General Motors announced at press conference Tuesday evening the closure of the Saturn brand, and a de-emphasis on Pontiac. Saturn dealerships will be closed by 2011, and no new models will be introduced under the nameplate. Meanwhile, Pontiac will be phased out as a distinct division. Certain “niche” models will still cary the Pontiac name, but they will be sold at Chevrolet dealerships.
In its 20-year history, the Saturn brand has never been profitable for GM. Most auto journalists would agree Saturn’s new models are vastly improved, but for reasons possibly related to a poor brand perception, sales have not improved proportionally.
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