Saturn Revival

Penske News

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:10:00 +0000

The recent Penske news is coming as a large shock to our Saturn of Wichita team and customers who have already reached out to us for answers to the news reports coming out today that the Penske organization has ended it's discussions to finalize the sale of the Saturn Brand.

Saturn of Wichita is committed to serving our customers during this time and we will be open for business doing all your warranty work and selling factory Saturn parts.

Please direct and questions or concerns to Christy Downing at 316-219-5500 or christyd@saturnofwichta.com.

We appreciate your continued support! We will update you with more detailed information as it becomes available to us.

Best Regards,

Scott Davies
Owner
Saturn of Wichita

Green Oil Changes now available at Saturn of Wichita

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:41:00 +0000

WICHITA,KS September 24th /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today motorists in Wichita, Kansas now have the option of going green with their oil change service.

The green oil change service uses environmentally friendly motor oil blended with re-refined base oil called Universal ECO Products, and Saturn of Wichita is one of the first dealerships in the Wichita area to offer it at there two locations, which services all makes and models.

The eco-friendly motor oil is the result of state-of-the-art technology
That Universal Lubricants introduced to the market in August from their
re-refinery in Wichita, Kansas. According to Mike Maloney, CEO of Universal
Lubricants, their company has been collecting used motor oil for the last
seven years. Until now, the collected motor oil had been used primarily as
a combustible and in making asphalt. At their re-refinery, Universal is now
Re-refining the used oil into high-quality motor oil that meet all automobile manufacturer’s requirements for today’s cars, SUV’s and trucks. The used oil will be re-refined following some of the same guidelines as crude oil does through current refinery technology. Universal will also produce other lubricants, such as transmission fluids, heavy duty engine oils and hydraulic fluids from the used motor oil.

Saturn of Wichita will add the green oil change service to their full line of automotive maintenance services. Scott Davies, Owner of Saturn of Wichita, said that the re-refined oil is a superior quality product that meets and exceeds the same performance standards as motor oil made from crude oil stock. During our introduction of this product we will be advertising a $5.00 off coupon.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our thousands of quick lube customers to have a “green” alternative to their service options," Davies commented. "One auto service company using 20,000 gallons of re-refined motor oil can reduce our dependency by approximately 1.7 million gallons of crude oil. Our 2 dealerships will use almost 30,000 gallons of motor oil this
Year, so that's more than two and a half million gallons of imported crude oil that we have the potential of reducing annually. We are going to work hard on educating our customers on the many benefits of using green oil," Davies added.

Since its founding in 1991, Saturn of Wichita has worked hard to be a leader in
Eco-friendly car care in the Wichita area. Diligent green practices at
its stores include:

-- Removal and proper disposal of more than 30,000 gallons of used motor
Oil, transmission fluid and contaminated fuel last year.
-- Proper disposal of over 30,000 oil, gas and transmission filters.
-- Over 5,000 gallons of antifreeze will be recycled this year.

-- Saturn of Wichita has 10 standard operating procedures relating to
being an environmentally conscious business, from proper disposal of
fluids, filters, parts and paper, to recycling printer ink and toner
cartridges and by encouraging suppliers to provide electronic catalogs.

For more information on the new green oil change and Saturn of Wichita,
see the company web site at http://www.saturnofwichita.com/service/greenoilchange.htm.

Christy Downing
Saturn of Wichita
Marketing Manager
316-219-5500
christyd@saturnofwichita.com

Rick Palmore
Director of Sales and Marketing
Universal Lubricants
316-832-0151
rickp@universallubes.com

Penske's Saturn: The Post-Modern Auto Company

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:52:00 +0000

Posted Today 01:22 PM by Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend Blog

Auto companies have traditionally been engineering and manufacturing businesses, rather than marketing and retail businesses. Henry Ford, for example, insisted dealers pay for his Model Ts as soon as they left the factory door. But what made sense in Henry's time, and reached its apotheosis with the huge River Rouge plant, the most vertically integrated automobile factory in the world, has become a liability today.

Auto plants cost staggering amounts of money to build and to run. And in an era where the manufacturing process no longer delivers major differentiators in terms of the finished product -- all vehicles have to meet similar safety and fuel economy mandates, and the cost and quality differences between the best and the worst are getting smaller all the time -- that's money many auto industry insiders wished they no longer had to spend. Especially as what largely defines an auto company these days is not where its products are made, but how its brands are perceived by consumers.

A Boxster is still a Porsche, even though it is built in Finland by Valmet. A Grand Cherokee is still a Jeep, even though it is built in Austria by Magna Steyr. Right hand drive Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series models are still seen as German cars, even though they are made in South Africa.

Which is why Roger Penske's Saturn play is a stroke of genius. With Saturn, Penske has the opportunity to create the first truly post-modern auto company. Penske's Saturn doesn't own a single factory, design studio, or proving ground. What it does own -- and all it needs to own -- is the intellectual property of the Saturn brand.

Roger Penske
CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY

It's hard to imagine a more perfect candidate to become a post-modern auto company than Saturn. Envisioned by GM chairman Roger B. Smith as an import fighter because of advanced manufacturing techniques that included a highly automated plant and plastic body panels, Saturn succeeded not because the original car was good -- actually, it wasn't even remotely competitive with anything from Toyota or Honda -- but because it was cleverly sold and marketed. Saturn consumers bought into the defining promise of the brand -- no haggle pricing and great customer service -- rather than the physical attributes of the vehicle.

Although GM has agreed to build Saturns for Penske for at least two years, future Saturn models may be sourced from a variety of automakers around the world (the latest rumor has Penske talking with Renault). Saturn could simply rebadge another manufacturer's existing model, paying for U.S. market certification costs and minor cosmetic changes, or it could commission an automaker to design, engineer and manufacture a complete new vehicle. Either way, it could bring new models to market for way less capital cost than a traditional automaker.

Finding someone with spare factory space to build Saturns won't be hard: The world's automakers currently have the capacity to build 92 million vehicles a year, but will be lucky to build 60 million in 2009, says respected industry forecaster CSM Worldwide. And with the global economy expected to recover slowly from recession, there's going to be plenty of spare capacity around the world for a long time yet.

All Penske's Saturn has to do to succeed is sell cars and trucks that deliver on the promise of the Saturn brand. The actual vehicles can be made anywhere, by anyone, and as long as they are competitive with the mainstream players in their respective segments in terms of performance, economy, quality, and equipment levels, it almost doesn't matter what they are, because the Saturn brand is mostly defined by a classy purchase experience.

And if there's one thing Roger Penske knows how to do with class, it's selling cars and trucks.

Penske Aims to Complete Saturn Deal by September

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Great news for Saturn, this was just published in Automotive News.

Penske Automotive Group plans to complete a deal to buy Saturn from General Motors Co. by the end of September, the chairman of the No. 2 auto dealership chain said on Wednesday.

Roger Penske also said that he was considering using the Saturn brand for vehicles sold outside North America, but was focused first on the U.S. market and potentially Canada.

"I think that we're past midfield with GM. There are always issues that you have to deal with, but I think we're progressing well," Roger Penske told analysts on a conference call to discuss quarterly financial results on Wednesday.

