Mitsubishi Interested in Supplying Vehicles to Saturn Dealerships

Washington DC May 22, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that according to The Detroit News, Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is in talks to supply vehicles to Saturn dealers if the brand and dealer network is sold this year.

Mitsubishi is among several manufacturers, including Nissan, talking to parties interested in acquiring Saturn's dealer network from General Motors, sources said. Although it is unclear whether Mitsubishi vehicles would be sold under the Saturn name—or vice versa, a deal would give Mitsubishi a stronger presence and help it boost production in the U.S. by tapping into a network of about 380 Saturn dealerships, which need new vehicles once Saturn stops production.

Mitsubishi sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of about 430 dealers in North America. Last month, the company sold 3,919 vehicles, down 55.9 percent from a year earlier.

Saturn has narrowed its list of potential bidders to two or three, according to sources and hopes to conclude a deal by the end of the third quarter. GM has said Saturn will be phased out at the end of this year but could supply vehicles on a contract basis beyond 2009.

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