News from the Southwest Indiana Development Council (SWIDC)

Home

Development News From Southwest Indiana

Saturn Aura symbolizes future for GM's Bedford plant

BEDFORD - It's General Motors Corp.'s latest bid to compete with popular foreign import sedans, and an integral part of its guts were put together on the factory floor where it's on display this week.

The new Saturn Aura was revealed to workers Monday at Bedford's GM Powertrain plant. It is the first front-wheel drive automobile to incorporate the 6L-70 aluminum six-speed transmission - which is solely cased for North America at the Bedford plant.

"It's a boost for this plant," said UAW Local 440 President Darrell Thimling, referring to the advanced transmission in the polar white four-door. "It's important for the workers here, but it's also important for the whole community. With what this plant does as far as United Way, March of Dimes and Special Olympics and things like that, it's a boost for the community."

Thimling said winning the six-speed transmission business was a process of several months of negotiations.

"This is an awesome feeling," agreed Plant Manager John Lancaster. "General Motors just keeps stepping up our products time and time again. And what I'm amazed by is the quality of this product."

Rick Locke, sales manager at Saturn of Greenwood was quick to support Lancaster's view.

"Saturn, for the longest time has been an import contender," Locke said. "Now, we've got the proof to show that. This car will compete with the Hondas and the Toyotas and the Volkswagens."

Priced at around $27,000, the Aura comes with heated leather seats, automatic remote start, a sunroof and a load of electronics.

"We are going quite upscale," Locke said. "You can see the very European styling."

He pointed out 96 engineering designs all intended for creating a safer car.

"Safety featuring has been one of Saturn's, and General Motors' biggest considerations in building this car," Locke said.

But, for the local audience, the most significant aspect of the car was underneath the interior.

Besides offering future stability for Bedford workers, as four-speed transmissions are phased out, the new transmission represents additional savings at a time of record-high gas prices.

"When we redesigned that transmission, we also made it into a much smaller package," Lancaster said. "So you get not only more gears, you also get a lighter weight transmission."

The additional gears and lighter weight help make every gallon of gas count.

Thimling hopes those advantages add up to a brighter future for the Bedford facility.

"Hopefully with this new business the corporation will see where we are and how we worked together to get here," he said. "Hopefully, that's just a prelude to us getting more new business."

"I think this plant has a history of being involved in the community," Lancaster added. "Whether people are coaches, or they serve on local boards, they just give, you know? I think that speaks to the community in general, and to how much the people in the community value this place."