It’s the start of a new week, and the end of a Christmas holiday that’s seen many of the players take a breath.
It’s time to take a deep breath and get ready for one final lunge to finishing line. Here’s where we’re at.
THE TIMELINE
As I write this entry, it’s almost 7pm on Monday 28th December. That’s 3am on the same day in Detroit and 9am in Sweden.
If GM wait out the full length of their deadline, then we’ve got just short of 4 days to go until midnight on Thursday, the 31st. Hopefully the wait won’t be that long, though.
I’m looking out for something on Wednesday, but that’s just based on a hunch from Djup Strupe and even then it was just Sprupe’s feeling, not set in concrete.
THE PLAYERS
General Motors – I believe they really do want to sell, despite evidence of a plan B and the wheels being set in motion for a closure. Selling is the better option, imagewise. My guess that selling or winding down would be pretty even, financially. They haven’t been able to complete a sale yet, and failure to do so on any account would be a blow to some of the execs there. It would be proof to their critics of the supposed dead wood they were carrying and more than anything it would highlight the inability of current management to get something done.
–
Merbanco/Swedes – Merbanco and the Swedish consortium, let’s call them ‘Sason’ for the moment (not their real name), have both been involved in the sale since early this year. I don’t know why the Sason group didn’t progress, but Merbanco (an investment group from Wyoming, USA) were there in Zurich when Koenigsegg were named as GM’s preferred bidder. So they’ve both been involved for some time, they know the landscape and to varying extents, the decision makers know them, too.
CJ, the CEO from Merbanco, has said right here on SU that they’ve agreed to everything they’ve been asked. They’re effectively ready to go, ready to close the deal.
–
Spyker
Spyker came into the picture after the deal with Koenigsegg went south. When GM announced back on December 1 that they would give Saab until the end of the year (again), Victor Muller was seen at the LA Auto Show on December 2 or 3 saying that they would make a play for Saab.
They did so and were considered the frontrunners until GM announced some concerns had scuttled the deal on December 18. We’ve been on the edge of our proverbial seats ever since.
Spyker re-organised their group and submitted a new deal that apparently addressed all eleven points of concern that GM had, but the deal hasn’t been done yet.
–
Miami group
Talk appeared from an extremely well placed Djup Strupe over the weekend of a third group, based in Miami. Little is known about this group, so it’s hard to speculate on their chances. Some have speculated that it might be the guy behind Autonation, but I’ve done a little homework there and I just don’t think so. His business model is a service model, not manufacturing and I just couldn’t see him going into manufacturing, especially in such a risky foreign environment.
Whoever they are, if they’ve only just joined the dance, it’s hard to see them succeeding in a timeframe that would suit GM.
——
So…..
We wait. We think. We hope. We support Saab and all the people who work for the company.
No related posts.
That Opel blurb...
{ 83 comments }
Right Swade,
“We wait. We think. We hope. We support Saab and all the people who work for the company.”
Just like that!
SAAB up!
@Swade, what do you really believe will happen? Not what you hope will happen, but what you truly believe will happen?
I wish that Koenigsegg could have got this going, i believe they had the business plan and the balls to get this done, sigh
My question is thus?
If all demands have been meet, whats the hold up and why wait till 31 December?
a.
The wait is excruciatingly agonizing, collectively gnawing away the little bit of faith I had in GM. It is now similar to laying sleeping and being plagued by a gnat or mosquito: you just don’t know or can’t pinpoint where the noise ìs coming from – the only time you nail it for sure is when you feel the pain. The only difference here is that the jab we are anticipating is elephantine.
Just a reminder. Many in Sweden and alike still are on holiday this short week (especially journos). The news influx from there will be low, slow and sloppy. That provides an extra opportunity for SU to make and break news this week. Keep your eyes and browsers open!
Dan,
I believe 100% that Saab will be sold this week. I cannot see any other sensible outcome.
The 9-5 is an excellent car that definitely can find buyers. The 9-3 can be improved by the right owner to hold out until its replaced and the 9-4x can be a key entry in a key market for Saab.
The only reservation about this is the business plan. IF we can believe that Saab’s business plan set at around 100,000 vehicles is viable – and it’s been examined by every man and his dog with half a reason – if that plan is viable then there is absolutely no reason why Saab’s sales of a new lineup can’t reach 100,000 by 2011-12 as planned.
