Jill_Lajdziak: Hi! I cannot be more thrilled to join you on the site tonight to talk about Saturn!

Kiki asks: Okay, Jill -- if you could completely redesign a Saturn vehicle, which would it be and why?

Jill_Lajdziak: We are in the process of doing that now. Our entire portfolio is changing. In fact, by the end of this year, the oldest vehicle will be the Saturn Sky. By the time we launch the Saturn Astra we will have completely redesigned our entire portfolio. It is very exciting!

OldBlueEyes asks: I'm new to the Saturn lineup -- what car (or cars) would best fit someone planning to start a family in the next few years?

Jill_Lajdziak: I would highly recommend a mid-size sedan for a growing family. I would recommend our award-winning Saturn Aura. This is a 5-passenger vehicle with 30 MPG on the highway and with great safety; 5-star/5-star NHTSA crash ratings on the front and on the side. If you want more of a crossover, then I would recommend our 2008 sport utility, the Saturn VUE 5-passenger vehicle; good functionality when the seats are folded down, great fuel economy and great safety as well.

beulahbelle asks: I'm thinking about a Saturn Aura. Why should I buy one?

Jill_Lajdziak: First of all, I think when you look at the vehicle, you have to fall in love with the exterior—and we have a beautiful product. You want a vehicle you are comfortable in with interior refinement and fun behind the wheel. Those are the basics. Then you want to think about fuel economy, 30 MPG and also safety. With the Saturn Aura you have a beautiful product, great fuel economy and safety. So you should definitely put it on your shopping list. In addition to this, it is an award-winning vehicle with 49 independent journalists - the toughest in the business - rating the Saturn Aura the #1 car in North America! This award, North American Car of the Year, makes a consumer take pause. They know what they like, but what are the experts and journalists saying? It means we've come to be among the best. We've been validated as a brand that can bring great product to the marketplace.

guest asks: I heard there is some in-dealership comparison with Camry and Accord and Saturn. Is that working to get more sales?

Jill_Lajdziak: Yes! It's a very BOLD statement about just how confident we are in the Saturn Aura. We are so confident that we will take a couple of key competitors and put them right on our lots. It takes the shopping experience to the next level. It makes it very convenient for the customer and builds awareness for our product as a result.

pf_flyer asks: I want to buy American. How do Saturn vehicles fit this requirement?

Jill_Lajdziak: Well, we are an American car company so I certainly feel that fits the requirement. We are proud to be an American company. We leverage our global assets just like all great companies do, but we are an American car company. We came to the marketplace in 1990 - very small and the underdog and we set out to change the world. We wanted to change how cars were built and sold—and we accomplished that. We have the fire and passion to do that and we are proud to bring out our new portfolio. In rethinking the business, that is what's best for the consumer. Everyday we think about putting people first and doing what's right for the customer in meeting their needs.

guest asks: Any chance for a Saturn diesel?

Jill_Lajdziak: We are studying that. So far, diesels in North America have not been real popular, but I think that will change over time. One of the great things about our company is doing what is right - and right for the environment. We've done that over the years in many ways; from recycling body parts to painting the company the color of the sky. Now we have our hybrid line-up and I think in keeping our focus on being environmentally friendly and green as a brand - diesels are something that we should look at. We will keep that on our radar. We have our relationship with Opel in Europe where diesels are popular so we can leverage what we as a GM team can do. No decisions on this one, but will be studying diesels and the potential for diesels in the US. Look at Bob Lutz's blog and video about diesels. Very compelling!

beulahbelle asks: I may try to rent a Saturn just to try it out. Is that possible?

Jill_Lajdziak: Yes, at some locations that is possible. You can go to your Saturn retail facility and test drive a vehicle. In fact, your retail facility will also be happy to bring the vehicle to your home or office for a test drive to make it as convenient as possible for you.

pf_flyer asks: What's the biggest thing Saturn has to do to win over import owners?

Jill_Lajdziak: The biggest thing that Saturn has to do is change the perception of where Saturn had been to where it is today. With its stunning, revitalized portfolio of product the best way to do that is to see and experience the product by taking the test drive. When they do that they love the product AND we top it off with a great customer experience as well.

Jonesy asks: Are the comparison Accords and Camry’s comparably equipped or just comparably priced? Are you marketing on price or equipment?