"We've said that our goal is to close this transaction by the end of September, and we're prepared to do that," he said.

Penske declined to discuss what other automakers the new Saturn would consider as partners to supply vehicles after a deal with GM expires.

Under the terms of the tentative deal between GM and Penske, the automaker would supply Saturn with Aura sedans, Vue SUVs and Outlook crossover vehicles until at least 2011.

Penske would acquire rights to the Saturn brand and would buy the inventory of replacement parts to service the roughly 3.5 million Saturn vehicles on the road now.

The roughly 350 Saturn dealerships in the United States would continue to be independently owned and operated.

Penske said the new Saturn, which would be set up as a stand-alone company that could include other investors, would offer contracts to all of the 200 or so dealers that the GM brand currently has.

"We do not expect to buy any of the existing retailers," he said. "As you know, Saturn has a world-class dealership network and we hope that most of them will join the new company."

Penske said talks on completing the Saturn sale with GM had been slowed by the automaker's bankruptcy proceedings. GM exited Chapter 11 on July 10 in a sale mostly underwritten by the U.S. Treasury.

"One of the things that had to happen was that GM had to get through their bankruptcy," Penske said. "That was their first priority. Now they're looking at the divestitures of Hummer, Saab and Saturn."

The financial terms of the Saturn sale have not been disclosed and Penske said he could not discuss them until the deal was final.

GM and Penske announced a tentative deal for Saturn in early June.

GM is also looking to sell its Hummer SUV line to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery. Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg has agreed to buy Saab with financing guaranteed by the Swedish government.

Saturn Ranks as the Only Non-Luxury Brand in the latest Satisfaction Study!

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:06:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that once again Saturn is the leader in Customer Satisfaction! We were the only non-luxury brand in the top 10 list that was recently released.

Saturn Ranks as the Only Non-Luxury Brand in Top 10 of New Satisfaction Study
Posted by Charlie on July 14th, 2009 Tags: Company, Awards, Retailers
Mercedes-Benz dealerships ranked highest in the newly released 2009 Pied Piper dealerships nationwide, then used the patent-pending PSI process to compile the results into an accurate measurement of how each brand's dealerships treat car shoppers.

The 2009 study showed that a brand or dealership's treatment of shoppers paralleled their retail sales success. Eight of the top ten brands when ranked by PSI also Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) U.S. Auto Industry Study, a unique national benchmarking study that measure how consumers are treated when shopping for a new car. Following Mercedes-Benz were Lexus, Jaguar, Saturn and Land Rover. The independent study sent 3,531 hired anonymous "mystery shoppers" into auto gained market share from 2008 to 2009, while eight of the bottom ten brands when ranked by PSI lost market share from 2008 to 2009. Overall auto industry performance improved notably from 2008 to 2009, with 30 of the 37 major auto brands achieving higher PSI scores.

Luxury brands captured nine of the top ten positions, with GM's Saturn dealerships representing the only non-luxury brand, as well as one of the two - along with Cadillac - top ten brands owned by a U.S. company. Overall industry gain was led by improvement from all five of the top five sales volume brands: Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Honda and Nissan. Other brands recording the most improvement from 2008 to 2009 included Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Smart and Chrysler. Among the "orphan" brands slated for sale or closure, Saturn finished well above the industry average, Volvo scored at the industry average, Hummer scored below the industry average, while Saab and Pontiac scored well below the industry average.

"Nine out of ten car shoppers walk back out a dealership's door without buying," said Fran O'Hagan, CEO of Pied Piper Management Co., LLC. "The tough economic climate of the past year has clearly encouraged salespeople to be more helpful to the majority of shoppers who aren't yet ready to buy, but still need help narrowing-down their selection."

Auto industry salespeople were 14% more likely this year to ask about obstacles preventing purchase; 13% more likely to mention the availability of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles; 13% more likely to provide compelling reasons why it would be in the shopper's best interest to purchase now; 9% more likely to ask shoppers what attracted them to this particular brand; and 9% more likely to mention the availability of different financing options. In contrast, auto industry salespeople were less likely this year to offer a brochure, and were less likely to make the process of special ordering an out-of-stock vehicle seem simple and easy.

As many as one-third of a brand's car shoppers report that their salesperson suggested that they consider an alternative brand carried by the dealership or dealer group instead of the brand requested by the shopper. Shoppers asking for vehicles from Dodge, GMC, Chrysler, Kia and Pontiac were most likely to encounter salespeople who suggested that shoppers consider a different brand instead, while salespeople from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Lexus and Honda dealerships were the least likely to suggest an alternative brand instead.

The 2009 Pied Piper PSI U.S. Auto Industry Study was conducted between July 2008 and June 2009 using 3,531 hired anonymous "mystery shoppers" at dealerships located throughout the U.S.

Source: Pied Piper

93% of Saturn Lineup Qaulifies for Cash for Clunkers Voucher!

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:22:00 +0000

With the Cash for Clunkers bill being passed into legislation I wanted to get you as much information about the Saturn brand and how our vehicles work with the program.

We are happy to announce that the following vehicles will qualify for the voucher.

2009 Saturn Astra
2009 Saturn Aura 4cyl
2009 Saturn Aura Hybrid
2009 Saturn Vue 4cyl
2009 Saturn Vuy Hybrid
2009 Saturn Outlook FWD

Read the article below that ranks us against the competition. You can see we are a great place to trade in that clunker!

I'll be posting more information today on the program details.. If you go to http://www.saturnofwichita.com/cashforclunkers.htm I've got a preliminary page set up to answer any questions you may have.

Best Regards,
Christy Downing
Saturn of Wichita
christyd@saturnofwichita.com
316-219-5500

Autobytel: 93% of Saturn Lineup Qualifies for Cash-for-Clunkers Voucher
Posted by Charlie on June 23rd, 2009
Tags: Astra, Aura, Outlook, Sky, Vue, Cars, 2009 Models, Fuel Economy
With Cash-for-Clunkers legislation headed for signing by President Obama, the team of experts at Autobytel has compiled an online buying guide that identifies the top brands and best model bets for a new, more efficient automobile that qualifies for the proposed Cash-for-Clunkers voucher. With gas prices surging upwards, the guide also serves as a timely road map of those vehicles best equipped to save money at the pump.

The Cash-for-Clunkers legislation is an effort to remove inefficient vehicles from the road and spur auto sales. It rewards those turning in older gas-guzzling vehicles with cash vouchers worth up to $4,500 towards a new, more efficient model.

According to Autobytel's Cash-for-Clunkers Guide, Mini Cooper and Scion top the list with 100% of their line-up qualifying for vouchers. Honda and Saturn are close behind at 94% and 93%, respectively. Chevrolet leads all other brands in the total number of vehicles qualifying for a voucher, and Audi, Volvo, and Lexus are the only luxury manufacturers to make the cut. Ultra-luxury vehicles dominate the list of those with 0% qualifying vehicles, including such aspirational brands as Lamborghini, Maybach, Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin. The guide also provides consumers with comprehensive information about the Cash-for-Clunkers legislation, as well as specifics about what qualifies a vehicle as a clunker.

