GM has announced it’s decision to kill of yet another line, Saturn.
In recent years GM sold its European lines, Saab and Opel, as well as the Hummer. Pontiac, Geo and Oldsmobile were just shut down. Period. They joined Elmore, LaSalle, Marquette, Oakland and Viking in GM’s graveyard of nameplates.
The Saturn had been introduced as “A different kind of car, a different kind of company.” It drew buyers, but more than 40% of them already owned a GM car, so it was really robbing Peter to pay Paul. The net gains in sales just weren’t enough to make economic sense.
In the end, much of the Saturn line was comprised of re-badged Opels or Pontiacs.
Perhaps with fewer mouths to feed, GM will finally begin rebuilding. Or not.