Can’t wait to hear who it is. I’ll puke if it’s Geely or Chery.

Go away Saturn.

So Saturn will just be a marketing arm and retailer for someone else? Only the Chinese, Indians and the French car companies are in the position to take on this task and infuse cash into the marketing and retailing to make it a success. Im preying its something we dont alrteady have in US and its not Asian.

Get the torches and pitchforks ready…

American Motors Corporation.

Seriously, what about a Tesla or Fisker partnership?

…of course, they offer no cash and lots of liability. So…strike that.

May God help us if it comes from China.

Mattel / Hot Wheels.

I get the feeling an interpreter’s going to be involved no matter who’s behind door number one.

I bet it’s Renault. Seriously the only one who may have the resources and product to do something like this.

I doubt it’s a Chinese or any other non-European/Japanese maker, it would take them too long to get the product ready for the US.

April Fools!!!!

They got nothing and they are trying to boost interest.

Toyota. Mark my words. Just combine Scion and Saturn into one brand and allow the models going to Scion to be Saturns or Saturn-Scon and get them off of Toyota dealer lots and into their own distribution network.

I cannot way for rebadged Camrys!

That’s intriguing Payton. Scion has said they’re coming up here as well so why not?

Stanley Steamer reborn!
Saturn will offer all steam powered cars.

I am with Jake. Except for Chinese or Indian car manufacturer nobody seems in play. And since recession is still packing some punch even Asians are not sure bet.

Another observation: isn’t “long term partnership” rebirth of term after gay-no-longer-marriage in California? Is Saturn dropping pants and opening kimono?

==>>Lol Jake…and i see your point Payton.

It’s most likely Peugeot/Citreon or Renault, those frenchies really want to get back in the USA.
Payton: Toyota has enough brands, unless they want to use Saturn as a Prius brand.

they are dropping pants, opening kimono and bending way over.

Saturn was a perfect example of GM not learning a lesson from their own success. The cars themselves never amounted to much, but they built a fierce brand loyality in a relative short period of time. They wasted that all away…

Those who think it’s Toyota or Renault are making really ignorant statements. Think about it. What is Saturn? It has NOTHING but a dealer network (and not a good one, admittedly, which is why they never really sold well). The brand is meaningless in the US. They have no product. Their plant isn’t really their own as it’s GM property and is tooled to make other products, and plants are pretty worthless right now as there’s massive over-capacity in the industry, and tons of plants going idle in the US that could be bought for next to nothing.

Toyota has dealers already, and they’re quite successful and very well placed. Renault has Nissan, who has a WAY better dealer network than Saturn.

So, why would they ever want Saturn?

Fiat was a possibility, but if they get Chrysler, they don’t need Saturn. Peugot is basically the only major that could be a consideration, and they have toyed with a return to the US. Otherwise, it has to be a Chinese or Indian company, though it could potentially be Proton of Malaysia (not likely).

Looking at the Indians, it’s either Tata or Mahindra. Tata has Jag and Range Rover, so they don’t really need a dealer network. Granted, those dealers aren’t really right to sell the Nano, but Tata already has dealers they could grow into with a new brand like Mercedes is doing with Smart. That leaves Mahindra. I would not dare to say they have ‘world class’ cars, as this dealer suggests. The truck they’re looking at importing is so far from competitive, it isn’t funny.

My guess, this dealer, like most, knows absolutely nothing but thinks he does, or he’s trying to save his business by generating public sentiment that Saturn is safe to buy from. This is just a foolish comment.

Hummer and Saab stand real chances of being bought, but not Saturn. They have absolutely nothing to offer.

Maybe its new long term partner will be Opel – as current reports suggest thats going to be spun off from GM.

RENAULT: Did you people forget Renault owns Nissan…
OPEL: Saturns are already Opels, plus Opel is owned by GM. So how would that work exactly, hmm…

Since Saturn has NOTHING to offer but a meager dealer network, I say Chinese or Indian.

