Saturn Makes Plans for Japan

12/02/96

Comline reports that GM staged an exposition in Japan to show off the Saturn model that goes on sale in the country next April. The U.S. carmaker announced that it settled contracts with three different companies that will retail the model in Japan, including one Nissan-affiliated dealer. GM plans to make deals with 20-25 additional retailers over the next few years.

GM decided not to release sales plans for the Saturn models, as other U.S. cars like the Chrysler Neon have not lived up to sales goals. Nonetheless, the President of Saturn, who was in Osaka for an import car exposition, reminded his audience that Saturn had sold a million cars in less than five years, building its market from the ground up.

The president of one of the three retailers who have closed deals to sell the Saturn models in Japan said that he found the company's new marketing strategies appealing.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel