Saturn's troubles normally wouldn't rate such talk. But GM's announcement in December that it will phase out Oldsmobile made it clear that the once-unthinkable can be under consideration. Saturn says there's no question it will survive.
Some experts agree.
But it would make no sense to close Saturn. The brand is profitable for dealers. And it is the top brand in customer satisfaction, according to consultant J.D. Power and Associates. About three-fourths of Saturn customers say they would not have bought a GM vehicle if there were no Saturn. The Bloomberg report also appeared in Automotive News , a trade magazine widely read within the industry, creating a stir.