Don't know how true this is, but it does show that there is a possibility of Mitsubishi staying in the states, unlike previous reports on this forum.
This news just made my day.

Article: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/m...aturn-dealers/
Original story: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090...ership+network

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but if this goes through would it be Saturn Lancer Evolution? EWW no thanks.

 

I don't think they would keep the Saturn Name. I think they are just wanting several modern dealerships in key areas. I don't know how things are in your area but the only dealer in my city is in a rundown hand me down of a store that used to be a Kia store that used to be a Burger King (I kid you not.) They used to have their own old Oldsmobile store, but they vacated that. The other Mitsu dealer that I used to work at had a nice facility until it went out of business and is now a Kia store.

I think most Mitsu dealers are old rundown hand me downs and Mitsu would love to get its hands on these Saturn stores as most are newish and nice and in key markets.

 

i think this would definatley help boost mitsubishi's sales i know the closest mitsubishi dealership to me is about 45 or 50 miles away. Also Nissan could end up out bidding mitsubishi if they really want it seeing they make a lot more money than mitsubishi does and Nissan is a more known name. But i hope Mitsubishi can buy saturn Im not a big fan of nissans

 

On the contrary, IMO, it'd be great for them to keep the Saturn name. Turn it into a means to finally bring cars like the Colt over to the US, and give them branding that's more "American"

 

If they name it after an american car comp, the quality may automatically be assumed 'bad'.

 

You're idea sounds good, and yes maybe that is the case, but I just don't think it would work. No one would be fooled. It would be front page news and the same people wh owouldn't buy a Mitsu now also wouldn't by one rebadged as something else and I don't think they have the product depth to support two lineups.

Now, if the Penske thing works out, the plan was that this guy would cherry pick cars from around the world and sell them there, then yeah I could see Mitsu bringing over some quirky car to sell along side someone else's quirky car and so on and so forth, but it wouldn't be just an effort by Mitsu alone. Mitsu does supply kei-cars to Nissan to sell under their name, so maybe this is how this story got started.

 

I think the Evo would keep it's name as is, because they are only made in Japan, and would still be under the mitsubish side. That's just what I guess, I have no real Idea, I hope they don't change the name.

 

Me too. Mitsubishi is the oldest Japanese car brand name, and one of their oldest brand name/companies period. They entered this country as Chryslers behind almost all the other Japanese car names mostly because they felt like people never would want to buy the brand responsible for building the zero. They didn't start selling the cars as Mitsus until 1982. It would be a shame to quit now, but with sales plummeting as they are now, maybe its time for drastic measures. I still rather be able to buy an Evo, then not even if its a Saturn. I can always JDM conversion it back to the three diamonds.

 

like the saturn sky... it will be turboed next time....

 

I think you guys missed the point. Saturn is a GM brand and GM is closing alot of its dealerships, and since we all know that Saturn does not do too well (if Chevrolet lots are closing too then, yeah) Saturn dealership establishments will be up for grabs, meaning Saturn will be no more or will dwindle down to only a few select dealerships.

I don't understand this move for Mitsubishi though, seeing as how my local Mitsu dealership filed for bankruptcy and is gone and now the closest dealership is about 2.5hrs away.

 

We do get the point. And they won't dwindle down. GM will stop supplying them in two years, so they will have nothing to sell. However, the point is the Saturn brand has some equity, more so then the Mitsubishi brand does. GM did a good job of distancing themselves from Saturn so much so that most of its rabid followers had no idea it was a GM division. GM is trying to sell off the entire brand, but they will no longer put R&D into building the cars which are all based on other GM products.

Is there a Saturn dealer thats closer? Well then maybe that's the point.

 

or is mitsu buying the saturn facility(for cheap) and will still be selling mitsubishi products?

 

I think the only thing the deal will do for Mitsubishi is give them a window to bring over good small gas cars, family sedans, and maybe there small trucks. They would only supply but not own Saturn since if a company like Penske buys it will need new products after 2011, since GM will stop producing cars for them so its a Temp. fix for them and a potential partner in the auto industry for Mitsubishi. Then once they develop there own cars, Mitsubishi prolly wouldnt supply as many cars or any at all.
Thats what im getting out of this, i see the Colt, i electric (gas Effecient car), new Galant (Aura replacement) , and Eclipse (Sky replacement).....That would be the cars that would be made into a Saturn or whatever the name might be at that point. I doubt the buyer would leave the Mitsubishi name or doubt that Mitsubishi would give a Evo to them. Reason is becuz Penske american comp. and Evo JDM car. Cars like the ones mention above can fit into the Saturn name.
MY 2 CENT

 

just buyin them for their dealer locations