Jill_Lajdziak: With regards to the side-by-side-by-side test drives, they are comparably equipped so that consumers can compare equally equipped vehicles for apples to apples comparison. We are selling a comparably equipped product and we offer a lot of value in our products for the consumer. We offer a lot of value! We know we have to win our way back in the market in this segment and we make it affordable for people to consider Saturn again.

pf_flyer asks: Would Saturn ever consider getting involved in racing like NASCAR?

Jill_Lajdziak: No, that's a space that we're not going to go down. It is not consistent with the type of product we bring to the marketplace. Within GM we have a great brand involved in NASCAR – Chevy. One of our luxury brands, Cadillac, also races to some extent. But that is not an area in which Saturn will be participating.

pf_flyer asks: How does the no-negotiation on price strategy benefit Saturn shoppers?

Jill_Lajdziak: I think to a great degree it shows we bring great value to the marketplace. We don't have additional costs in our product. We just bring value to the marketplace. From the consumer standpoint, if you bought a car today and paid a certain price and your neighbor goes and buys the same car tomorrow, they would also pay that same price.. So your value is not degraded in any way. We bring value in this and consumers like to do business with places they can trust. When you have a strategy like this it certainly speaks to a brand you can trust.

l84work asks: What do you think is the most innovative way Saturn has increased sales?

Jill_Lajdziak: Well, we've grown our portfolio. First, it is no small task to do that. Second, we try to reach consumers differently on our site. We have live chat on Saturn.com. We do about 700 live chats a day for people who may want to ask a clarifying question. We make it convenient for them on our site. That's certainly being innovative and there aren't many OEM's doing things like this. Third, in February we started offering a test drive at home or office so you can call your retail facility, or go to our web site, and request a test drive at a location most convenient to you. We feel that is very innovative

Saturn4Me asks: How is it being one of the only women running a major brand like Saturn? Challenges?

Jill_Lajdziak: No, not because I'm a woman. I don't consider that an issue or a concern at all. You have to be very knowledgeable about the business you are in. I've had the good fortune of being with Saturn and GM for a long time. I have retail automotive experience as well. I think what makes a company great is when there is respect for diversity of the team and everyone offers different points of view. We value diversity on our team and by doing so we get to the best answer on doing what's right for the consumer. In our minds, that's what it's all about

Saturn4Me asks: I'm really liking the hybrid line-up and have been looking for specific colors, etc. Are the dealers able to keep enough in stock to choose from?

Jill_Lajdziak: Yes, we are currently we have our '07 inventory clean-up. We do have some Aura Green Line hybrids and VUE’s, but limited because of end of year clean-up. You can go to a local retail facility, or online at Saturn.com, and order a 2008 which we will be producing in the fall of this year.

MissPrints asks: When's the new Astra coming out?

pf_flyer asks: How similar will the Astra it be to the European version?

Jill_Lajdziak: The new Astra will begin arriving in our retail facilities very late this year and into early next year. It will look just like the Opel Astra. It is identical except for a few North American regulatory requirements. The vehicle from a design exterior and interior will be exactly like the Opel Astra in Europe with a few enhancements (regulatory) for the North American product. The interior has a wonderful level of refinement for this level in the marketplace; the stitching, the use of materials is very tastefully done. The small touches give you a wonderful feeling of refinement for a small car. The vehicle has an unbelievable safety story, six airbags (standard), collapsible foot pedals, active head restraints, and the list goes on. I couldn't be more proud to bring this vehicle to the market - great looks, great refinement, fun behind the wheel, great safety story and great fuel economy. I know there is also a great Astra story on the Edmunds site right now!

bluetag39 asks: Will the Saturn Astra 3 door or 5 door be available with a sun or Panorama roof and when will they be in the showrooms or available for purchase?

Jill_Lajdziak: The 3-dr and 5-dr will be available starting Dec '07 thru Jan-Feb '08. Volume will start to come in as we get into 2008. We will offer a sunroof option (not the panoramic roof) on both the 3-dr and 5-dr.

Saturn4Me asks: One more question - how do you compare your resale values? I look at cars as transportation and an investment.

Jill_Lajdziak: We are very proud of the movement on the residual values in the market. In the last 18 months, we've improved our residuals 14 points! Our current residuals on our products are VERY competitive to our key competitors.

Jonesy asks: I noticed that a Saturn Communications rep is participating in the Saturn VUE Greenline discussions. I think that's very cool. Are there other reps doing that?

Jill_Lajdziak: Yes, we always monitor various sites and want to offer explanations when somebody has a question. So, yes, you will see product, marketing, communications members of our team addressing consumer questions. After all, we are a brand that puts the consumer first.

beulahbelle asks: What will be the next Saturn hybrid? Can you talk about it?

