End of the Road in 2010 for Hummer, Mercury, Pontiac, Saturn

Saturn EV1 plug-in electric car

Saturn was supposed to revolutionize the auto industry, and for a while, it did.  Saturn introduced some revolutionary models — including the EV1, the first commercial plug-in electric car, which I test drove in the 90s in California, before GM recalled them to kill them.  Saturn also changed the buying experience from confrontational haggling into something more pleasant.  Saturn models sold well from 1990, when the company was created, until GM began bleeding money and stopped paying attention to the new kid on the corporate team.  Saturn almost was saved by auto mogul and racing icon Roger Penske, but he bailed after not being able to reach an agreement with union workers.  The last Saturn was produced in March.

The Saab story was another life or death saga.  Several buyers fell through at the last minute, until  the boutique Dutch automaker Spyker stepped to the plate.  Under its new owners, Saab already has announced its first all-electric car, the Saab 9-3 ePower, shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, and is partnering with BMW on parts and technology to reduce costs.

By comparison, Ford sold Volvo to the Chinese automaker Geely with little drama, for $1.3 billion in cash.

Yes, 2010 was an interesting year in the automotive world.

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