The Penske Automotive Group plans to buy a piece of the now-bankrupt GM. The Michigan-based dealer network announced today it will purchase Saturn, which had its start in Tennessee.

GM’s figures show Saturn hasn’t been particularly profitable. The division built cars in rural Spring Hill, on its own planet meant to operate outside the GM mother ship in Detroit. And the economical cars were wildly popular for a time. More than 4-million Saturns have sold since they hit the market in 1990. An estimated 80% are still on the road.

Nolan Baker manages Saturn of Rivergate, one of the first dealerships in the country. He says getting out from under GM could revive Saturn.

“With a name like Roger Penske behind it, his name brings excitement back to the brand again, and I think the future will be bright.”

Baker and some other Saturn dealers feel the brand was held back by GM never offering a full line-up of vehicles and being slow to update body styles.