That means the business should be viable and should be sold.
If it is sold, I hope there’s a party and they all go nuts. And I hope you break out in a smile, too.
Cowboy Up !
If you are 100% confident that SAAB will be sold this week then I guess you know much more than you are telling us at the moment.
Well, I’m looking forward to reading about it on SaabsUnited.com later this week!
Until then,
While (SAAB.Owner = “GM”)
page.Refresh()
Do Loop
Good luck SAAB! You never know with these people (GM). They are acting like loose canons from the beginning of the story but I’ve a felling that we will have a party!
SAAB up!
SWADE UP! I´m with you!
Saab UP! Mind UP!
…and for GM: brain UP!
I 100% agree with you that GM is motivated to push a sale through. That means, common sense. It is a shame, however, how really bad journalism influences the psychology of all. Well, bad journalism always existed and seems it will continue to exist.
Keep up the great job that you are doing!
L
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now its time to mail GM and the swedish government again! Why not mail Fredrik and Maud (www.regeringen.se) and ask them to join http://www.iwontbuyfromgm.com??
BR
Jonas
I needed that script a long time ago, my F5-key needs replacement
I keep my fingers crossed…Honestly, I’m a bit worried with GM, never demonstrated reliability and although things look much better now than days ago, well..
, and I’m so proud of being just another Saab owner. I wish things will go great and we’ll have a party.I promised to my people that if it will, I will drive all the way to Trollhatan (from Athens!) with my new Saab!Yes I’ll do it!
Anyway…Just bought a 9-3 xwd
PS: Thank you people in SaabUnited for been the most updated sourse of info for Saab.
Cheers
The whole thing reminds me at Opel. The same back and forth. You will see – at last they will keep SAAB – haha ! I think they slowly realize that the new 9-5 could be a fast seller. Perhaps GM wants to earn some money with it and after five years there will be time enough to shut SAAB if there is no success with new cars. Nevertheless, my hope is that SAAB becomes independent from GM!
SALE UP !
I hope that GM finally will sell Saab!! If GM dosen’t i will ignore them forever!!!
Χαίρομαι που ένας ακόμα Έλληνας πιστέυει στη μάρκα!
SELL SAAB, NOW!
This wait is unbelievable…
2, maybe 3 viable options for completing the sale, GM must come to their senses.
Saab’s future is bright, if it is not dead (and under GM’s dead weight)….
Hi everybody!
I just signed up and wanted say that i’m so impressed. All you Saab enthusiasts are doing a great job, keep it up. This might a bit off topic but i found a clip from a local news programme showing a Saab salesman saying that they’ve a sold a lot of ginger bread baking forms shaped like the new 9-5 and saying that that might be a good sign.
http://www.tv4play.se/nyheter/lokala_nyheter/vast?videoId=1.1412591
Griffin Up!
Dear All,
))
there is one another point to view. Besides thousands of direct working for Saab there are thousands working for Saab dealers and importers. Mass of fired caused by bad decission of GM (hope not) will influence much more thousands then predict. GM should make mathematics how many disapointed people they will leave behind. I know if outcome will be worst I will do my best to create bad review of GM when ever and where ever I could.
Saab forever
Time to mail GM as well!
that will be a good idea- bearfoot
i´m already thinking about driving to trollhättan.
SU on TTELA
http://ttela.se/ekonomi/saab/1.686280
@ L & Bearfoot
Not just one L & Bearfoot. We’re at least 3 Greek voices in this community. I also think I located a 4th one (Stavros) here in SU.
Lights on – Good luck – and a saabish new year!
Lefteris
@Swade, I will smile… But only if it is sold to Merbanco and the Swedish interest group, Spyker is just as bad as KEG.
As the Marketing Director of Saab operations in Greece, i am more than happy to see our customers believing in the brand than solely on the product.
Keep the spirit up, I know I do !
Leonidas
SU on NTV-Germanny
http://www.n-tv.de/auto/reportagen/Saab-Freunde-kaempfen-article655866.html
Patrik,
I wish I had some special knowledge I was withholding, but honestly I don’t. I just can’t imagine Saab not being sold.
I think the sale will go ahead, but I have no idea who to.
