GM to close 46 Canadian Saturn stores

Canada's Saturn stores will close by the end of the year as a result of automotive entrepreneur Roger Penske's purchase of the brand, General Motors Co. spokesman Stew Low said today.

"After careful and thorough analysis, it was determined that the business case did not support distribution of Saturn vehicles in Canada," Low said today in an e-mail.

GM and Penske made the decision jointly, said Tony Pordon, a spokesman for Penske Automotive Group Inc.

"There was a study done, essentially, in terms of a thorough and careful analysis on a business case in Canada," Pordon said. "We decided, both General Motors and Penske, that we can't go in Canada."

GM announced the decision last week to the 46 Saturn dealers in Canada. The company will move Saturn's customer service, parts and warranty operations to other GM dealerships, Low said.