Fritz's comment

[L55]

In yesterday's conference call Fritz said GM was agreeable to selling Saturn "as long as it doesn't cost GM money or hurt GM". So how does a successful Saturn spinoff NOT hurt GM ???? Every car they sold would be a potential GM customer gone.

[mike08vue]

Probably wouldn't hurt GM as much as letting Saturn die. Many die hard Saturn fans as much as said on this very website that if Saturn goes away, they would never buy anything GM made. Who knows, if Saturn becomes independent again, they will need cars to sell and GM would probably be happy to sell them Saturn spec cars.

[2NDSOUT]

Originally Posted by L55

In yesterday's conference call Fritz said GM was agreeable to selling Saturn "as long as it doesn't cost GM money or hurt GM". So how does a successful Saturn spinoff NOT hurt GM ???? Every car they sold would be a potential GM customer gone.

I don't see how a Spinoff of Saturn will NOT hurt GM. You are spot on with your observation...

Interesting comparing GM's comments today compared to when Saturn was launched in 1985.....from the GM press conference with Roger Smith held on 01/08/85:

Saturn is our no-year project to develop and produce an American-made small car that will be fully competitive with the best of the imports. Saturn is the key to GM's Long Term competitiveness, survival and success as a domestic partner.

[steadler]

Won't hurt if they continue making some of the cars and /or is a shareholder-partner or make other type of vehicles hybrids etc not competing with GM

[page2171]

Originally Posted by L55

Every car they sold would be a potential GM customer gone.

Gm is probably assuming that Saturn customers will stay with GM, just as they did with Oldsmobile and probably are with Pontiac. Unfortunately for GM very few Olds customers stayed with GM, and I doubt very few Pontiac fans will stay with GM (I'm a Pontiac fan and with Pontiac and Saturn gone GM will have little that appeals to me anymore).

[John10]

Of course a revived competitive Saturn could hurt GM in the future however the creditors, bondholders, US government and possibly a bankruptcy court will not look kindly on GM letting Saturn "just die" if a legitimate buyer is willing to provide immediate cash or other value for the Saturn assets. I do not believe GM (particularly in a court supervised restructuring) will have the option of just closing down Saturn if a bona fide offer with real value is on the table.

[The Math God]

After having bought 5 Saturns in a row, if Saturn is gone I WILL NOT stick with GM
Honda looks awful good, especially the new Insight
that Kia Soul is sort of cute in a weird way as well

[s-seriesguy]

Originally Posted by L55

Every car they sold would be a potential GM customer gone.

Yeah and the astra sales speak for themselves when it comes to customers for the brand

Originally Posted by page2171

Gm is probably assuming that Saturn customers will stay with GM, just as they did with Oldsmobile and probably are with Pontiac. Unfortunately for GM very few Olds customers stayed with GM, and I doubt very few Pontiac fans will stay with GM (I'm a Pontiac fan and with Pontiac and Saturn gone GM will have little that appeals to me anymore).

As long as GM has RWD V8s to offer than look and perform good that is fine with me. Now if they start only making only greenie weiner cars like obama and the rest of washington would love to see then things may change