That independent status continued when GM introduced the 2000 Saturn L-Series sedans and converted its Wilmington (Del.) Assembly Center to be a Saturn-only facility.
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| The 2005 Relay midsize van shares its platform with three other GM vans and will be built along the same line in the GM Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
But now, new Saturn products such as the 2005 Relay midsize van shares its platform with three other GM vans and will be built along the same line in the GM Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta, Georgia. What's more, the Relay foregoes Saturn's polymer body panels (that "bend and flex") for conventional steel.
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| Hopefully all that is good about Saturn will permeate GM's other brands while all that is bad will be improved upon by common component sharing. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Now, GM is taking the non-brand and non-marketing functions of Saturn, such as its design, engineering, procurement and supply departments, and is moving them into the GM system, Lutz said.
Whether this news is a sad ending to the GM division's independence or an exciting new beginning is difficult to say, but no matter what the final outcome General Motors has learned much from Saturn's unique development that will help every division in various capacities. Hopefully all that is good about Saturn will permeate GM's other brands while all that is bad will be improved upon by common component sharing.