6/29/09
Valued Customer,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your business and share some good news!
Over twenty years ago, we were selected from over forty applicants in the Capital District to work with GM in Detroit, and be part of a special, somewhat secret project, called Saturn. What we experienced was life changing. We couldn’t wait to be part of something we thought was so special.
Over the years, we came to understand that our business model of providing great customer treatment, with honesty, fairness, trust and respect for every individual, worked really well. We also learned, however, that to be truly successful in the auto business, you need products that folk’s aspire to own. And that the combination of those two things makes for a great automobile ownership experience!
This has been somewhat of a challenge for General Motors, our parent company that has manufactured our models, for many years. For Saturn, this part of the business plan is about to change.
Thursday, June 4, 2009 was a historic day for Saturn, when auto entrepreneur Roger Penske, of Penske Automotive Group, signed an agreement to purchase Saturn from General Motors by the end of the third quarter of this year.
Penske is the highly successful, 72-year old head of the Bloomfield Hills, MI, Penske Automotive Group, which operates more than 300 automotive franchises in the United States and internationally, selling 40 different brands, as well as operating Penske Truck Leasing, and manufacturing company, Detroit Diesel. He also is the U.S. distributor for the Smart Car for Mercedes. He knows his stuff!
According to USATODAY, “Roger Penske's pending purchase of the Saturn brand from General Motors could be the beginning of the biggest change in how cars are sold since the dawn of the auto industry early last century. Penske can shop globally for low-cost automakers able to build to his specifications quickly, fielding Saturns for half the cost and in half the time it would take traditional automakers.” The acquisition of Saturn by Penske Automotive is “like finally finding your puppy a good home,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director of Kelley Blue Book, which analyzes the values of new and used cars.
We can’t wait! Over the next two years, we will continue to sell the Aura, Vue, and Outlook models, by far the best products that we’ve ever offered. Also, we expect there will be no change in your ownership experience with respect to your warranty, service, or resale value.
What new Saturn models will look like after 2011 is anybody’s guess, but it sure is exciting! We’re sure that hybrids, plug-ins, and fuel cells are in all of our futures’. You can be sure that whatever is offered will be world class in quality and reliability, and be vehicles that drivers’ aspire to own.
It’s our intention, as well Mr. Penske’s, that we preserve the great customer experience that has become synonymous with the Saturn brand for almost twenty years.
Locally, over time, we’ll be also be looking to make additional improvements. Our facility on Central Ave is tight on space, especially parking. Expansion might come in the form of finding a new home close by, or adding an additional facility, conveniently located in the market, and remodeling the Central Ave. facility.
No matter what, long term, it is our intention to invest in the Saturn brand locally. We’re here to stay and excited about our future together!
Again, thank you from the team here at Saturn. We’re looking forward to providing for all your automotive needs for the next hundred years.
Sincerely,
Richard Perrella
President