"In this economy, consumers need every break they can get, and Autobytel's user-friendly guide helps consumers understand if their vehicle is an official clunker and which vehicles would qualify for a replacement voucher," said Mark Garms Executive Vice President and COO of Autobytel. "And it is good news for automakers with nearly every major manufacturer represented on the Top 20 list demonstrating that, in a time of rising gas prices and economic challenges, consumers have an excellent array of fuel efficient vehicles available to them."

To create the guide, Autobytel looked at all 2009 and 2010 EPA vehicle mileage data and then filtered for vehicles that offered 22 mpg or better for a passenger car, or 18 mpg or better for a light truck or SUV. Autobytel then took the sum of all qualifying vehicles for a brand and divided that number by how many vehicles were in the brand's lineup total, providing a "Vehicles that Qualify" percentage. The Top 20 car brands on the qualifying list are guaranteed to have a variety of qualifying options, and are ranked by percentage of lineup that qualifies for a voucher.

Autobytel Cash-for-Clunkers Top 20:

Mini - 100%

Scion - 100%
Honda - 94%
Saturn - 93%
Subaru - 88%
Suzuki - 85%
Pontiac - 79%
Mazda - 74%
Hyundai - 73%
Volkswagen - 73%
Kia - 71%
Toyota - 62%
Mitsubishi - 62%
Nissan - 54%
Mercury - 50%
Ford - 46%
Volvo - 45%
Chevrolet - 45%
Audi - 39%
Lexus - 39%
Autobytel's Cash-for-Clunkers Guide includes a snapshot of each qualifying brand; the brand's top qualifying passenger car and top qualifying SUV/truck based on mileage; an Autobytel Editors' Choice recommendation for each brand, as well as a list of the 0% qualifying brands. Qualification for the Cash-for-Clunkers voucher is subject to various conditions that are related to both the trade-in vehicle and the new vehicle purchased.

Source: Autobytel

Wall Street Journal Article highlights Saturn of Wichita

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Article in today's WSJ has some nice quotes from Scott Davies, owner of Saturn of Wichita. Read the full article below.

By JOHN D. STOLL

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp.'s Saturn unit is set to be sold to a new owner later this year, but any road to recovery for the slumping brand will be challenging.
Known for no-haggle pricing of inexpensive small cars, Saturn has for years struggled to escape its niche by building a broader customer base.
Though its fortunes soured further in December, when GM said it would sell or close Saturn, they got a boost June 5 when Penske Automotive Group Inc. -- the big chain of auto dealerships owned by motor-racing mogul Roger Penske -- struck a deal to buy the brand. "We were on death row," said Saturn Marketing Director Kim McGill, in an interview. Now, the brand is in "remission," thanks to Mr. Penske, but "is not yet totally cured," she said.
View Full ImageSaturn of Wichita
Scott Davies, owner of Saturn of Wichita, Kan., continues to tout Roger Penske's plan to buy the brand, which GM has asked dealers not to overplay.

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.
In the second week of July, GM will start advertising deals on Saturn vehicles in a bid to clear dealer inventories, Ms. McGill said.
But at least for now, GM has asked Saturn not to trumpet the Penske connection -- even though some dealers think it is the biggest thing the brand has going for it -- lest it overshadow the Saturn brand name. The deal may not be sealed until late in the third quarter, Ms. McGill said.
Through May, Saturn's sales this year have tumbled 58% from a year earlier to 35,256 vehicles. By contrast, Kia Motors Inc. of South Korea sold four times as many cars in the U.S. over the same period, and Toyota Motor Corp.'s sold nearly as many Camry sedans -- 31,325 -- in May alone.
Enthusiasm about the Penske deal helped Saturn in June, Ms. McGill said, drawing more traffic into Saturn showrooms and leading to a 35% year-to-year sales increase.
Mr. Penske, known for building an auto-retailing empire and for his career as a race-car driver and team owner, signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month to buy Saturn from GM. The brand's dealers rushed to embrace the new owner, praising Mr. Penske's business acumen.
At Saturn of Oak Lawn, Ill., a suburban Chicago dealership, Saturn owners also showed support for the Penske deal. A handful of customers in the service department gave sales manager Marty Mollway a standing ovation as he wrapped up a TV interview the day the deal was announced. "I think people were simply responding to the idea that someone new was going to take over," he said.
Within a day of hearing Mr. Penske had a tentative deal, Scott Davies, owner of Saturn of Wichita, decided to let central Kansas know about it. "Finally, a car guy owns a car company," Mr. Davies proclaimed on billboards hovering over two of the city's busiest intersections in early June.
He said the ads increased traffic to his dealership. "People want to buy from someone they like," Mr. Davies said in an interview. "A lot of customers won't buy a car from GM, but they will buy a car from Roger Penske."
Not long after dealer initiatives like Mr. Davies's billboards began to crop up, Saturn dealers got a letter from GM executives asking them to not overplay the Penske deal, for fear of taking the spotlight off the brand itself.
Saturn of Scottsdale, Ariz., has continued to tout the Penske deal on its Web site, and Mr. Davies last week put up more signs, this time on his store's front lawn, saying "Penske buys Saturn, the fans go wild."
This year's plunge in Saturn sales has left the company's 350 dealers with an inventory of 32,647 vehicles -- enough to last for 105 days at the current rate of sales, according to Autodata Corp. That's one of the industry's biggest inventory backlogs. By comparison, dealers have a 74-day supply of GM's Buick brand.
Saturn also continues to face other, longer-term issues. Customer loyalty, once a strength, is faltering. In 2008, 37% of Saturn owners looking to buy a new car bought another Saturn, according to J.D. Power & Associates. That was down from 45% in 2007 and compares with retention rates of around 65% for Toyota.
Saturn's model lineup also is in flux. A new model, the Astra, flopped and is being discontinued, leaving the brand without a compact car. "They've gotten away from their roots in terms of offering an affordable small car," said Charlie Eickmeyer, a Saturn owner and founder of the 13-year-old Saturnfans.com Web site.
Write to John D. Stoll at john.stoll@wsj.com

Cash For Guzzlers Bill heads to Senate for a Vote.

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:56:00 +0000

Good news, looks like the highly anticipated "Cash for Guzzler's Bill" is heading to sentae for a vote..This bill is going to be a great thing for anyone wanting to trade into a more fuel efficient vehicle... LIKE A SATURN HYBRID VUE perhaps! Read the full article below.

