At the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Saturn drivers are out and Kia drivers are in.

Saturn dealerships are shutting down in advance of the October deadline imposed by General Motors for the end of the Saturn brand. As a result, the Bulls needed to find a new parking sponsor for the 2010 season and found it in Univesity Kia.

The team will provide a reserved parking area for Kia drivers. People driving Kia vehicles to Durham Bulls games will also receive free parking in all premium parking areas, including parking decks and surface lots.

And, even if you don't drive a Kia, University Kia is offering a free parking pass for an upcoming game to the first 100 people to visit its Web site.

Saturn of Cary will become the area's first Saturn dealership to close, leading up to the elimination of the Saturn brand by General Motors later this year.

The final day of business for Saturn of Cary will be Feb. 28, said sales manager Tommy Pearce.

All of the service equipment and about half of the dealer's employees will be moved to Saturn of Raleigh, which will remain open until October, when GM officially shutters the division. The other 10 or so employees will either be offered jobs at other Saturn dealerships or be laid off, Pearce said.

Service appointments will continue at least through this week, Pearce said. Following the closure, customers will be referred to the Raleigh store for service.

The changes are coming as the result of GM's decision last fall to shut down the Saturn division, following a failed attempt to sell the brand to Penske. 

"Our customers are not happy with the situation," Pearce said.