2011).

In February 2009, GM alleged its intent to part with this brand past endmost or selling the division, either to investors or to dealers, as role of restructuring plans dependent upon the receipt of a second round of government loans ("bailout" funding).^[10] It was the third such action for GM in the 21st century, post-obit those of Oldsmobile, which ceased production in 2004, and Pontiac, which ended product for the 2010 model twelvemonth by the end of 2009.^[11]

General Motors announced in June 2009 that it was selling the Saturn make to Penske Automotive Group.^[12] The organisation was similar to the deal under which Penske distributes Daimler AG's Smart Car in the The states.^[13] Penske was non planning to buy the factories and so it would eventually have had to contract other car companies to build cars sold every bit Saturns. GM would accept built the Aura, Vue, and Outlook for Penske for the first 2 years. To replace GM as the brand'south manufacturer, Penske was in discussions with several global automakers, including Renault Samsung Motors of Korea, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

By the terminate of 2009, GM closed all of its 46 Saturn dealerships in Canada, fifty-fifty those Saturn dealerships too selling Saab vehicles. GM and Penske decided that they could no longer brand a concern case to distribute Saturn vehicles in Canada later on the sale of the brand. Saturn's client service, parts, and warranty operations moved to other GM dealerships in Canada.^[14]

2009: Failed sale [edit]

On September thirty, 2009, Penske ended its bargain with General Motors because of Penske not finding another manufacturer to industry the Saturn cars. At ane point Penske was in talks with some car manufacturers including Renault Samsung Motors and the Renault-Nissan Brotherhood, however talks with the Renault-Nissan Alliance had ended mainly because of objections from the Nissan part of the alliance. Another function of the deal between Penske and GM was for GM to continue making the Aura, the Outlook, and the Vue until 2011, and then another manufacturer would have over. Since Penske didn't find some other car manufacturer that was willing to continue production of Saturn vehicles, the deal between Penske and GM ended. Every bit a effect, General Motors appear that the Saturn brand would be discontinued in 2010, and that all Saturn dealerships would be closed past October 31, 2010, or until all of their inventory had been sold.

In February 2010, to aid customer retention, GM announced that information technology was offering existing Saturn owners upward to US$two,000 in incentives to purchase a new Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac or GMC vehicle until March 31. Customers were required to have owned their Saturns for at to the lowest degree six months and were not required to trade them in to be eligible for the incentives.^[15]

Saturn Authorized Service Providers were introduced since the endmost of the Saturn brand, available at GM dealers. Saturn Authorized Service Providers are responsible for all aspects of service, including warranty service, on Saturn vehicles.

Saturn's last vehicle models were the Saturn Aura, the Saturn Outlook, the Sky, and the Saturn Vue. GM had continued to produce the Aura, the Outlook, the Sky, and the Vue into the 2010 model yr.

In 2012, Full general Motors rebadged and reintroduced the discontinued Saturn Vue every bit the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport. The Captiva Sport was generally unchanged from the discontinued Saturn Vue. The Captiva Sport did not have a hybrid version bachelor, similar the Vue did.

2009-2010: Company end [edit]

GM ended Saturn product October 7, 2009^[16] and ended its outstanding franchises on Oct 31, 2010.^{[17] [18]}

Models [edit]

Before models [edit]

Originally, the company's products used a dedicated platform chosen the Z-body and a dedicated engine, the ane.ix L Saturn I4 engine, and a dedicated plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The original Saturns featured dent-resistant plastic torso panels which,promoted equally hands enabling quick styling revisions — though in practice the feature was not much exploited.

The Saturn S-Series family of cars were produced from 1991 to 2002 over three generations: Start generation cars were produced from 1991 to 1995. For the 1995 model year Saturn used a "kickoff generation" exterior and "2nd generation" interior. The outside of the 1995 model looked the same as the start generation cars, but it had larger gauge faces on the instrument cluster and a redesigned eye console. Start generation engines were rated at 85 horsepower (63 kW) for the unmarried overhead cam engines, while the dual overhead cam engines were rated at 124 horsepower (92 kW) for the entire run of Southward-Series cars (1991–2002). In 1996, the 2d generation S-Serial sedan was introduced. Changes carried through until 1999 included a redesigned trunk and single overhead cam power beingness increased to 100 horsepower (75 kW). The third generation sedan received only minor blueprint changes for the 2000-2002 production run. The outside body panels were updated once over again, and new pigment colors were offered. The sedan retained many of the same mechanical components with an updated interior design. In 1997, the 2d generation of the sport coupe model was introduced with a more scooped headlight forepart. The 1999 coupe models received a suicide door backside the driver side door. The S-Series was produced in three variations: coupe (SC), sedan (SL), and railroad vehicle (SW). The carriage was introduced for the 1993 model year and information technology was produced until 2001.