TATA MOTORS. there is no doubt aboot it. there already working on a us bound nano…….

Renault is already tied to Nissan, wouldn’t make sense to sell Renaults as Saturns.

Fiat may be distributing through Chrysler dealerships within the next month, so it’s not likely to be Fiat/Alfa/Lancia. But if that falls through, who knows?

The press release says “world class partner”, so it’s no Chinese automaker.

I’m thinking it’s likely PSA selling rebadged Peugeots or Citroens.. or less likely, it’s VW Group, who could peddle its Skoda or Seat products through Saturn.

Renault has been pretty strong willed about having a North American Partner, and coming to the US with there product. They don’t want to be in with Nissan, their sister, because it may detract from Nissans so they want a seperate dealer network and partner…. Saturn.

Why is this so hard to understand?

I’ve read everyone’s comments and have, in my opinion, ruled out Renault, Fiat, Opel, Tata, and Mihindra and Mahindra, and any chinese company for many reasons, of which i’m not going to waste my time listing because their all up there^^^^ So I completely agree with bdizzlefizzle on this comment:

“My guess, this dealer, like most, knows absolutely nothing but thinks he does, or he’s trying to save his business by generating public sentiment that Saturn is safe to buy from. ”

Either that or this is just an April Fools joke.

Maybe its Russia’s AvtoVAZ

I agree with zoomzoomer and JakeK66:

Renault/Nissan could use the distribution network to sell Renaults. This would help the alliance establish Renault in the U.S. as a completely separate make from Nissan (as JakeK66 has pointed out) without the expense of establishing and building a new dealer network. Since Renaults are based on the same basic platforms as Nissan products, it is just a matter of using existing Nissan production facilities (many of which are located in North America) to build these products.

I could see VW utilizing the deal to introduce Seat/Skoda in the U.S. VW is interested in conquering the world and surpassing Toyota. Bringing their Seat/Skoda brands to the U.S. in an established dealer network would help them accomplish their goals to dominate global auto sales with a minimum investment. That would give VW a 3-tier brand hierarchy in the U.S.: Euro affordable (Seat/Skoda), German mainstream (VW), and German luxury (Audi). Just like Renault/Nissan, Seat/Skoda products use the same basic platforms as VW products, it is just a matter of using existing VW production facilities (some of which are or will be based in North America) to build these products.

The only problem I see with PSA Puegeot/Citroen is that they wouldn’t have existing production facilities in North America in which to build their products. The Saturn dealership base would still provide them with a ready-made network in which to distribute their products in North America, though.

If I had to choose a Chinese owned automaker to take over Saturn’s dealerships, then my vote would be for Roewe/MG. I would still prefer one of the three Euro automakers mentioned above, though.

I also agree with jandrews90 that this could be one heck of an April Fools Day joke.

cire_1wb, you may be right that Volkswagen could use the Saturn network to bring the Seat brand to North America. I’ve seen pictures of the current Seat line in the UK and I wouldn’t mind seeing the Ibiza and Altea models in the USA market, especially now Americans are starting to discover what a great idea the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is. (Indeed, in Europe the Honda Fit/Jazz is considered a B-segment MPV.)

Typical GM – Just when they start to get things right with the product, they kill it off. Remember the last few Olds? And the Fiero?

Won’t be Fiat. May be Hyundai. Probably not, though. I’d put my dinero on Renault or PSA. VW is a dark horse

ayton Byrd: “Toyota. Mark my words. Just combine Scion and Saturn into one brand and allow the models going to Scion to be Saturns or Saturn-Scon and get them off of Toyota dealer lots and into their own distribution network.”

You could be on to something.

“I cannot wait for rebadged Camrys.” You don’t have to. Go to your “L—s” dealer and ask for an “ES.”

bdizzlefizzle: you’re mostly dead wrong, but one thing: Tata has Jag and Range Rover, but I’d gather that Saturn has more stores.

cire_1wb: You also could be on to something.