Saturn Store Is a Big Deal

A Saturn dealer is the latest to close on land and target a 2006 opening at Gilbert, AZ's Santan Motorplex. It won't be just any Saturn dealership. It will be one of the country's largest at what will be the largest auto park in the U.S when it opens.

Dealerships at the 130-acre Santan Motorplex are expected eventually to sell 40,000 vehicles per year, making it one of the highest grossing sites in the country, as well as the largest, says Staubach Automotive Group's Jim Mullin.

Staubach is developing Santan along with a group led by developer Bill Lund.

The Martin Automotive Group, already the owner of another Saturn dealership in Arizona, Saturn of Tempe, will own the 8-acre Santan store.

Most Saturn dealerships are half the size, making the impending Gilbert dealership one of the largest.

Based in Bowling Green, Kentucky the Martin Automotive Group is owned by Cornelius Martin, owner of 15 dealerships throughout the country.

Martin's new plans brings to 80 the total number of acres at Santan Motorplex either sold or in escrow.

Martin says, “We are very excited to be opening in time to showcase several new models scheduled to be launched in 2006, the sporty 2-seat Sky, the Aura sedan and a full-sized sport utility.”

He says his new Saturn store will employ 75-100 people and generate some $50 million per year in sales.

Santan Motorplex is part of a nearly 1,400-acre mixed-use development in Gilbert, near Phoenix. Residential, retail and health-care uses are all sold-out or nearly sold out, as is the case with the motorplex.