The first significant modify came with the 2000 Saturn Fifty-Serial mid-size car. It shared the GM2900 platform with the Opel Vectra, along with its engine. It was built at a GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware. The 2000 model twelvemonth cars were designated LS-i (4 cylinder) and LS-ii (vi cylinder.) Since Lincoln-Mercury owned the LS designator, and to prevent a lawsuit, Saturn inverse the designators to L200 and L300 for the model years 2001–2005. The Saturn L200 was discontinued after the 2003 model year. In 2003, the Saturn Ion replaced the S-Serial compact.

Production of the Saturn Ion was temporarily stopped for three weeks in 2003 due to Saturn dealerships having an overstock of Ion vehicles.

The Saturn L-Serial was discontinued after the 2005 model year due to poor sales, i year after Oldsmobile had been discontinued..

Last model line [edit]

In 2007, the two final Saturn models with plastic body panels were the VUE and ION. Plastic body panels were discontinued on all Saturn models after the 2007 model yr. None of the 2008 Saturn models used plastic trunk panels.

The 2009 Saturn models were the Sky roadster, the Aura sedan, the Astra hatchback, the VUE small crossover SUV and the Outlook total-size crossover SUV built off the GM Lambda platform.^[xix]

Some of the final Saturns were most identical to sure European Opel/Vauxhall models. For example, the 2008 Saturn VUE was a rebadged Opel Antara, while the Opel GT was based on the Saturn Sky. The Saturn Astra was a rebadged version of the Opel Astra. The Saturn Astra was as well the first Saturn to be congenital outside of North America. The Saturn Astra was built in Antwerp, Belgium.^[20] Saturn's version of the Astra was available as a captive import from late 2007 until Saturn was discontinued following GM'south 2010 defalcation.

Saturn had featured two sub-lines of their vehicles: the Light-green Line and the Red Line. The Greenish Line Saturn models were environmentally friendly mild hybrid vehicles, and the Red Line Saturn models were high-performance and sporty vehicles.

Model lineup [edit]

A Saturn Dealership in Michigan

Model	Form	Production
Saturn Southward-Series	compact sedan and coupe	1991–2002
	station wagon	1993–2001
Saturn 50-Series	mid-size sedan and station wagon	2000–2005
Saturn Vue	meaty crossover	2002–2010
Saturn Ion	compact sedan and quad coupe	2003–2007
Saturn Relay	minivan	2005–2007
Saturn Heaven	roadster	2007–2010
EV1	Electrical	1996–1999
Saturn Outlook	full-size crossover	2007–2010
Saturn Aura	mid-size sedan	2007–2010
Saturn Astra	compact three– and 5-door hatchback	2008–2009

Concepts [edit]

• Saturn Epitome (1984)
• Saturn Prototype (1988)
• Saturn Sport Sedan Concept (1990)
• Saturn SC Performance Edition (1999)
• Saturn CV-one (2000)
• Saturn SCX (2001)
• Saturn LST (2001)
• Saturn VUE Urban Expression (2001)
• Saturn VUE Outdoor Expression (2001)
• Saturn SC2 Concept (2002)
• Saturn Sky Concept (2002)
• Saturn ION·EFX (2002)
• Saturn ION QC/T (2003)
• Saturn ION Rally (2003)
• Saturn VUE Ruby Line Street Play (2004)
• Saturn VUE "Leap Special" (2004)
• Saturn Curve (2004)
• Saturn Aura Concept (2005)
• Saturn Outlook Adventure (2006)
• Saturn PreVue (2006)
• Saturn Astra Tuner (2007)
• Saturn Flextreme (2008)
• Saturn VUE Greenline Hyline (2008)
• Saturn VUE Hybrid 2-Mode (2009)

Slogans

A Unlike Kind Of Car Company (1990-1994)

A Different Kind Of Visitor, A Different Kind Of Car (1994-2002)

It'due south Different In A Saturn (2002-2004)

People First (2004-2006)

Like Always. Like Never Before. (2006-2007)

Rethink American (2007)

Rethink (2008-2010)

Awards [edit]

