![]() ![]() In the mid-1980s, GM released the Saturn Concept Car. They remained private until GM bought them out, and effectively "rewrote" company history. Citing full disclosure, Saturn was founded as a private, employee-owned company, by former GM leadership. On January 7, 1985, the Saturn Corporation was officially founded. Twelve months later, the first Saturn demonstration vehicle was revealed. In November 1983, the Saturn idea was publicized by General Motors' Chairman Roger B. Mair began discussions of a "revolutionary new" small car project, codenamed Saturn, in June 1982, soon after the GM J platform was introduced internationally. 1.4 2008–2009: Attempt to sell brand, market changes.įollowing a failed attempt by Penske Automotive to acquire Saturn in September 2009, GM ended production in October of 2009, ended outstanding franchises in October of 2010, and discontinued the brand 25 years after it began. Annual sales achieved their highest level in 1994, with 286,003 vehicles marketed. With this, Saturn gradually lost its unique selling proposition, and the market lost interest. ![]() ![]() Over time, as Saturn drained resources from GM's extensive brand network and as GM struggled with the 2008 economic collapse, the parent company curtailed Saturn's development budgets - leaving Saturn to badge engineer products from other divisions, notably a series of federalized models from Opel. The first cars themselves launched five years after the company's inception, and they advanced GM's spaceframe construction-manifesting Saturn's market proposition with their dent-resistant polymer exterior panels. The brand marketed itself as a "different kind of car company" and operated quasi-independently from its parent company, -comprehensively introducing a new car, dealer network, pricing structure, workforce and independently managed manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The company was an attempt by GM to compete directly with Japanese imports and transplants, initially in the US compact car market. The Saturn Corporation, also known as Saturn LLC, was an American automobile manufacturer, a registered trademark established on January 7, 1985, as a subsidiary of General Motors. ![]()
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