[jyl]

To clarify, GM said that about assembly workers - everyone knows that dealer employees are going.

Some possible reasons why they might say that.

First, it could be a lie. (Naturally.)

Second, they may expect Saturn sales to be partly replaced by sales of other GM cars. Saturn cars were being produced on platforms shared w/ other GM products, in GM plants that could or do produce other GM cars.

Third, it is possible some of the layoffs at the assembly plants that produce Saturn have already been done. I think production already stopped on one or two of the three Saturn models, over the summer. In which case, the Penske deal might have allowed laid-off workers to be brought back, but no Penske deal might not result in new lay-offs.

I don't know what the answer(s) are but I doubt GM will have thousands of ex-Saturn workers sitting around doing nothing - for very long.