Jill_Lajdziak: In the summer of 2008, we will launch the 2-mode technology in the Saturn VUE – the first front-wheel-drive application of this technology. The 2-mode technology is a joint development with DaimlerChrysler and BMW. We’re also committed to a plug-in variant of the 2-mode technology, though we haven’t announced a timetable for its introduction. We offered belt-alternator-starter hybrid technology in the 2007 VUE Green Line hybrid and 2007 Aura Green Line hybrid. We have this same technology in the 2008 VUE Green Line and 2008 Aura Green Line.

Darkway asks: How does Saturn set itself apart from other GM brands like Chevy? It seems like a different market, given that Chevy & GM are really renowned for their big trucks & sedans.

Jill_Lajdziak: We certainly focus on a very distinct buyer and buyers that are attracted to the Saturn brand are different than those attracted to Chevy. So we play two very different roles for the company. People that are attracted to Saturn have very active lifestyles and are concerned about having a great product with real value in the marketplace. They have progressive mindsets and are concerned and care about many things - like the environment. They are generally people who are very value-based. The people who consider a Saturn product generally do not consider another GM product. So we offer a different proposition in the marketplace. A very unique retail experience, a brand that people trust and we compliment the retail experience with a growing product portfolio.

PammyK asks: What's the craziest you've ever seen someone trick out a Saturn? which model and how?

Jill_Lajdziak: Oh, wow! I'd have to say the craziest was in one of our early S-Series products. They put on really big wheels, jacked it up and played around with the interiors. It was WILD!

IHeartSaturn asks: I can't wait for the VUE to come out. I'm so excited. How has the initial consumer response to the vehicle been?

Jill_Lajdziak: The initial response has been very good. Everyone is very attracted to the styling of the vehicle. Interior refinements in all of the vehicles we've been bringing out is in the VUE as well. When people get behind the wheel they feel the European driving dynamics of the vehicle. The vehicle was designed for the Autobahn—and you FEEL it when you're behind the wheel. There is no better testament. We were just named in Consumer Guide out of Chicago as the BEST sport utility.

shineOn asks: The brochure for the 2008 Saturn VUE is rumored to be printed on recycled paper. Do you feel the public will respond to this in a positive way?

Jill_Lajdziak: Absolutely! It is on recycled paper and the public will respond in the right way. This is a brand that does things because it is the right thing to do. As Americans we want to be responsible citizens in doing things like being environmentally friendly just because it is the right thing to do.

pf_flyer asks: My wife and I have driven nothing but manuals for over 25 years and love them. Is there a future for the manual transmission at Saturn?

Jill_Lajdziak: Yes, we will have a manual transmission in the Saturn Astra coming to the marketplace both in the 3-dr and 5-dr.

AppleADay asks: Okay, football season is about to start up again. Any plans for a Super Bowl ad campaign? We'd love to see one!!!

Jill_Lajdziak: No plans at this time, but, who knows! Good thought!!!

MightyHen asks: Did Saturn replace Oldsmobile in the GM line up?

Jill_Lajdziak: No

Guest asks: just curious - what do your kid(s) drive?

Jill_Lajdziak: Well, I have one of driving age and one who is not of driving age. The one who is driving is 17 and I have him in a Saturn VUE. As a Mom, I'm concerned about safety and I know that our Saturn VUE has all of the safety aspects that I want it to have to protect my son.

Darkway asks: What about a subcompact Saturn?

Jill_Lajdziak: Anytime you are looking at an Opel product, you could be looking at a potential Saturn.

MightyHen asks: When will you start making cars in fun colors? I am tired of dull silver, black and gold.

Jill_Lajdziak: Take a look at the Sunburst Orange on the VUE! I also think you'll be real excited about our Astra color palette.

Jonesy asks: Do you still do the Saturn owners get-togethers?

Jill_Lajdziak: We do, but we do them more market by market by market. Many of our retailers have events for their owners. For example, in Columbus, Ohio, we have an annual zoo day and it has thousands of owners come. The event changes depending on the market. But, yes, we still show owner appreciation.

Jill_Lajdziak: Thank you very much for having me as a guest on your site. It's always great to talk with consumers who are interested in the Saturn brand. We know we are going to win in the marketplace—one consumer at a time. Our goal is to earn the consumers trust by earning what meets their needs with a great product and a great retail experience.