Best Regards,
Saturn of Wichita

'Cash-for-guzzlers' bill clears hurdle, heads for Senate vote

By Neil Roland June 18, 2009 - 12:01 am ET UPDATED: 6/18/09 4:25 p.m. ET

The U.S. Senate today beat back a Republican attempt to strip a scaled-back "cash for guzzlers" bill from a spending package for U.S. troops, clearing the way for the measure to be passed and sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The $1 billion initiative that passed the House earlier this week seeks to boost auto sales and increase the fuel economy of U.S. cars and light trucks. It would offer $3,500 to $4,500 cash vouchers for about 3½ months to consumers who trade in their cars for new, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Senate voted 60-36, largely along party lines, to defeat an effort by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., to remove the car-swap provision from the $106 billion supplemental spending bill. A final Senate vote on the measure is expected today, although it could face some delays. "This program will provide a much-needed boost to the struggling auto industry, including manufacturers, dealers, suppliers and other related industries," Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said on the Senate floor today. It also will "encourage consumers to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles," he said. Congressional Budget Office data suggest that the bill would result in the sale of 150,000 new cars, said Nichole Francis Reynolds, chief of staff to Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio. Sutton sponsored the original bill. Similar programs in Germany, China and France have resulted in substantial sales increases since the end of 2008. The program would go into effect a month after the president signs the bill and extend until Nov. 1, Reynolds said. Sutton plans to try to resurrect the measure as a longer-term program in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, she said. The current bill was pared back from a one-year, $4 billion program after a number of senators expressed concern that the measure would not do enough to assure a more fuel-efficient fleet. Gregg expressed similar concerns in his floor statement today while also questioning the relevance of the bill to the larger package of assistance to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also said that the $1 billion program was "totally unpaid for," an assertion rebutted by the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii.

You can write advice to Roger Penske on how you think Saturn should look going forward.

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Here is a neat article on the Detroit Free Press that is asking what YOU think Roger should do with his new purchase SATURN! Readers can then comment at the bottom of the article as to what they think would be a good way for the Saturn Brand to go forward!

Go to this link to read and post something for Roger! http://www.freep.com/article/20090614/COL14/906140502/1002/BUSINESS/Got+advice+for+Roger+Penske

We also encourage you to go to www.saturnrevival.com and post your Saturn Stories on there as well!

GO SATURN!

Letter from Jill Lajdziak being mailed to 1.066 Million Saturn Customers This week!

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Dear Saturn Customer:

There are many ways to measure the success of a brand but none are more accurate than the level of passion felt by owners. You placed your trust in us when you purchased a Saturn, and we heard you when you asked us to keep the brand alive. It was the overwhelming groundswell of support we received from many of you that inspired us to find a way for Saturn to prevail.

So, it is with much gratitude that I am able to report we have reached a preliminary agreement with Penske Automotive Group to purchase the Saturn brand. While we still have work to do to finalize the sale, we feel confident that we have potential buyer that truly understands the value of the brand and is committed to its future success.

That means that as GM proceeds through its restructuring, Saturn will look to forge a new path that takes us back to our roots as an independent brand. A brand centered on the customer that strives to make the car buying and ownership experience pleasurable and fun. We will preserve our outstanding network of Saturn retailers and continue the outstanding customer service that has been a hallmark for the brand. And we will continue offering vehicles that Americans demand.
Vehicles that are attractive, fuel efficient and affordable.

Saturn has always been a brand you can trust and I want you to be assured your vehicle's Saturn warranty is absolutely safe and sound.
There is no charge in the new vehicle warranty for any Saturn. In addition, you can be confident that service and parts will continue to be available at Saturn retailers. We are here for you today and dedicated to serve you as we always have.

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.

As always, I value your loyalty to this brand. I will continue to update you as event progress.

Sincerely,
Jill

Roger Penske Our Hero!

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:38:00 +0000

THIS IS AN AMAZING ARTICLE IN USA TODAY! Roger embodies everything that we belive to be true here at Saturn of Wichita! GO SATURN!

Roger Penske: 'We're going to build a Saturn team'
By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY

Roger Penske, known for his successful racing teams, in addition to being the nation's second-largest auto dealer, has struck a tentative deal to buy the Saturn brand from General Motors. USA TODAY spoke with Penske on Sunday at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
Q: What's the next step in your acquisition of Saturn?

A: The next step is to close the transaction, which we hope to do at the end of the third quarter. We'll be dealing with GM on future product. Then we have the opportunity to source product from around the world as we go into future years. First, we're putting an organization together and closing the transaction. The great news is that we have 350 dealerships that will be alive and well and will not have to be shut down. I think that's a real by-product of this. For me personally, I know many of these dealers myself and they're some of the very best. So, I think we've got a great opportunity. I thank General Motors (for) supporting us, and obviously the government that wanted to see this happen.
PENSKE TO BUY SATURN:GM will make models for 2 years

Q: This seems to be a massive undertaking. Why do it?

A: My heart, my soul is in the automobile business. I started as a Chevrolet dealer in West Philadelphia in February 1965. So, I've seen lots of things happen in the industry. This opportunity, for me, is once in a lifetime. I think the fact that our organization completed a very good transaction with General Motors in 1988 when we bought Detroit Diesel… it was a success that gave us an entree to be able to do this with GM. So we're really a partnership.

Q: Where are you now with Dodge, your current NASCAR factory sponsor?

A: We're in great shape with Dodge. We have three more years to go on our contract. They have been upfront with us. We expect to continue in NASCAR with Dodge. As I saw Chevrolet's Ed Peper (general manager of GM's Chevrolet division) the other day say, (racing is part of their ) DNA (with respect to) their marketing area. I think that Dodge feels the same way and certainly does Ford. So I think the Big 3 will be stronger at the end of this process, and motorsports is part of the company culture in the U.S. The Big 3, NASCAR, IndyCar racing — these things are awfully important to the consumer. The technology that's generated out of these types of races will be good today and good in the future. I'm very positive. I live in Detroit so I'm passionate about seeing things in Detroit turning around.

Q: Do you envision Saturn becoming involved in racing down the line?

A: As you dream at night about things you'd like to do, you'd say, 'Jeez, I'd love to see Saturn product involved.' But if you have 100 things to do, that's certainly not in the top 50.

Q: Will the impact of Saturn affect your racing or business endeavors?

A: Obviously, it takes time and effort to commit to this type of thing. But what it does, it gives our organization a chance to put together a first-class Saturn team. Jill Lajdziak is the general manager today. She's been very helpful in this process, and I hope she takes a leadership role. So, it's a chance to take a group of people because of the problems that GM's been facing over the last several years (and) it's a new life for them. We partner with GM. We get the best assets and the best support from Fritz Henderson (GM president and CEO) and from his team (including) Mark LaNeve (GM's North America vice president of sales and marketing) and we get to go forward and try to be successful.
I want to say this: There is risk associated with these types of things. I don't want anyone to think this is a walk in the park. This is a serious business. This is a serious opportunity for us. But more importantly as I think about what's going on today in the world, in the U.S. and especially in Detroit, 13,000 jobs will be saved (along with) 350 dealerships and a great brand — an iconic brand that has been developed by General Motors over the years. We don't lose that. 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.

Q: With all you have going on, are you afraid you might be spreading yourself thin?

A: Well, I would say this: People work hard. I work hard. The key thing about our organization is we've got great people, and the great thing about Saturn is that inside the organization we're going to develop a key team. So it isn't like we're starting from a green field. We have people that know the brand, know the network, and many of these retailers I already know.

Q: The question everyone seems to have: How will Saturn supply its dealers down the road?