Leonida,
My best regards to all the team, especially to Κάτια Αβρ..ίδου / δικηγόρο, Παν..γιωτόπουλο Δημήτρη/ sales. I’m not related to the business, just an owner and hard-core enthusiast.
Ι’m sure we’ll be talking soon in person about SAAB over the NG9.5 rescheduled presentation. I’m solid sure it will take place pretty soon under the new ownership.
Take care. Spirit up.
Lefteris
Hi Swede,
the 9-3ss biggest let down is the dash.
it should come as standard with the HIRSCH LEATHER BINNACLE AND CENTRE CONSOLE UPGRADE.
THE STEERING WHEEL IS CHEAP and TACKY.
THESE AREAS REQUIRE URGENT UPGRADE IF THE MODEL HAS ANOTHER 18 MONTHS TO RUN.
Our long wait is soon over. I have a good feeling of the outcome, but whatever happens; THE SAABSPIRIT NEVER DIES!
@ baas900i
The dealer told me that there will be a dash upgrade for the 9-3 in 2010!
i’ve just sat thru a top gear repeat critiqing the spyker something. A folly to inate design ideas, no grounded design ethos, no spirited saaby integrity. a dead horse…….
great, cant’t wait
I have been fortunate enough to work on Saabs in the US for the same dealer for 24yrs now. I love the brand and have the best customers a guy could ask for. I’ve never been through such a nail-biter. Seems 50/50 to me on the sale. With the brand duplication GM wants to drown itself in, if Saab was simply scuttled, would they increase their hand with less chances for competition? Even if a sale is soured with the 9-5 somehow, as was thought here earlier, would that make the business plan look watered down and less viable, harder to get a loan? It would be a great idea to break away from the grasp of GM and their platforms, but how much would it cost to begin our own cars again, how long would it take, how much damage to the brand in the mean time? I came to this product line fresh out of highschool, saw the engines in there backwards, and asked myself “Do I really want to get into this?” Now I can’t see working on anything else. I don’t care to work on any other product line, probably won’t have the great customers I’m accustomed to.
Swade, keep up the good work. It was not hard to figure why you did what you did in regards to the edit. One more time, you set an example for the rest of the publishing world.
CJ’s been quiet. Might be a good sign. After hearing that Merbanco has brought other companies around, I can’t help but wonder if it was their idea to sell off the dead wood to BAIC?
And to GM, do something right here, get it done and over with.
Hears to a great New Year! Let’s keep the Swedes building Saabs.
I doubt Spyker would want to share their platform with Saab. I doubt that is even doable for the 9-3 and 9-5.
Your objection would have carried much more weight and relevance if the bidder’s name was “GM”…
I think the majority of Saab fans want Saab to go their own way and use whatever components are right for the job, rather than share a large bin with a dozen other brands huddled together under the same umbrella. An independent Saab is the future.
Hi swade, thanx for all great work!
I have problems with iwontbuyfromgm.com homepage, I am afraid that it stops users from putting in comments. It seems that a script is hanging the webbrowsers.
By the way, I wonder how you could be so certain that GM really wants to sell Saab? More and more points (unfortunately) to the opposite,,please give us some insight in this nervous time!
L, I will always believe at Saab, no matter what happens.Εχω βαρεθεί και εκνευριστει απο το ΄γερμανικό’ κατεστημενο που επικρατει στην Ελλαδα και χαιρομαι που υπαρχει μια μαρκα σαν αυτή που να τους γονατιζει και…με style και ιδιαιτεροτητα! I wouldn’t be happy if GM keeps Saab, cause we will have again heart-attacks same day same month in the next year too! I don’t like them and I will never buy even a key-holder accessory from them.The only fruitful way of Saab’s regenerations is to sell it, at more entrepreneurial and passion driven hands…
Good News – The Russian Press picks up the case.
http://auto.lenta.ru/news/2009/12/28/gmsaab/
I will drink to that…yes, Swade, some insight please
“We wait. We think. We hope. We support Saab and all the people who work for the company”
indeed!
bearfoot, u r absolutely right…i could not agree more on your comments…”sometimes, being different is the price u ve to pay for winning”.
Saab up!
Have to say a couple of things concern me as the GM deadline looms
In the UK and Europe the all new 9-5 is a direct competitor for the Vauxhall Insignia – its a somewhat dull but properly sorted car that is already a fleet and private sales success with a range of accessible finance offers to tempt buyers.
