From Tim Higgins, Detroit Free Press - It looks like an announcement could come as early as Thursday in regards to the Penske Saturn deal closing.

Some of the signs pointing to the deal closing soon:
Jill Lajdziak, Saturn’s general manager, has asked for an early retirement package from GM, an indication that she is leaving, a person familiar with her decision said.

Saturn dealers have been asked to sign new franchise agreements with Penske.

Joe Serra, who owns two Saturn dealerships, believes everything is on track. “It looks like they are probably on the two-yard line,” Serra said.

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[Source: Detroit Free Press: Read Entire Article]

Robert Snell from The Detroit News. Saturn dealers nationwide have received new sales and service agreements from Roger Penske, a sign the auto icon is close to finalizing a deal for the castoff General Motors Co. brand. The two-year agreements, which are subject to completion of a deal for Saturn, were sent to about 340 U.S. dealers, who had until Sept. 11 to sign and return them. The agreements have one-year automatic renewals if dealers meet certain conditions.

There are no major changes from dealer agreements under GM and details such as sales objectives are not mentioned. But the agreements last for two years, a key difference from the GM agreements, which were open-ended, dealers said.

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[Source: The Detroit News, Read Entire Article]

Another Saturn Store will be closing its doors on Aug 1st. The good news is that the owners will be offering employment at their other dealerships.

From Eric Pfahler, Vero Beach Press - The Suburban Group plans to close its Saturn of Vero Beach effective Aug. 1 so the dealership group can focus operations at its Saturn of Stuart location, Suburban Group General Manager Ron MacEachern said. 

MacEachern said all employees at Saturn of Vero Beach will be offered employment at other locations. He said Saturn asked Suburban Group to purchase the Vero Beach dealership 18 months ago to try to make it profitable.

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[Source: Vero Beach Press, Read Entire Story]

KANSAS CITY, MO - Saturn owners in Kansas City have good reason to be confused after GM referred customers needing service farther away than they needed to go after Saturn dealerships were closed down in the metro area. But FOX 4’s Megan Cloherty is Working for You with some important information about where Saturn owners can go to have their vehicles serviced without a long drive to Topeka.

For a map of GM dealerships in the Kansas City area, click here.

View News Story Video
 

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[Source: Fox4kc.com]

From Laura Layden, Naples Daily News:  The owner has hit the brakes on Saturn of Naples. On Wednesday, Bob Goodman said he’s putting the skids on the dealership off Airport-Pulling Road as part of a consolidation.

Sales and service operations in Naples will be merged with Saturn of Fort Myers off Fowler Street, which Goodman also owns.

The change is effective June 18.

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[Source: Naples Daily News, Read Entire Story]

Saturn of Carbondale Owner says "I will never buy another G.M. Product."

Instead of selling vehicles, lately Shemwell is selling tables, chairs, sofas, signage and other décor that once helped make his place of business welcoming to customers. Now, nearly fully stripped, footsteps echo off the walls and voices carry in the carless showroom.

As vacuums hummed outside his office, Shemwell sat and noted how this month’s bankruptcy filing by General Motors has left him in the financial lurch, including $80,000 in parts, $120,000 in specialty tools and thousands of dollars in signage for which he said he’ll take a loss.

“I’ll tell you this, and please quote me, I will never buy another G.M. (product),” he said. “It’s because of what they’ve done to the American people. They want another $30 billion in taxpayer money and they can’t buy us (dealerships) out.”

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[Source: The Southern]