A: We have a couple years of supply from GM, and one of the first jobs for us will be to find out who will be a partner for us. But the great thing is we get to look on a worldwide basis to people who have the best product that we can compete with in the U.S. Then the goal will be, obviously, to have the volume so that it's viable to come in and manufacture the product in the U.S. So step one: Take GM product. That saves jobs in the plant. It gives them the opportunity to (make) more cars to cover their fixed and variable costs because Saturn will be taking (on) those. Then we take a look at who's out there that wants to enter the United States and we give them a great base of dealerships, a customer base and hopefully a good management team. And after that, we have the opportunity to manufacture cars here with the particular partner we would choose in the near-term.

Q: Saving 13,000 jobs. Do you see yourself as a savior or hero, at least to these people?

A: This is like a race. They've thrown the green flag. There's a long way until we get to the finish. This will not just be me. My name's on the door (but) it's all the people that work for us. I'm passionate about the U.S. My life has changed since I became an automobile dealer. GM gave me a chance over 40 years ago. To me, this is an opportunity to do something for the country, but, more importantly for all the people that work at Saturn and all the other people that are in the auto business, because there are suppliers, dealership employees (at stake). We love teamwork and that's what we're going to do. We're going to build a Saturn team.

Saturn/Penske

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:20:00 +0000

This is a great article that has some quotes from Roger about the Saturn/Penske partnership. Everyone at Saturn of Wichita is really excited about the future of Saturn! As always please contact us for questions.

Best Regards,
Saturn of Wichita

Saturn deal is called a new business model
BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • June 6, 2009

Detroit businessman Roger Penske's move to acquire General Motors' troubled Saturn brand and dealer network could be pioneering -- the start of a new strategy for selling cars and trucks in the United States, experts said Friday.

On Friday, GM announced a tentative deal for Penske Automotive Group to purchase Saturn, a transaction that the companies said should be finalized this fall.
The Detroit automaker will continue to assemble Saturn vehicles for two years, and Penske is talking with other manufacturers about building vehicles that the dealer network would sell.
Jack Nerad of Kelley Blue Book heralded the Penske-Saturn deal as "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," he wrote, "a model in which the distribution side of the business controls the brand, and manufacturing is conducted by one or more sub-contractors."
Penske Group seeks new vehicles for Saturn dealers
Penske Automotive Group is in talks with several automakers about providing new vehicles to the Saturn dealer network.
Penske's deal with General Motors, which has not yet been finalized, provides him with GM-made vehicles for two years.
"We have been in discussions during this diligence period with a number of manufacturers on a worldwide basis," Penske told reporters Friday. "We would expect to have a lineup going forward, which would be manufactured by a worldwide partner."
He expects that eventually the new vehicles could be built in the United States if sales demand it.
The Penske deal is an incredible cap to a historic week in the domestic auto industry, particularly at GM. The automaker filed for bankruptcy protection Monday and announced a deal to sell its Hummer brand Tuesday. By Thursday, word of an impending Penske-Saturn deal had also leaked.
Saturn dealers said they are excited to work with Penske, whose Penske Automotive Group is the nation's No. 2 auto retailer.
It's phenomenal. Roger is a great guy. I don't think Roger would have got involved in this if he didn't think it would be successful," said Carl Galeana, whose Galeana Automotive Group owns Saturn of Lakeside and Saturn of Warren dealerships. "He rolls up his sleeves and gets work done."
Saturn dealers will be offered a franchise agreement, Penske said. He called the dealer network "one of the best in the business."
"Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network," Penske, chairman of Penske Automotive Group, said in a statement. "For nearly 20 years Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths."
GM said the deal will save more than 350 Saturn dealerships and 13,000 jobs at Saturn and its retailers.
GM's most recent plan called for shutting down the brand at year's end if a buyer couldn't be found.
On a contract basis, GM is to continue production of the Saturn Aura sedan and the Vue and Outlook crossovers. The deal includes Saturn's parts operation.
"We are bringing together two icons: the Saturn brand and the Penske organization," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn's general manager.
The gray area of the deal is how much control Penske's Saturn will have over the design of the vehicles it sells, said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com.
"It's one thing to scour the globe and make deals ... but you didn't really have that much input in terms of the development, design, features, whatever of the product," Anwyl said. "Ultimately, the retail brand is a very nice feature but people are living every day with the vehicle itself and that vehicle has got to measure up with the brand attributes."
On Friday, Penske indicate a desire to keep the Saturn look with future vehicles.
"There's a brand value today in the way these vehicles look," Penske said. "And I would hope that we would have this icon brand value and face across the product line as we go forward."

A Message from Scott Davies

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Dear Customers –

As you likely heard, it was announced on Friday, June 5, that GM has sold the Saturn brand to Roger Penske and his Penske Automotive Group.

We at Saturn of Wichita believe the sale of the brand to Roger Penske is great news for our customers, our employees and the future of the dealership and the Saturn brand.

Roger Penske is a true “car guy.” A former racecar champion, Roger has since become America’s most successful car dealer with 310 dealerships and franchises worldwide and strategic alliances to provide vehicles to groups such as General Electric. He is a known leader in “green” car technologies as well, something he will likely further champion with Saturn. Beyond his experience in the automotive industry, Penske is a smart businessman and a great leader. He led the efforts to bring Super Bowl XL to Detroit a few years ago and has been vital in helping to rebuild Detroit’s downtown area. He is known, worldwide, for his innovative, smart, hands-on and no-nonsense business style.

His overall combined experience makes Roger Penske the man with the right relationships, talent, vision and dedication to help truly move the revival of the Saturn brand ahead. Finally, a car guy owns a car company!

It has been a long road since GM first announced its intentions to divest the Saturn brand three months ago. Many of you were not sure where we were headed. Today’s announcement is the first real indication of the future of Saturn. We have a leader. We have our direction. We are off to the races. I trust today will be the first real step toward clarifying the direction, shape and spirit the Saturn brand and Saturn culture will take moving forward.

As always, Saturn of Wichita is and will stay at the lead of the Saturn Revival. We will continue to offer our customers great vehicles and great service. That is our long-standing commitment and that will likely only deepen and extend itself under Roger’s leadership.

Please let me or my staff know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your business, your patience and your commitment to and interest in the future of Saturn and Saturn of Wichita.

– Scott

Sharing our excitment

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:47:00 +0000

We are running this full page ad on Sunday in the Wichita Eagle, as well as digital boards around town and on kansas.com. Be on the look out!

PENSKE Saves 350 Saturn Retailers and 13,000 US JOBS Today!

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:03:00 +0000

It's a great day for Saturn! Penske is the winner in the bid for Saturn. I'll share more information as we recieve it today! Please keep checking back here for more news!

General Motors, Penske outline proposed deal for purchase of Saturn Transaction would save more than 13,000 jobs; preserves renowned brand and retail network

Detroit -- General Motors Corp. and Penske Automotive Group today confirmed details of a proposed transaction under which Penske would acquire the Saturn brand. If completed, the deal would save more than 350 dealerships and 13,000 jobs at Saturn and its retailers in the United States, and would preserve the customer-focused Saturn brand. The proposed transaction is part of GM’s rebuilding efforts outlined in the viability plan that was submitted to the U.S. government earlier this year. Under the terms in the memorandum of understanding, Penske would obtain the rights to the brand as well as certain other Saturn assets. GM would continue production, on a contract basis, of the Saturn Aura, Vue and Outlook. “This is the combination of two iconic teams: Saturn and Penske,” said Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak. “GM had the vision to create Saturn and has the desire to see it succeed in the future.” “Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Automotive Group. “For nearly 20 years Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths.” Saturn began selling cars in 1990 and has sold more than 4 million vehicles. More than 80 percent of those vehicles are still in operation, according to data from R.L. Polk. Saturn has regularly scored among the industry leaders for non-luxury brands in customer satisfaction surveys. “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.” The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the agreement will not be disclosed at this time.