Have Saab had the necessary support and funding to better the already high levels of interior and exterior quality seen in the Insignia? My biggest gripe with the outgoing 9-5 is that lack of quality in the touch and feel of some of the interior plastics that fail to lift it above the other mainstream stuff on offer-get this wrong and I am not sure Saab will see the much needed new sales.
Next worry-the lack of lease and finance deals on offer from UK Saab dealers and poor residual values.
Solution in my view: go back to using high quality durable materials and price sensibly-Saab is no longer seen as a premium marque in the mindset of UK buyers-big discounts patchy quality and poor residuals have seen to that-they do make great used buys and there lies the problem!
I really want to see Saab survive but feel they can only do so in the UK by in the first instance offering consistently high quality, top value and above all else individuality-in the first few years they will have to manage with quite low volume sales and dealers will probably see much of their income coming from servicing and used sales.
The 9-3X is well sorted car but some of the interior plastics are easily scuffed and dont age well-to be honest I’ve seen better quality in a Skoda-Saab must get the diesel in XWD and sort out these quality issues quickly-do so and with the right lease and finance deals they have a new car that will sell.
Finally I just dont understand why the hatchback has been abandoned by Saab-the old 900 was spot on for families-spacious and stylish-not everyone wants an estate.
For what its worth I think GM would have been quite content to see Saab broken up-I suspect that the iminent sale of Volvo to Geely has probably helped Saab enormously.
Swade,
I wish I was as positive as you, but I feel there is no way SAAB will be sold. I hope I am wrong but the risks to GM of selling SAAB (real or perceived) are much greater than the short term publicity hit they will take by closing it down. I think GM’s record on this is pretty clear. They have already turned down two viable offers (Spyker, Ksegg) and shut down the Saturn brand when it looked like they already had a deal in place. By no means am I comparing SAAB to Saturn, but I am comparing GM’s thinking process. This is all a charade to make it look like they tried. Someone please tell me why I am wrong.
According to SR , Paul Akerlund does not think that a decision will come today: http://www.sr.se/vast/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=3336789
Ed Whitacre: “I don’t know anything about cars.”
Right.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/2010-10best-quotes-10best-cars/
To all,
As I mentioned above, I have no special insight here but I do believe that Saab will be sold. Sometimes I think we have a penchant for making things more complicated than they really are. GM are in negotiations with three parties at the moment. It’s time consuming, expensive and a major pain in the backside. If they want to shut it down, they’d just shut it down. I believe they want to sell, it’s just the terms that are being hammered out.
Johnny Aero,
They didn’t turn down Koenigsegg. Ksegg walked because the process was dragging too much and costing them too much. That action set up the frenzy that we have now with the swedish govt finally seeing that this is serious.
They had some issues with Spyker, which Spyker say they’ve now addressed. We’ll see.
With regard to Saturn, they only shut it down after Roger Penske walked from the deal. Penske couldn’t get guarantees needed for vehicle manufacture from (I think) Renault, so without that he decided he couldn’t proceed. With no other viable alternative, GM had to shut Saturn. The basic fact is no-one wanted it.
I had Christmas dinner with extended family this year- one of which is currently working in very large Swedish bank. He and I had a nice talk about the sale. He actually ran into CK when they were seeking additional funding. His take was that the Swedish Gov is very nervous about this sale. Although he echoed the sentiment that is they couldn’t sell cars why should they be saved he also belives that a loss of Saab would be 10,500 lost jobs in Sweden. That number came I directly from the banks talks with CK, other bankers and gov’t officials. There is a great concern that the loss of Saab and Volvo (done deal) would be a huge hit on the economy.
Just some interesting background from someone on the ground.
just read an article in caradisiac and im very sad..if i translate it say that only victor muller believe in his transaction and GM dont even discuss with him no more . on the GM board they are just making plan for closing saab…and the union are fully aware!!! right now i feel like throwing a few nice words about GM and all those ppl there but i will shut up
Hi s,
regular readers of this blog have noticed a long time ago that many major news sources have a tendancy to put bits and pieces together as it suits them in order to publish a “new” article.
What you read was probably correct information on December 18th, but things have changed dramatically since then.
