Latest Podcast from Saturn of Raleigh

Saturn of Cary and Saturn of Raleigh C.A.R.S. (Cash For Clunkers) podcast

Test drive a Saturn if you're thirsty

Saturn and Honest Tea have teamed up for a promotion.

Cash for Clunkers megasite - lots of information

Looks like GM has all of the good links right here

Blood Drive @ Saturn of Hickory July 18th

Date: Saturday: Jul 18, 2009

Start Time: 10:00 AM

End Time: 1:15 PM

Where: Saturn of Hickory

Bloodmobile

Address:
1775 Catawba Valley Blvd SE
Hickory, NC 28602

Humane Society Rabies Clinic at Saturn of Hickory Saturday 6/20

Saturn of Hickory is hosting a Humane Society Rabies Clinic this Saturday from 2-4PM. Bring your pets in for $7.oo rabies vaccinations and $30 microchipping. That's a bargain! This is the last one of these for awhile - don't miss your chance to save some $.

Saturn of Raleigh hosting Free Child ID event

What's a Picture really worth?
If your child is missing for whatever reason, the picture you take now could be priceless!

Entertainment for kids:
*Clowns from Jolly Raleigh Klown Alley
*Play in the Sea Creature Wonderland
*Pony Rides
*Design a T-shirt and you could win a mountain bike -kids only :)
*Free Photo ID and finger printing

Date:	Saturday, June 20, 2009
Time:	11:00am - 3:00pm
Location:	Saturn of Raleigh
Street:	5501 Capital Blvd
City/Town:	Raleigh, NC

Phone:	919 604 0126
Email:	nylhtak@gmail.com

Saturn Listening to Students

Saturn Listening to Students’ Strategy for the Brand’s Future...

Undergraduate management students in the NC State College of Management's Policy and Strategy class taught by Ed Weems, lecturer, have been studying the Saturn brand case during this summer's first five-week session.

check out the whole article

letter to Saturn Customers from Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak

"Saturn, from the beginning, has always been a brand to challenge convention. A belief that good enough isn’t good enough. And no matter how great the challenge, a knowledge that there is always a way to persevere. So, at a time when the automotive industry is challenged to find a better way, Saturn stands poised to accept that challenge. It is that enduring spirit that will guide us as we open this new chapter in the Saturn story."

read the whole thing here

GM warranty confusion cleared up at Consumer Reports

from CR:

"Under the terms of the warranty, the customer should first attempt to bring their vehicle to any Saturn retailer for warranty service. If there is no retailer in their immediate area, or if it is an emergency situation, the repair can be made at any General Motors dealership. In non-emergency situations, it is a good idea for a customer who is having trouble finding a nearby Saturn retailer to call Saturn Customer Assistance before going to a non-Saturn location. That number is (800) 553-6000."

This is great, but not everyone is playing along, so:

In the meantime, we recommend car owners call ahead and confirm with a service manager that warranty work will be performed. If one dealer refuses, call another.

Makes sense.

For the record: We've never stopped doing warranty work for Saturn owners.

Everything you need to know about...

from Tuned.com

Let’s face it. Pretty much everything happening within GM is big news these days. But when legendary racecar driver and business mogul Roger Penske says he wants buy Saturn from the bankrupt automaker — that’s a top of the fold, front-page story.

Sweet.

Triangle Saturn TV Spot

if this player doesn't work - try clicking here or look for it on Facebook

Great Penske Interview from WJR

Right-click here to download or click here to listen to the mp3.

Saturn VUE makes Top 10 Least Expensive to Insure list

"...the Saturn Vue is a relatively compact cute 'ute with little aspirations of actually venturing off the beaten path. It's a pretty good car by our reckoning, and we'd be more than happy to shell out the $911 average yearly insurance premium..."

from Autoblog.com

Will Saturn/Penske become the new template for auto retailing?

“The announcement that Penske Automotive Group will buy General Motors’ Saturn brand is one of the most significant developments in a month that has been full of significant developments. The proposed acquisition marks the beginning of a new business model in this industry; a model in which the distribution side of the business controls the brand and manufacturing is conducted by one or more sub-contractors.”

- Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com speaking to Dealersedge.com

Roger Penske: 'We're going to build a Saturn team' - USATODAY.com

We start with a tremendous foundation of product, of people and, more important, we have 3.5 million consumers that are driving Saturn vehicles today. If you came in from the outside as a manufacturer from anywhere in the world, you wouldn't have that base.

Some background on Roger Penske...

added to the MSNBC story from Friday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31131864/

Penske and Jill Lajdziak on cnbc

Bigger player at MSNBC

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

“It allows Saturn to get back to its original roots, which is to be an independent car company,”

from msnbc

Carl F. Galeana, who owns two Saturn dealerships north of Detroit, said Friday he was thrilled that Penske would be the Saturn buyer.

“Roger Penske is an icon in the business world,” Galeana said. “I’ve worked with him personally. Nobody works harder than Roger Penske.”

Galeana said the fact that Penske is interested in Saturn means the brand has value.

“It allows Saturn to get back to its original roots, which is to be an independent car company,” he said.

Saturn and Penske: Two Iconic Teams Poised to Make History Again

from SaturnCares

“There has been a groundswell of support for Saturn, with our retailers and owners urging us to save the brand,” said Lajdziak. “We heard their call loud and clear, and it inspired us as we worked to secure Saturn’s future.”

More details on Penske Saturn Purchase...

from Dealers Edge:

Penske's Deal To Buy Saturn Confirmed
Saturn dealers exhale then celebrate

In what has to be very good news for about 350 of the remaining Saturn dealerships, the man with the Midas touch has signed a memorandum of understanding with GM; agreeing to acquire the Saturn brand, the right to distribute vehicles to the Saturn dealer network and their inventory of parts. A third-quarter closing is expected; the selling price has not yet been disclosed.

The Penske Automotive Group already has a network of franchised auto dealerships totaling 310 locations around the world, according to a report in The New York Times. In addition the Penske Group is the sole distributor for Smart cars in the U.S. In a statement from Penske, there is no plan to distribute Smart cars from the Saturn locations. Penske also controls Detroit Diesel along with several IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am racing teams.

According to an Associated Press report, while talking to reporters, Penske indicated that he expects to offer new franchise agreements to the existing Saturn dealers.

For the next two years, the new Saturn will have access to GM-built vehicles. According to a Penske quote, he said, "We will be selling as many GM cars -- a many GM-produced cars -- under the Saturn brand as possible."

He also indicated that they are in talks with vehicle manufacturers from around the world about building new Saturn models in the future. One such proposed deal would have Saturn models being build by Renault's Samsung manufacturing unit in Korea.

According to a statement released by Penske, "We have agreed upon a framework that we believe will build momentum for the Saturn brand. Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network. For nearly 20 years Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths."

So while GM will be shedding a brand and some 350 dealers, as decreed by the Treasury Department, albeit indirectly, at least this group not only gets to keep their franchises, but get to do business with Roger Penske who had demonstrated repeatedly that he knows how to win. A good deal for existing Saturn dealers.

Penske to buy Saturn

Many links to good news:

GM, Penske reach tentative agreement for Saturn brand Detroit Free Press

GM to sell Saturn to Penske CNNMoney.com

Penske Auto to Buy Saturn Brand as GM Shrinks in Bankruptcy Bloomberg

GM: Saturn-Penske Deal Saves 350 Dealerships, 13000 Jobs Wall Street Journal

General Motors to Sell Saturn Line to Penske Washington Post