Penske/Saturn

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Interesting article about one of our potential owners.. Roger Penske, with Penske Automotive Group. He plans to distribute Nissan designed cars and trucks to the Saturn dealers... We hope to get you more details very soon!

Best Regards, Saturn of Wichita

Penske: Hands-on, with just the right touch
queryvar="penske:,hands-on,with,just,the,right,touch";
Donna Harris Automotive News June 1, 2009 - 12:01 am ET

Roger Penske probably runs more businesses than can be listed in this brief column. Yet he's mulling taking on another enterprise: Saturn.
If negotiations pan out, Penske may win the right to distribute Nissan-designed cars and trucks to Saturn dealers after General Motors sheds Saturn in the fall.
There are other bidders for Saturn, and it's not clear Penske will prevail. But Saturn dealers might like to know: What's Roger like?

Business associates say Penske Automotive Group Inc. is successful because of Penske's hands-on approach. The suburban Detroit company is No. 2 on Automotive News' list of the top 125 U.S. dealership groups, based on 2008 new-vehicle retail sales.
Walter Czarnecki began working with Penske 38 years ago when Penske opened a suburban Detroit Chevrolet dealership. When the first shipment arrived, Penske lined up the cars in the lot like soldiers, recalls Czarnecki, now executive vice president of the parent company, Penske Corp.

Another associate describes Penske as "Mr. Clean," noting his directive that dealership wastebaskets should be out of sight to avoid clutter. Others say he avoids the trappings of power that CEOs sometimes adopt.
"He doesn't have an ego and doesn't travel with an entourage," says Tony Pordon, Penske Automotive's senior vice president of public affairs. "Roger always makes an effort to walk around the stores and shakes hands with almost everyone, introducing himself and asking questions."

Pordon recalls that in 2006 when the Super Bowl was in Detroit, Penske chaired the host committee preparing the city for the event. After a snowfall before the game, Pordon says, Penske helped shovel walkways.

Although Penske is 72, no one questions whether he has the capacity to take on a difficult turnaround project such as Saturn. As Penske Automotive President Rob Kurnick says, "He has the energy of a teenager."

Happy Customer

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:12:00 +0000

I had to share this nice message from our newest Saturn Owners, Verg and Shar Wright. They purchased an 09 Aura from Kacy yesterday. Kacy Sawyer started with us at the first of the year and has been an integral part of our sales staff. As you can see Kacy strives to go that extra mile with every customer to insure they are completely satisfied and have a world class buying experience. She is very passionate about Saturn and treats all of her customers like family. We are so proud to have her in our Saturn Family. Thaks Kacy for all you do!

See Customer Message below…….

From: vergil wright Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 03:41:24 -0700 (PDT)To: Subject: Re: A Personal Message from Kacy Sawyer
Hi Kacy,

It was nice to check our email and find your welcome reply to our inquiry. It had to smile when I thought.....everything Kacy said about being excited about helping us, we had already experienced, and that wonderful help had already resulted in us becoming happy owners of a beautiful new Saturn. All this took place in less than 24 hours after our inquiry! Verg and I were very impressed with the entire dealership beginning with the receptionist, Brian, Scott, Coy, and most of all, with you. Your professionalism, knowledge of product, friendliness, and enthusiasm sold us on our car and convinced us we wanted to buy it at Saturn East.

Thank you so much!

Verg and Shar Wright

Samsung looks to be the most likely Supplier for the Penske Owned Saturn

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Hello Saturn Revival Fans! I just wanted to give you an update on the current Saturn news. Business at Saturn of Wichita has really picked up in the past few weeks. We’ve seen an increase in our new and pre-owned vehicle traffic and our Service Departments are extremely busy! It seems as if the economy may be turning upward for us here in Wichita! Good News! Below is a recent article on another possible bidder. As always please feel free to contact us with any questions

Best Regards,

Saturn of Wichita

Samsung looks to be the most likely supplier to a Penske-owned Saturn

As the bidding to take over over the Saturn brand from General Motors nears its conclusion, it looks increasingly likely that Roger Penske will walk away with the "prize." Regardless of who takes control, all Penske is slated to receive is a network of dealers and a brand name. GM has already announced it will cease producing new Saturn cars at the end of June 2009, which means the new owner will have to line up another company to provide products for those 380-odd stores. One of the rumors making the rounds is Renault would be a supplier, however, as GM learned trying to import the Astra from Europe, importing cars from the continent is not a viable business plan under current exchange rates. It turns out the supply of vehicles could come from Renault Samsung Motors, the small South Korean maker that's 80% owned by Renault. That's a plan that could be financially viable with vehicles based on shared Renault-Nissan platforms. Hyundai has demonstrated that South Korea can produce quality products and priced aggressively as Saturns.

Nissan Said to Be Possible Partner with Penske Auto Group

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Here is today's hottest news. I will keep you posted as we become aware of anything new. Thanks!

Nissan Said to Be Possible Partner for Penske in Saturn Venture
Share Email Print A A A
By Doron Levin and Katie Merx

