As every GM stockholder was aware, the reason GM created the Saturn as a whole separate division was to determine if a small car could be built profitable in the US with American labor and parts. Once it was established it could be, Saturn was to be included in GMs economies of scale to lower the build costs..
mike hunt
Gordon McGrew wrote in
> news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
>
>
>> Don't forget Saturn. The different kind of car company that now is
>> just another exercise in badge engineering. Can't imagine they will
>> be around in five years.
>
>
> It was actually at the top of my mind when I started the post, and just
> slipped my mind.
> I used to love Saturn, for all it's faults. Now, it's just another brand
> with the same platforms, etc. GM neglected it, and then figured that the
> way to fix it wasn't continued autonomy, but to 'roll' it up as just > another division.
> IF their intention is to continue chevy as an "american" car company, and
> they continue to provide Saturn platforms developed in Europe, then I can
> see them developing Saturn into an import/european - fighter brand. >
> You know, what they thought about Oldsmobile 15-20 years ago??
>
> It's a shame, I love Saturn, it's history, and what they were trying to
> do...but it just all ended up wrong and past management never, ever
> clearly defined the markets each division would go for. honestly, chevy,
> pontiac, then olds as an import fighter (never worked out that way), and
> then add Saturn to the mid-priced section?
>
> Yeah, think about that and then ask why GM is where they are!
> JP