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Saturn of Carbondale’s will close its doors for the final time Wednesday.
After 10 years of service, the Carbondale dealership will close as the Saturn brand is being dropped as part of General Motors Corporation’s reorganization.
Daniel Primont, a microeconmoics professor at SIU, said that the closure of a dealership in a small town means a reduction in choice for consumers.
People are not buying cars right now, Primont said, but there could eventually be a backed-up demand because people will need to replace their old cars.
Sam Shemwell, the owner of Saturn of Carbondale, declined to comment.
According to several national reports, Roger Penske, head of the Penske Automotive Group, is expected to purchase the Saturn brand. Saturn will no longer be associated with General Motors Corporation after the reorganization period of the company stemming from its June 1 Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to Jamey Turner, the general manager of Auffenberg of Carbondale, Saturn owners can still be serviced under warranty by other GM dealerships such as Auffenberg.
Though he hates to see the local dealership close its doors, Turner said it’s the nature of the business.
“It’s not something you like but it’s the market, I guess, demanding (reorganization) for GM to stay a viable company,” Turner said.
Primont also said if consumer confidence does come back, Saturn might be able to survive.
“We went through it with Oldsmobile almost six years ago and, you know, there are still Oldsmobiles on the road,” Turner said.