May 6 (Bloomberg) -- Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third-largest automaker, may join a venture with U.S. retailer Penske Automotive Group Inc. and General Motors Corp.’s Saturn car brand, two people familiar with the matter said.
The idea is that Nissan, its affiliate Renault SA or another automaker may make Saturn-brand vehicles for a new venture that could be operated by Penske and distributed through Saturn’s retail network, said the people, who asked not to be named because discussions are private. GM is seeking to spin off or sell the Saturn brand and its distribution network that links 350 to 400 U.S. dealerships.
Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn may want to put Nissan’s North American factories to work producing vehicles under the Saturn nameplate after Nissan and Infiniti sales in the U.S. fell by a third. Nissan shares have gained 59 percent this year.
For Penske Automotive, such a venture may allow it to expand its business, similar to its distribution of Daimler AG’s Smart brand.
“We’ve looked at Saturn,” Chief Executive Officer Roger Penske said May 4 in an interview. “We look at a lot of opportunities. It would be premature to say we’re anywhere close to a deal.”
U.S. Saturn franchisees have collectively invested from $1 billion to $2 billion in their stores, parts and related equipment, according to dealer estimates.
GM, facing a June 1 deadline to cut debt and other costs or file for bankruptcy protection, plans to shrink its eight U.S. automotive brands to four.
Multiple Bidders
The automaker has committed to producing Saturn models through the end of this year and is willing to make them on a contract basis through 2011, Jill Lajdziak, general manager for the brand, said April 28.
GM is entertaining interest from multiple bidders, Lajdziak said last week. Detroit-based GM will accept bids for the brand until June 1 and will narrow down the list through the summer, with a goal of selling or winding down the brand by the end of the year.
Steve Janisse, a GM spokesman, declined to comment on Saturn bidders. GM is being advised by former equity analyst Stephen Girsky, the automaker reiterated in a statement May 4.
In addition to selling cars at retail through 310 dealerships in the U.S. and U.K., Penske is the U.S. distributor of Smart cars. Unlike most other vehicle-distribution networks, Smart takes customer orders and deposits via a Web site, allowing dealers to keep fewer cars in inventory.
‘Plug and Play’
Penske executives refer to such a vehicle distribution method, sidestepping the traditional U.S. franchises in which only dealers can take retail orders, as “plug and play.”
Nissan’s U.S. sales, including its Infiniti luxury brand, have tumbled 36 percent this year, similar to the industry’s 37 percent plunge. The Tokyo-based automaker has excess manufacturing capacity in North America and could build versions of its current models branded as Saturns.
Nissan and Renault have expressed tentative interest in the venture, one of the people said. Fred Standish, a Nissan spokesman, and Frederique Le Greves, a Renault spokeswoman, declined to comment.
GM introduced Saturn in 1990 to take on Japanese brands in the U.S. with a low-pressure sales approach and no-haggle pricing. U.S. sales tumbled 58 percent through the first four months of this year. Only Hummer, among GM brands, declined more sharply at 67 percent.
Penske Automotive, the second-largest publicly held dealer group, earned $16.3 million in first-quarter net income or 18 cents per share, down 50 percent from last year’s $32.3 million or 33 cents per share.
Penske lost 9 cents, or 0.7 percent, today to close at $13.47. It has gained 75 percent this year.
For Related News and Information: GM stories by Bloomberg: GM US CN BN U.S. auto industry: NI AUT Autos and U.S. economy: TNI AUT USECO U.S. auto bailout: STNI AUTOBAILOUT U.S. auto sales chart: SAARTOTL GP For GM’s debt distribution: GM US NDDS Last Updated: May 5, 2009 22:09 EDT

Wallstreet Journal Article 5/5/09 Penske Automotive potential Saturn bidder

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:52:00 +0000

Hello Saturn Revival Fans! Here is another article on a potential bidder for Saturn, Penske Automotive Group. Looks like things are moving very quickly here. We'll keep you posted as news comes our way.

GO SATURN!

Best Regards,

Christy Davies-Downing
Saturn of Wichita
christyd@saturnofwichita.com

Penske Interested In GM's Saturn Brand -
Sources Wall Street Journal DETROIT (Dow Jones)--

Roger Penske, owner of the second-largest U.S. auto retailer, has emerged as another potential bidder for General Motors Corp. (GM)'s struggling Saturn brand, people familiar with the situation said. Penske owns Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Penske Automotive Group Inc. (PAG), which operates 156 franchises in the U.S. and 148 internationally. A Penske spokesman declined to comment on any interest in Saturn. News of Penske's interest comes as GM on Monday hired veteran auto industry advisor Stephen Girsky to help sell the Saturn brand by the end of the year. GM is racing to offload the brand and its dealers as the company tries to avoid being forced into bankruptcy protection alongside Chrysler LLC. The auto maker has until June 1 to convince the Obama administration it can survive outside Chapter 11. GM said Monday it is reviewing "expressions of interest" from "a number" of potential buyers. Under any Saturn deal, GM would eventually stop providing the vehicles and they would be built by another manufacturer and sold through the Saturn retail chain. Girsky, a former Morgan Stanley analyst and one-time advisor to departed Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, will help GM evaluate the offers. GM stock closed flat on Monday, at $1.81 per share. Penske shares finished 1.3% higher at $13.56. Penske, a billionaire with deep Detroit ties, also has experience developing other brands. His company is the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Smart car produced by Daimler AG. (DAI). He owns auto-racing team Penske Racing and, recently, he chaired the Detroit Super Bowl XL host committee and brought the game to the Motor City after raising $12 million for the event. Penske joins at least one other suitor. A group that includes Oklahoma City-based private equity firm Black Oak Partners LLC came forward last month as potential buyers. A GM spokesman said Monday the company is considering the offer. The Black Oak group proposed a plan in which it would seek to transform Saturn into a fuel-efficient brand, sell GM vehicles through Saturn's network of U.S. and Canadian dealers, and later add vehicles from other auto makers. John Pappanastos, who is leading Saturn negotiations for Black Oak, said he is certain the brand will have a buyer "It's a viable opportunity in this market," Pappanastos said of Saturn. "It will be a low-cost entry point for an auto maker who wants to get into the U.S." Saturn has lost money since GM launched the brand in 1984 - first marketed as "a different kind of car company" - as a way to fight off competition from foreign competitors, such as Toyota Motor Co. (TM). Saturn generated much enthusiasm and a reputation for top-notch customer services, but never delivered the competitive edge GM hoped for. But GM's efforts at reviving the lineup by spending big on fresh vehicles proved insufficient, and the company said it would sell or dismantle Saturn as part of restructuring plans. The company had hoped to garner interest at least in Saturn's retail network. Saturn dealerships often are newer and more modern than the average GM-brand dealership, and they tend to be stationed in more desirable locales. -By Sharon Terlep, Dow Jones Newswires; 248-204-5532; sharon.terlep@dowjones.com

Wichita Eagle Article 4/30/09

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Saturn's future rests on buyer, dealer says

Local dealer says it's not closing, despite GM's plans to sell or phase out the brand by year's end.

BY JERRY SIEBENMARK
The Wichita Eagle

When Scott Davies talks of the future of the Saturn brand that his Wichita auto dealership carries, he talks about the brand's sale.
"The question is who is going to end up with Saturn," Davies, owner of Saturn of Wichita, said Wednesday. "We are not closing. That is not an option."
On Tuesday, Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak said the brand will most likely be sold and that GM will take bids for it until June 1.
Her comments came after GM said it would sell or phase out Saturn by the end of this year, far sooner than it had previously announced.
GM is shedding Saturn, Hummer and Saab as part of its massive restructuring.
The company said Monday that it also will eliminate its Pontiac brand by the end of next year.
In February, GM said it would keep Saturn going through the end of the 2011 model year, which is late summer in 2011.
But because of the interested buyers and demands to restructure faster, GM decided to pull the sale deadline forward, Lajdziak said.
One of the bidders is a group led by Black Oak Partners, an Oklahoma City-based private equity firm.
Black Oak said it hopes to initially have GM manufacture Saturn cars but eventually outsource production to global manufacturers that would build smaller, fuel-efficient cars and sell them through Saturn dealers.
Davies said he's aware of one other potential buyer, but he wouldn't disclose who it is.
"We are a very attractive brand," Davies said.
Davies' dealership, which employs 60 and operates stores at 8880 W. Central and 11200 E. Central, created a Web site -- www.saturnrevival.com-- after GM announced its plans for Saturn.
"We created it to keep our employees and customers informed of what is going on with the sale of Saturn," Davies said. "People do call and ask questions" about the state of Saturn.
The site includes blogs by Davies and other Saturn of Wichita staff as well as mention of a "Saturn Revival" event on June 13.
"We have a place rented and plans for a revival," Davies said, though he added that the date is not firm.
"Things are starting to happen pretty fast."
Contributing: Associated PressReach Jerry Siebenmark at 316-268-6576 or jsiebenmark@wichitaeagle.com.

