Saturn Makes Its Debut At Gm

The last time a new name plate appeared at General Motors was 1926, when the company introduced the Pontiac. Last week another one was added. Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac suddenly got a baby brother. In GM's boldest plan yet to counter Japanese imports, Chairman Roger Smith announced that it would set up an entirely new company, called Saturn Corp., to produce its long-planned line of subcompact cars. Smith called Saturn "the key to GM's long-term competitiveness, survival and success as a domestic producer."

GM describes its new offspring as a "clean sheet" operation. While wholly owned by GM, the...