• 1991
  • Saturn receives 2 "Argent Anvil" awards for community and internal relations.
  • Saturn receives Popular Mechanics "Design and Engineering" award for "manufacturing processes that result in exceptionally high quality for an all-new vehicle."
  • Saturn receives "Driver's Option awards for best small-scale auto" from MotorWeek.
• 1992
  • Saturn receives "Commuter's Choice awards for best small car" from MotorWeek.
  • Saturn is in the "Acme X Domestic Buys" according to Motor Trend magazine.
  • Saturn receives the "EVE" accolade for Saturn'south endeavor to employ women and minorities.
• 1993
  • Saturn receives the Best American Car Value Nether 13,000; Lowest Total Cost To Ain—American Car; Best Overall Value—Compact Class under 16,500; from Intellichoice.
  • Saturn receives Technology of the Year from Automobile Magazine.
• 1995
  • Saturn receives All-time American Machine Value under thirteen,000; Best Compact Under 17,000; All-time Subcompact over 12,500; from Intellichoice.
• 1996
  • Saturn receives Best American Machine Value under 20,000; Best Meaty Value under 17,000 (import or domestic); by Intellichoice.
  • Saturn receives the award for Best Small-scale Wagon (import or domestic).
  • Saturn receives the award for All-time Subcompact value under 12,000 (import or domestic).
  • Saturn receives the accolade for All-time Subcompact value over 12,500 (import or domestic).
• 1997
  • Saturn receives Best Auto Value Under 20,000; Best Compact Value nether 15,000; Best Subcompact Value nether 14,000; Best Pocket-size Wagon Value; from Intellichoice.
  • Saturn is the Leader in "Brands under 20,000".
• 1999
  • Saturn receives awards for Best Compact Value nether xx,000; Best Modest Wagon Value.
  • Saturn S-Series gets a Double 5-Star rating in Driver & Passenger in front end-collision tests.
• 2000
  • Saturn is voted MotorWeek's "Best Family Sedan".
  • Saturn receives "All-time Overall Value of the Year" for the SL1, and SL2 from Intellichoice.
  • Saturn in Spring Hill receives "Most Valuable Pollution Prevention."
• 2007
  • Saturn's 2007 Aura claims N American Machine of the Yr.
• 2008
  • Saturn'due south Outlook receives Parents Mag/Edmunds.com "Best Family Automobile 2008", "Best Crossover Utility" by MotorWeek Drivers, "Best New Family Vehicle" from kbb.com.

Plants [edit]

• Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, United mexican states (Full general Motors) – Vue (2008–2010)
• Spring Hill, Tennessee, (Spring Hill Manufacturing) – Southward-Serial (1991-2002), Vue (2002–2007), ION (2003–2007)
• Doraville, Georgia, (Doraville Assembly) — Relay (2005–2007)
• Fairfax Commune (Kansas City, Kansas) (Full general Motors) – Aura
• Antwerp. Belgium (Full general Motors Europe) – Astra
• Lansing Delta Township Assembly, Delta Charter Township, Michigan (Full general Motors) – Outlook
• Wilmington, Delaware (constitute closed)^[21] – Sky, L series, Pontiac Solstice

References [edit]

1. ^ Staff Author. "How Saturn Cars Piece of work". howstuffworks.com. Archived from the original on Baronial 24, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
2. ^ "GM confirms site for Saturn institute". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 30, 1985. p. 1B.
3. ^ "International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 21". St. James Press. fundinguniverse.com. 1998. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
4. ^ ^{a b} Daniel O'Callaghan (Jan 29, 2022). "Falling Dorsum to Earth (Part V); Saturn spirals out of Orbit". Driven to Write.
5. ^ ^{a b} "History Of The Saturn Car Company – Our Story | Almost Us". saturn.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved July five, 2009.
6. ^ Robert A. G. Monks (2005). "Corporate Governance case study: General Motors". Corporate Governance. Blackwell Publishers. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
7. ^ Greenwald, John (November 9, 1992). "What Went Incorrect? Everything at In one case". Fourth dimension. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
8. ^ Staff Writer (June 26, 2004). "Innovative Saturn-UAW Contract Dismantled". saturnfans.com. Archived from the original on April iv, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
9. ^ Vlasic, Bill (Dec 2, 2008). "Pursuing U.S. Aid, G.M. Accepts Need for Drastic Cuts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on Feb xix, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
10. ^ Krisher, Tom; Thomas, Ken (February 17, 2009). "GM seeks upward to $30B in aid, will cutting 47,000 jobs". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009. {{cite news}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
11. ^ "The Last Pontiac Congenital in the US". autoevolution.com. Archived from the original on March vi, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
12. ^ Goldman, David (June 5, 2009). "GM to sell Saturn to Penske". CNN Money. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
13. ^ David Goldman and Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writers (June 5, 2009). "GM to sell Saturn to Penske". cnn.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
14. ^ Chrissie Thompson, Automotive News (September one, 2009). "GM to close 46 Canadian Saturn stores by the stop of the year". autoweek.com. Archived from the original on September v, 2009. Retrieved September two, 2009.
15. ^ Vijayenthiran, Viknesh (February fourteen, 2010). "The Machine Connection – GM Offering Saturn Owners $two,000 to Stay with Company". thecarconnection.com. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
16. ^ Nelson Ireson. "Saturn Production Halted, Remaining Cars Sold Off Within four Months". thecarconnection.com. Archived from the original on Oct 7, 2009. Retrieved October v, 2009.
17. ^ Van, Adam. "Savannah Saturn car dealership adjusts business". savannahnow.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
18. ^ "GM to close Saturn equally sale to Penske collapses". Reuters. reuters.com. Archived from the original on August xviii, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
19. ^ "Saturn: New 2009 Cars, SUVs, & Crossover Vehicles". saturn.com. Archived from the original on February xviii, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2019. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
21. ^ "GM closes Delaware constitute, ceases Solstice, Sky production". leftlanenews.com. July 29, 2009. Archived from the original on Baronial 5, 2009. Retrieved Oct 1, 2009.

External links [edit]

• Official website
• Saturn official social network
• Saturn official Canadian website
• Saturn Corporation at Curlie

granberrythaniorefore1998.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation