GM: Stand By For Saturn Spin-Off

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: February 19th, 2009

GM’s Jill Lajdziak has written a letter ( PDF) to Saturn dealers and customers warning that the General is actively pursuing a spin-off for its “different kind of car company.” Explaining that Saturn Distribution Corporation is “already an independent subsidiary,” Lajdziak says that Saturn dealers would be able to source GM products until 2011, and “if successful, SDC at that point would source products from other manufacturers.” Meanwhile, sit tight and enjoy the ride. “GM will support the continued availability of Saturn parts and service as needed,” says Lajdziak. So while Saturn struggles along under the toxic stench of rejection by GM, let the speculation begin! Will a German government-backed Opel take on the distribution net? Will an upstart Chinese firm see this as a cheap entry to the American market? Or is 2011 the end of the road for Roger Smith’s experiment?

Edward Niedermeyer

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4 of 36 comments

Rudiger on Feb 19, 2009
"This is an exciting time at the Saturn Brand."Kind of like how jumping out of a fourth story window is 'exciting'...

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Mike_H on Feb 19, 2009
“if successful, SDC at that point would source products from other manufacturers” Translation: If SDC hasn't gone down the crapper, and you dealers have somehow remained solvent, we'll try to hook you up with Subaru, Dihatsu, Chery, Daewoo and perhaps Tata and Mahindra. But at least you won't get Pontiac, so you've got that going for you.

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Mike_H on Feb 19, 2009

Oh yeah, and since the name Saturn will no longer be viable, our marketing guys have created a new name and a fresh, kicky new identity for the brand. It will be called Uranus Global Motors.

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Akear on Feb 19, 2009

Black hole would be a better name.

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