General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), flush with $13.4 billion in federal bailout cash, is going on a diet.Media reports indicate that the beleaguered automaker is going to focus on four core brands in North America: Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner told Bloomberg News that the company may retain Saturn, though the once-cutting edge brand's future remains cloudy.
Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said the company's "worst case scenario" indicates that it will need need more than the bailout money it has already received. Oy vey. That's not a good sign.
If there is to be a turnaround at GM -- and I realize that's a big if -- the automaker has to dispose of Saturn. Remember how GM trumpeted Saturn as a different kind of car company? It never quite worked out that way. I always found Saturns to be underpowered and ugly. Maybe one of the big European or Japanese car companies will purchase the division for the right price.
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