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Saturn closing will kill hybrid sales
Saturn closing will kill a quarter of GM hybrid sales
Posted Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009, 2:37 pm in Employee News
When General Motors closes down Saturn later this year, it will lose just over a quarter of its sales of fuel-saving hybrids—the type of vehicles that the Obama administration wants automakers to build more of, the Automotive News reported.
And it’s not yet clear how the end of Saturn affects GM’s ability to meet toughening corporate average fuel economy standards, the trade publication said. Because Saturn does not offer a V-8 engine or have trucks or body-on-frame SUVs, it is GM’s most fuel-efficient North American division, the paper said.
Saturn currently sells mild hybrid versions of the Saturn Vue crossover and Aura sedan, and last year was second in total hybrid sales among GM’s divisions after Chevrolet, the publication said. After Saturn is discontinued, GM will offer the Chevrolet Malibu mild hybrid and two-mode versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups as well as the three full-sized, two-mode SUVs, the story said. (Automotive News)
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Rick
Nitro Year: 2007 (1 of 113,000 sold)
Nitro Model: R/T 4X4 Stone White
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