History of Saturn Vehicles

When the first Saturn vehicle rolled from its assembly line in the 1990s, it was hailed as a major achievement. The Saturn brand had been built from the ground up. The Saturn vehicle was the first new American brand in more than half a century. The history of Saturn vehicles is filled with firsts and many highlights. What began as a quiet project became a distinct mark on the history of the American automakers.

Origins

Saturn vehicles began as a project of General Motors to help them come up with a small car which could match Japanese imports of the 1980s. In 1982, the project was started in secret under the name "S" car. By 1990, the first finished vehicle was driven off of the assembly line by retiring GM Chairman Roger Smith.

Identification

Saturn vehicles are manufactured by the Saturn Distribution Corporation, which is a stand-alone subsidiary of the General Motors Corporation. Saturn vehicles are a mid-sized compact car built in American plants that are employee owned.

Significance

When Saturn was created, it was done so with the idea that the division would be owned by its employees. This would be a first for American car makers who had always been either family-owned or corporate-owned. Saturn was also the first American-made mid-sized car to have a viable market and chance at success. Within 10 years of launch, the brand was competing with Toyota and Volkswagen successfully. Saturn began selling in Japan in 1997.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing of the first Saturn vehicles became a nation wide contest among communities vying for the first new car manufacturing plant to be built by an American car maker on American soil in decades. Up until the premier of Saturn, new models or brands were created out of old names, plants and redesigned ideas. Saturn was the first completely new American brand to be introduced and manufactured in modern memory. After 24 governors and 38 states entered the race to win the plant, two towns were left in the race, tiny Spring Hill, Tennessee, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, which was three times the size of its competition. Tennessee was confirmed the winner on July 30, 1985, and construction began within a year. The first car came out of the plant five years later.

Future

As General Motors began to look more at survival by 2005, Saturn lost much of its independence and began picking up similarities to the GM Opel brand from Germany. General Motors is already planning on streamlining down to five brands from eight; Saturn, as of 2009, could be sold or closed.