Saturn writes letter to owners about possible spinoff

General Motors' recently submitted viability plan didn't exactly contain any good news for Saturn or its dealers, but another plan could be in the works for the once-promising division. In a letter to customers, Saturn revealed that it is strongly considering a spinoff from GM.

GM doesn't plan to keep Saturn around after 2011, but it remains possible the marque could survive on as the Saturn Distribution Corporation. SDC already exists as a subsidiary of General Motors, but it could continue on as a separate entity.

If SDC does continue on after 2011, the company would source its vehicle from another automaker. It's far too early to predict what cars could eventually become future Saturns, but Jill Lajdziak, Saturn's General Manager, says the vehicles would have to be "fuel-efficient, safe, reliable and affordable."

Although the letter sounds rather optimistic - even comparing these trying times to the 1980s when the Saturn concept was being developed - it remains to be seen how successful the SDC would be. It seems as though future Saturns would simply be badge engineered cars, which hasn't exactly worked out for the current Saturn.