Saturn automobile
General Motors launched its Saturn automobile manufacturing company in 1990, largely in response to the success of Japanese small-car imports in the United States. Saturn's headquarters and primary manufacturing facility are located in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Saturn is known for its company-wide "no-haggle" sale policy. Saturn dealers (called "retailers" by the company) are not allowed to sell any new Saturn at any price other than list. Customer satisfaction with dealer service is among the highest of any car brand in the U.S. The company also won praise for its environmentally-conscious manufacturing processes and for its innovations such as using flexible plastic side panels on its cars to avoid minor dents.
In recent years Saturn has been criticized for not keeping pace with the rest of the automotive industry. Sales have been declining, and the ION production lines were halted for two weeks in 2003 to allow dealer inventory to reduce. The L-series may be cancelled after 2005.
Models
Future plans also include a small sportscar based on the GM Pontiac Solstice roadster; this new Saturn will appear in showrooms in early 2006.