Saturn is Still Alive

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:49:00 +0000

After General Motors CEO Frederick "Fritz" Henderson's press conference on Monday, some of you may be wondering what happens now to the Saturn Brand? The announcement stated that GM was moving up its timeline resolution to end the production of the Saturn models in 2009 instead of the previously stated 2011 earlier this month. This news has opened up many speculations in the media that our brand is no longer viable.

On a telephone conference later on that afternoon we heard from Jill Lajdziak, General Manager of the Saturn brand, that Saturn has two serious buyers and that the timeline to have the sale finalized has not changed. After a sale has been finalized, the new company if it so chooses may contract manufacture with GM until a new Saturn vehicle can be released. GM's Mark LaNeve, vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing, in a video conference today spoke about this option if Saturn so chooses as well as to reinstate the fact that Saturn is for sale, along with the Hummer and Saab brands, and is not being closed down.

We feel confident good news is coming soon for all of you Saturn fans. Please sign up to follow our blog or go to http://www.saturnrevival.com/ to stay up to date on all current news as we become aware of it.

Below is an interesting article here I thought I'd share. Once again Saturn is the innovating brand who is saving 10,000 jobs and re-inventing itself just like we did 20 years ago.

Telesto Ventures: Saving 10,000 American Automotive Jobs Investor Group Proposes to Save Saturn Retailers

DALLAS, Apr 28, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Telesto Ventures, an investor group that includes private equity firm Black Oak Partners, LLC, and a number of Saturn retailers, reiterated today its intent to acquire Saturn Distribution Corporation (SDC) in its ongoing effort to save more than 440 US and Canadian Saturn retailers and preserve an iconic American brand. The group put forth its intentions to GM on April 9th. The goal of Telesto Ventures is three-fold: -- save more than 10,000 auto retailer jobs and enhance the original Saturn model for delivering a best-in-class customer experience; -- save the American taxpayers and General Motors hundreds of millions of dollars and avoid the significant negative impact to local economies that shuttering Saturn dealerships across the US would create; and, -- successfully deliver a model that enables more fuel efficient and greener automobiles to come to market and meet the growing demand in America. "This as a win-win for everyone involved. It keeps more than 10,000 Americans productively working at a time when it is critical to keep our economy moving. Our plan costs GM and the American taxpayers nothing; and, it alleviates one of the major problems GM is dealing with," said John S. Pappanastos, a spokesperson for the investment group. "The beauty and early success of Saturn was that it was a model built very differently than anything in the auto industry to date - it put as much weight on the customer experience as on the physical product. We've assembled a team that has the experience and track record that can successfully de-couple it from General Motors and operate it as it was originally intended." The "new" Saturn Distribution Corporation (nSDC) will leverage Saturn's brand and focus on product sourcing, quality assurance, distribution, competitive analysis/positioning and national branding. nSDC's low-asset, lean-distribution model will offer a number of advantages in the current environment, and the Saturn network will provide the ideal platform for creating this model instantaneously. "These unprecedented times are putting significant financial pressure on the Saturn retailers, and time has become of critical importance to them," said Pappanastos. "We can appreciate the challenges that GM is facing under dire economic circumstances and very short timeframes. We are positioned to work with them in a very expeditious manner to put in place a mutually agreeable plan that will save critical American jobs through a viable ongoing Saturn." SOURCE: Telesto Ventures

Best Regards,

Christy Davies-Downing

Saturn of Wichita

http://www.saturnofwichita.com/

http://www.saturnrevival.com/

christyd@saturnofwichita.com

Meet Our Family

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:01:00 +0000

Brian Geddeis

Finance Director Saturn of Wichita East and West

Years at Saturn: 15

Meet Brian Geddeis

I’d like to introduce you to Brian Geddeis! Brian is currently our Finance Director and has worked for us since 1994! For the past 15 years Brian has had many job descriptions. He started out in Sales and worked he was up into Management and has done every position the dealership has to offer. Brian is an integral part of our organization; he sees that every customer has a great experience and truly believes in the Saturn way of doing things.

Brian grew up in Rockford Illinois. He started ice skating at Age 5 and grew up to be a competitive pair’s figure skater. By age 18 he was skating at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs. At 20 he moved to Canada and trained with an Olympic Coach. He was spotted by Robin Cousins the casting director for the movie The Cutting Edge. Brian was cast as a “pair skater” during the world competition! He was also casted for On thin Ice.

After Brian’s skating career ended he found his way to Wichita while working a summer job. He ended up attending WSU and graduating with a degree in graphic design and advertising. He met his wife Rebekka in 94 and they have been married for 15 years. They have two Children, Ginger (11) and Grant (10). Brian was involved in the project to open the ICE SPORTS WICHITA arena. He also coached and taught figure skating lessons for several years after it’s opening.

I’ll never forget the day he brought Grant and Ginger to the dealership. They were 3 and 4 and we had a VUE with a sunroof on the showroom floor. By the time we turned around both of them were climbing out of the sunroof! That was the last time they came to the dealership J

It is an honor to work with Brian on a daily basis. He is always willing to lend a hand and help a fellow employee or Saturn customer in anyway he can. We are so lucky to have a dedicated and passionate Saturn Employee like Brian! Brian Can be reached at 316-219-5500 or email him at briangeddeis@saturnofwichita.com

Thanks for the past 15 years, here’s to 15 more!

Best Regards,

Christy Davies-Downing

christyd@saturnofwichita.com

www.saturnrevival.com IS NOW LIVE

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Dear Friends of Saturn: Please go to www.saturnrevival.com and check out our new site! All of our social networking sites are linked in here as well as places for you to post stories about your Saturn! Enjoy!

Best Regards,

Christy Davies-Downing

Saturn of Wichita

christyd@saturnofwichita.com

Message from Scott Davies on Telesto Ventures

SaturnRevival@gmail.com (Saturn Revival) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Dear Friends of Saturn of Wichita:

As you likely heard, there is news out of GM today that it has received a “legitimate” and “very interesting” proposal from Telesto Ventures to acquire Saturn’s retail operations.

While there are many details to finalize in terms of what that would mean, it would ensure that Saturn of Wichita and other dealerships would offer vehicles from one or more manufacturers once our current arrangement to sell GM vehicles ends in 2011.

We are excited about today’s announcement and believe it should end some confusion and give some indication of the viability and bright future of our Saturn brand.

Know that we will still sell GM-made Saturn vehicles and honor all service and warranty agreements for the duration of those contracts.

This great news furthers our excitement about the future of Saturn and Saturn of Wichita. We look forward to, and will share, future developments on this and other brand news as they become available. We have been and will continue to be at the forefront of the Saturn Revival.

Stop by or call our East or West side dealerships if you have questions about this announcement or the near- and long-term future of Saturn of Wichita. We’ll be here.

Scott Davies
Owner, Saturn of Wichita
scottdavies@saturnofwichita.com
http://www.saturnofwichita.com/