Saturn of Lynchburg to close

Saturn of Lynchburg will close Oct. 30, the store’s general manager said today.
Last week, Penske Automotive Group backed out of a deal to buy the Saturn brand from General Motors.
Kirk Wilkes, general manager of Saturn of Lynchburg and Saturn of Roanoke Valley, said that without new Saturn vehicles, the Lynchburg location could not support itself.
Saturn of Lynchburg’s inventory will be moved to Saturn of Roanoke Valley in Salem, Wilkes said. Both stores are owned by Hart Motor Company.
“Here, we have a larger customer base and we have a large used-car presence. It can support the store in Salem with or without the new car brand,” Wilkes said.
The Salem store will continue to sell new Saturns and provide warranty work until Oct. 31, 2010, when its Saturn franchise would end.
After that, Saturn owners whose cars are under warranty could have them worked on at other GM franchise locations.
The Salem store would continue to service Saturn vehicles that are out of warranty, Wilkes said.
About 12 people work at Saturn of Lynchburg, he said.