According to workers on the Spring Hill plant floor, Saturn may loose its powertrain operations within the next few years as GM seeks to standardize engines across many platforms. While UAW workers in Spring Hill say they are happy with their innovative labor contract with GM that includes bonuses for production and quality goals, there is talk of modifying Saturn's deal to make it more like the national GM-UAW contract. When GM and the UAW first negotiated Saturn's labor contract, there was widespread hope that the deal would become the pattern for agreements at other GM assembly plants. That hasn't happened, nor are UAW leaders anxious to let it happen in the future. Despite the signs that Saturn's independent orbit is decaying, its executives, workers and customers still have great optimism.
Executives attribute the fall in sales to the decline in popularity of the small car market.
The answer lies in expanding Saturn's product line with the new L-series and updating the current S series. The limited product lineup has been a hinderance to Saturn's growth. Earlier this year, GM's board of directors approved financing for Saturn to develop a sport-utility vehicle which will be built at the Spring Hill plant. But it will be at least a couple of years before Saturn can cash in on the buying public's appetite for trucks. Some argue that Saturn should have released a new line years ago.