From the monthly archives:

May 2009

On Koenigsegg buying Saab

May 31, 2009

I wrote last week of my opinion that the battle for Saab was basically down to Renco and Fiat. That was before the Opel decision. And I think that Opel going to Magna basically takes Saab out of Sergio Marchionne’s calculations. Saab would have made a nice compliment to Opel if he’d got his hands [...]

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SOTW – When green Saabs were really……green

May 31, 2009

Can you remember a time when car companies used to make cars that were ‘green’ regardless of their fuel economy? Back in the mid 1970s this was as green as a Saab got. Regardless of its color, it was possibly ‘greener’ than most other cars due to Saab’s great little four cylinder engines. This car [...]

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Targa Tasmania 2009

May 31, 2009

Time for a Sunday tension reliever. Living in Tasmania can be a pain sometimes. The fact you have to jump on a plane to go anywhere is inconvenient and costly. The fact that our extended families all live either on the mainland or overseas is also difficult. But it has its good points, too. And [...]

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About comments…..

May 31, 2009

I’ve never needed to write or implement a hard comments policy. Neither here at Saab United or previously at Trollhattan Saab. The fact that I’ve never had to do that is something that I’m quite proud of. We have a good community here, with respectful people making good contributions to discussions – which is exactly [...]

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Some post-Opel analysis about Saab from Sweden

May 30, 2009

The ink probably isn’t even laid down on the Opel deal yet and the Swedish press are seeing it as a bad day for Saab. ctm has provided the following reports; one a translation and one a summary of some general themes running through the media. —— First, the following report from e24.se Saab is [...]

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An open letter to the Swedish government – Renco

May 30, 2009

May 30, 2009. Look, I haven’t made a big deal out of this because that’s not really my way. I like to make my point as best I can in a reasonable manner and let it sink in. But in this instance, time is near and this is important. Hence, I’m publishing it again. —— [...]

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Weekend snippets – a whole lotta nuttin going on

May 30, 2009

It’s the weekend here and there probably won’t be that much writing going on. It’s been another gruelling week with plenty to report on. I’ll be spending most of my weekend looking up Mazda parts that I can’t afford and when I’m not doing that, I’ll be putting together an all-new site from scratch for [...]

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Magna to take over Opel

May 30, 2009

This has just come in via news alert from Automotive News. Thoughts on what Fiat might try to do in response are welcome in comments. —— FRANKFURT (Reuters) — General Motors and Canadian auto parts group Magna International Inc. have reached an agreement in principle that could rescue ailing German carmaker Opel, sources close to [...]

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An open letter to General Motors on the eve of a Saab sale (that means the sale is really close)

May 29, 2009

Dear General Motors big boys, I’m going to write this slowly so there’s a better chance you’ll understand it. OK? You’ve had an interest in Saab since late 1989 (yes, really!) and full control of Saab since 2000. In that time you’ve benefitted a great deal (made your cars better) from Saab’s expertise in safety, [...]

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MY2010 Saab information for the UK market

May 29, 2009

Djup Strupe has passed on this newly minted information brochure for the UK market. There’s plenty of 9-3 and 9-3x information to be had, but nothing on the 9-4x or the new 9-5 I’m afraid. —— Saab 9-5 The only story to tell is that there will be no 9-5 saloon in terms of the [...]

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Saab sale plans on track – JAJ

May 29, 2009

Whilst we all look over the failing Opel negotiations and tremble a little with the thought that GM might drop the ball just as badly with Saab, out comes the calming, reassuring presence that is Saab’s head honcho and chief-guy-in-need-of-a-holiday, Jan-Ake Jonsson. Via ctm in comments (sorry, no link) —— As expected, Vänersborgs District Court [...]

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Saab’s reconstruction snippets

May 29, 2009

UPDATE: Check comments for all the happenings with Opel. In short, Fiat are walking away from the table due to increasing demands from General Motors. Magna seem to be pretty frustrated by it all as well. GM – shooting themselves in the foot since 1908. —— Plenty of things happening in Sweden this morning. The [...]

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