Penske buying Saturn, hope for the Kappa after all?

AlanBDahl · 06-05-2009, 10:03 AM

According to Jalopnik Roger Penske will be buying Saturn from GM:

Jalopnik - Penske Officially Buying Saturn From GM - penske saturn

Penske gets the dealer network and "certain other assets" while GM will continue production, on a contract basis, of the Saturn Aura, Vue and Outlook.

This leaves out the Astra (which is made by Opel, soon to be owned by Magna of Canada) and the Sky. I'm wondering if the Willmington plant, or at least the assembly line is the "certain other assets" part? It seem silly that Penske would want Saturn without the Sky, especially since the plan is for the new Saturn to gradually transition to building it's own cars over the next few years. Not to mention the difficulty of Saturn dealers having only a handful of 2010 Skys to sell. Longer-term I'm wondering if the Kappa architecture could easily find itself part of some new "Corvette-fighter" Penske?

These are certainly interesting times in the automotive business, I wonder how it will all play out?

WifesGXP · 06-05-2009, 10:19 AM

Fingers crossed.

prattm · 06-05-2009, 10:25 AM

I'm hoping for this too!

LatinVenom · 06-05-2009, 11:32 AM

According to SD they do not get the SKY, is not part of the deal.

achieftain · 06-05-2009, 11:53 AM

Roger gets no manufacturing facilities or rights. He is buying the brand and distribution rights to vehicles to be produced for th emoment by GM (limited after today, essentially) to Aura and Vue and Outlook, and my best guess is he does not get any hybrids. For the 2011 model year and beyond Saturn will buy cars from wherever, possibly imports mostly. A Saturn roadster is not out of the question but it won't be a continuation of the Sky. Could be we'll see the modern MG sedan (and roadster) as Saturns - but that's just one of my pipe dreams with not even a rumor to go with it. Unfortunately money is on the dies and presses for Sky and Solstice ending up as a reef at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

Many people don't realize that Penske has exclusive US distribution to Daimler's smart. Word also is none of the smart dealers will combine with Saturn dealers.

liedoctor · 06-05-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LatinVenom

According to SD they do not get the SKY, is not part of the deal.

Then I guess Kappa is truly dead...

A sad day in mudville, I'm afraid....

BellaVerde · 06-05-2009, 01:29 PM

Maybe there's a lurker out there with a billion or two that can buy the Kappa lock, stock and barrel! Sure keep a lot of folks working. Sad part is, if the guy or gal wants to make even a small profit, the car will have to sell for 40,000+! 'Course thats based on current GM costs. If everything is relocated to Kinston, NC in the GlobalTransPark, and NC kicks in everything but the kitchen sink, like it did for Apple, then maybe the costs could stay the same. I'll buy a lotto ticket this week and hope for the best!