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Saturn Corporation

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This article is about the General Motors subsidiary. For the Saturn models manufactured between 1991 and 2002, see Saturn S-Series. For other uses, see Saturn (disambiguation).
Saturn Distribution Corporation
Company typeWholly-owned subsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedJanuary 7, 1985
Headquarters
Michigan Detroit, Michigan
,
USA
ParentGeneral Motors
Websitewww.saturn.com

Saturn Distribution Corporation is the subsidiary of General Motors Corporation responsible for the franchising, marketing, and distribution of the Saturn brand of vehicles. As a GM company, Saturn was established on January 7, 1985, in response to the success of Japanese and German small-car imports in the United States.[1] As a "different kind of car company", Saturn operated outside the GM superstructure for a time, with its own assembly plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, unique models, and a separate dealership network.[2]

In February 2009, General Motors announced plans to end production of Saturns by the end of MY 2012 should a sale or spin-off of the brand not happen. They are doing this to cut costs and better position the company to receive additional aid from the federal government.[3]

Previous models

The company's products used a dedicated platform called the Z-body and a dedicated engine, the 1.9 L Saturn I4 engine, and a dedicated plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. All of the original Saturns featured dent-resistant plastic body panels which were also touted as allowing the company to change the look of the vehicles readily. However, in practice, the company did not take advantage of this capability often.

Saturn S-Series cars were produced from 1991-2002. There were 3 Generations of S-Series Cars. First Generation S-Series cars were produced from 1991-1994. For the 1995 Model year, Saturn implemented a "First Generation" exterior, and "Second Generation" interior. The exterior of the 1995 model year looked the same as the first generation cars, but exhibited larger gauge faces on the instrument cluster, and a redesigned middle console. First Generation engines were rated at 85 horsepower (63 kW) for the Single Overhead Cam Engines, while the Dual Overhead Cam Engines were rated at 124 horsepower (92 kW) for the entire run of S-Series cars (1991-2002). In 1996, the Second Generation S-Series Sedan was introduced and remained virtually unchanged for the rest of the vehicle's production run. In 1997, the Second Generation of the Sport Coupe model was introduced with a more "scooped" headlight front. The S-Series was produced in three variations: Coupe (SC), Sedan (SL), and Wagon (SW). The Wagon was introduced for the 1993 Model year and was produced until 2001.

The first real change came with the 2000 Saturn L-Series mid-size car. It shared the GM2900 platform with the Opel Vectra, along with its engine, and was built at a GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware. The Saturn Sky is now being produced in the Wilmington factory along with the essentially identical Opel GT and the closely-related Pontiac Solstice.

In recent years, sales have been in decline. Ion production lines were halted for two weeks in 2003 to allow dealer inventory to reduce. The L-Series was canceled after production of the 2005 models, and the Ion was canceled after 2007.

Today

2009 Saturn Vue on an AWD Trail in the Appalachian Mountains

In 2004, GM and the UAW dissolved their unique labor contract for the Spring Hill, Tennessee manufacturing plant.[4]

As of 2009, the company shares GM's Delta, Epsilon, Lambda and Theta platforms, and the company's Ecotec engines - including the new 2.4L LE5 I4, Turbo 2.0L LNF I4, and DCVCP 1.8L I4 - with the V6's being the High Feature LY7 3.6L V6 and High Value LZ4 3.5L V6 engines. The Saturn Vue used a Honda engine in the past, and the plastic body panels have been discontinued on all current vehicles.

The 2009 Saturn models are the Sky roadster, the Aura sedan, the Astra hatchback, the Vue small crossover SUV and the Outlook full-size crossover SUV built off the GM Lambda platform (replacing the Relay minivan).[5]

Some current Saturns are virtually identical to certain Opel/Vauxhall models. For example, the 2008 Saturn Vue is a rebadged Opel Antara, while the Opel GT is based on the Saturn Sky. The Opel Astra is imported from Antwerp, Belgium as the Saturn Astra (replacing the Ion as the entry-level car). On the other hand, the Saturn Aura, while sometimes compared to the Opel Vectra, is a unique model for the North American market similar to the Pontiac G6.

The company offers two sub-lines of vehicles: "Red Line" Saturns are performance-oriented, while "Green Line" cars are more environmentally friendly hybrids.[6] The Vue and Ion Red Line models, launched in 2004, have been joined by Vue and AURA Green Lines for the 2007 model year and a Sky Red Line the same model year. Saturn's Green Line vehicles utilize mild hybrid technology.[7]

Future

In US Congressional hearings on December 2, 2008, General Motors announced its intentions to focus on four core brands (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac), with the sale, consolidation, or closure of Saturn and the remaining brands (Hummer, Saab, Pontiac).[8] General Motors Chairman and former CEO Rick Wagoner announced during a news conference on February 17, 2009 that Saturn will remain in operation through the end of the planned lifecycle for all Saturn products (2010-11). In the interim, should Saturn retailers as a group or other investors present a plan that would allow a spin off or sale of Saturn Distribution Corporation, GM would be open to any such possibility. If a spin off or sale does not occur, it is GM's intention to phase out the Saturn brand at the end of the current product lifecycle.[9] If the brand were to be phased out, it would be the second such action for GM in the 21st century, the first being that of Oldsmobile, which ceased production in 2004.

In recent news concerning restructuring of GM the corporation declared its intent to part with this brand by closing or selling the division, either to investors or to dealers, as part of plans dependent upon the receipt of a second round of government loans ("bailout" funding).[10]

On April 15, 2009, it was reported that a private equity group is interested in buying Saturn Corporation from General Motors.[11]

Advertising slogans

  • 1985
    • "What Kind Of Car Is That? It's A Saturn!"
  • 1989 – 1994:
    • "A Different Kind of Car Company" (US)
    • "We've reinvented the automobile." (Canada)
  • 1994 – 2002: "A Different Kind of Company, A Different Kind of Car."
  • 2002 – 2004: "It's Different in a Saturn"
  • 2004 – 2006: "People First"
  • 2006 – 2007: "Like Always. Like Never Before."
  • 2007 – present:
    • Formerly "Rethink American.", later "Rethink." (US)
    • "Like Always. Like Never Before.", later "Rethink." (Canada)
    • "Passion for the Road." (Spanish-speaking US slogan)

References

  1. ^ "How Saturn Cars Work". howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2009-02-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 21". St. James Press. fundinguniverse.com. 1998. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  3. ^ Saltonstall, David (February 18th 2009). "Saturn will exit from GM's orbit". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2009-02-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Innovative Saturn-UAW Contract Dismantled". saturnfans.com. June 26, 2004. Retrieved 2009-02-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Saturn: New 2009 Cars, SUVs, & Crossover Vehicles". Saturn Corporation. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  6. ^ Deacon, Clinton (February 5, 2007). "Saturn to Debut 2008 Vue Red Line & Green Line Hybrid". worldcarfans.com. Retrieved 2009-02-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "2008 Saturn Aura Hybrid Review". edmunds.com. 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Vlasic, Bill (December 2, 2008). "Pursuing U.S. Aid, G.M. Accepts Need for Drastic Cuts". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  9. ^ Hyde, Justin (February 17, 2009). "GM: $2 billion needed by March to avoid going into bankruptcy". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  10. ^ "GM seeks up to $30B in aid, will cut 47,000 jobs". San Francisco Chronicle. February 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  11. ^ http://www.detnews.com/article/20090415/AUTO01/904150412/1361/Investor+group+makes+offer+for+Saturn
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