Advertising
GM Hasn’t Learned, Is Still "as Dysfunctional as Ever"
Jean Halliday from Advertising Age: General Motors said it wasn't going to do corporate ads — and then it put Chairman Ed Whitacre in its multiple-model "May the Best Car Win" campaign. The automaker also said it was going to create distinctive advertising for its four remaining vehicle brands, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC — but tell that to subscribers of Newsweek and BusinessWeek.
Saturn Was a Marketing Success
Charlene Sadler from CBC News: Historians reviewing what went wrong with Saturn shouldn't blame fickle consumers for turning their back on a brand trying to do things differently, says an automotive marketing expert.
Flashback Friday: Saturn "Visions"
The news last week about Saturn's current owner magazine going all-digital got me thinking about the first Saturn owner newsletter. The first one that I can remember at least. Long before there was "Saturn 360" or even "Saturn Signatures," there was a quarterly publication called "Visions" that Saturn put together for owners, team members, and their families.
Flashback Friday: Saturn’s "Romance with Cars" Television Ad
Saturn's early television and print ads were quirky, offbeat spots that often focused more on the emotional side of owning a car, rather than talking about latest models from Saturn. But in a clever, indirect, and very effective manner those first ads were very much all about Saturn, and how owning a Saturn could make you feel. Take this commercial that aired in or around 1992.
GM Says its Learned from Mistakes Made with Saturn Advertising
Alisa Priddle from the Detroit News: Lutz is convinced advertising is the key. He compared the dismal sales of the critically acclaimed Saturn Aura, which was named North American Car of the Year, to the sales success of the Chevrolet Malibu, also a Car of the Year winner. The difference: GM spent more than $100 million to advertise the Malibu, 10 times what it spent on the Aura, Lutz said.
Wall Street Journal: At Saturn, a Split Over Invoking the Penske Name
John Stoll from the Wall Street Journal: To spark interest and remind consumers that Saturn is still alive, its dealers have kicked off a new marketing campaign built around the slogan, "Wonder where the car business is headed? It's here." The slogan will be used on banners across Saturn storefronts and in a spate of email blasts, Facebook blogs and direct communications with buyers.
Saturn.com Now Lets You "Ask Jill" Questions About the Brand as the Company Expands its Web Presence
Saturn recently added a new feature to its website that allows visitors to pose questions directly to General Manager Jill Ladjziak. Some folks have already taken advantage of the opportunity. They've asked questions about Saturn's future, the impact any changes in ownership will have on their vehicle warranty, and who she rooted for during the Stanley Cup finals (well, maybe not that question). Keeping in close contact with customers is something Jill has always felt strongly about and excelled at doing. This new tool gives Jill and her team a way to communicate on a personalized level with owners and enthusiasts.
Time Magazine: Saturn Still Pitching Hard
Joseph R. Szczesny from Time: One month after General Motors announced that it was preparing to spin off or drop Saturn as part of the effort to regain viability, the beleaguered automaker is now spending millions of dollars on ads for Saturn during the telecasts of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. "We're Still Here," one ad emphatically says, as if to squash rumors to the contrary.
Video: Third of Three New Saturn Commercials Focuses on Fuel Efficiency
The third of three new commercials narrated by Saturn retail store owners focuses on the fuel efficiency of Saturn's vehicles. This ad features Karen Radley who owns Saturn of Fredericksburg in Virginia. By the way, if you want to see the stunning lines of the Vue and Aura in high-definition on your big screen television, SaturnFans.com hears that the new TV spots will air throughout the NCAA basketball tournament on CBS.
Video: New Saturn "Pundits" Commercial Discusses Class-Leading Fuel Economy and Side-by-Side Selling
This is the second of three new television commericals Saturn has just started airing to let consumers know the brand is still in the business and offering a class-leading lineup of cars, crossovers, and convertibles for sale. Saturn retailer Jim Smith narrates this particular ad.




