They're closing one line at the TN Saturn plant, not the entire plant. ION production is moving to wherever they make the Chevy Cobalt. Given their similarities, building them on the same line is a move GM probably should have made some time ago. The Sky will be built at the Wilmington, DE plant where the Solstice is built and my current Saturn came from.
The company is changing to become more like other divisions of GM so that it can offer nicer products and compete better. Saturn's cars are becoming more mainstream, which is necessary for the brand to survive. One key part of that is the upcoming attractive styling, another is getting rid of the plastic body panels.
The dealer experience is the one thing Saturn wants to keep the same. They have gained a great reputation for service, and people enjoy the no-haggle pricing. That experience is likely the only reason the brand is still around. The main problem with the dealers is that no one is shopping in them, which they're trying to fix.
The company is changing to become more like other divisions of GM so that it can offer nicer products and compete better. Saturn's cars are becoming more mainstream, which is necessary for the brand to survive. One key part of that is the upcoming attractive styling, another is getting rid of the plastic body panels.
The dealer experience is the one thing Saturn wants to keep the same. They have gained a great reputation for service, and people enjoy the no-haggle pricing. That experience is likely the only reason the brand is still around. The main problem with the dealers is that no one is shopping in them, which they're trying to fix.