If some new development has taken place since, then I seriously doubt it won’t be reported here long before “caradisiac” picks up on it.
don´t believe every article you can read in the medias. if everything would be true what was written the last years – SAAB would´t be closed since years.
SAAB still alive.
and there are three bidders not only VM
SAAB UP
sorry guys im just a little edgy today and i dont thrust GM
I was trying to find an story publihed in the Swedish magazine Ny Teknik in spring or summer I think, about Saab’s plugin hybrid car that was to be released at some motor show in Stockholm in 2005 when GM suddenly ditched the whole project and had the recharging sockets on all exhibit cars covered with tape, because they were scared that the GM Volt project wouldn’t stand the competition.
I did not find the original article (just a quote at http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:mo0X2iYcZA4J:di.se/Funktioner/ArtikelKommentarer.aspx%3FarticleId%3D2009%255C07%255C01%255C343424%26acmShow%3Dtrue%26SectionID%3Dettan%26menusection%3Dstartsidanhuvudnyheter%26sortby%3D1%26Page%3D2+%2BGM+%2Btejpa+site:https://di.se&cd=2&hl=sv&ct=clnk&gl=se ) but I DID find an interesting article at http://www.sverigesingenjorer.se/press/debattartiklar/Sidor/satsapasaab.aspx , a Google translation of which follows here:
Do a search in the search bar (left sidebar) for “The Smoking Gun” – SW
— 8
I was trying to find an story publihed in the Swedish magazine Ny Teknik in spring or summer I think, about Saab’s plugin hybrid car that was to be released at some motor show in Stockholm in 2005 when GM suddenly ditched the whole project and had the recharging sockets on all exhibit cars covered with tape, because they were scared that the GM Volt project wouldn’t stand the competition.
I did not find the original article (just a quote at http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:mo0X2iYcZA4J:di.se/Funktioner/ArtikelKommentarer.aspx%3FarticleId%3D2009%255C07%255C01%255C343424%26acmShow%3Dtrue%26SectionID%3Dettan%26menusection%3Dstartsidanhuvudnyheter%26sortby%3D1%26Page%3D2+%2BGM+%2Btejpa+site:https://di.se&cd=2&hl=sv&ct=clnk&gl=se ) but I DID find an interesting article at http://www.sverigesingenjorer.se/press/debattartiklar/Sidor/satsapasaab.aspx , a Google translation of which follows here:
— 8
I posted this in the last blog entry and I think it would make sense to post it here:
I just knew sending e-mails to GM and Whitacre would be a waste of time. If they had actually listened to customers and car owners, they wouldn’t be in the position they’re in now. And neither would Saab.
Neither will GM most likely respond to online petitions either (iwontbuyfromgm.com).
Who wants to bet Whitacre dumped all those e-mails from his inbox without reading a single one?
The only way GM would be forced to remove its head from its butt is through media pressure.
Don’t forget to mention not only how many jobs they’re in danger of destroying, but also how much US tax money they’re in danger of using to do it. Especially as opposed to gaining income from a completed sales process.
BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_3950000/newsid_3959100/3959111.stm
CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/newstips.html or
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?1
ABC News:
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3052660
NBC News:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml?tag=ftr
MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html
The Sun:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/article296174.ece
The Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-299115/Contact-Daily-Mail-Mail-Sunday.html
USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback.htm
Jay Leno:
http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/contact/
And for good measure:
The White House/Car Czar (It would also be best to contact them through both phone and fax)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Don’t let up.
@bearfoot-
Congratulations on the 9-3 XWD….2.0T ????
I’m honestly jealous of all these XWD owners. If only there was a way to transplant that drive system into my Viggen.
Hell of a DIY project….. Hmmmm, where’s that lottery ticket
BIG SAAB UP TO EVERYONE FOR THIS WEEK !!!!
Ok if nothing else I have learned not to listen to half the #hit you read in the press if so Saab would allready be shut down. Also don’t trust GM in any way at all.
I too believe Saab will be sold but not for the reason that it will make GM look good. Gm could care less about our outlook on them. They only are bean counters the days of Harley Earle and the rest of the design teams of the 40′s and 50′s are gone. Its how many different models we can get out of one design. Even the mighty Chevy Bolt will be made into other car lines in the future. To me the reason Saab will be sold is GM has no reasonable Idea what to do with them.
REMEMBER ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE
(well maybe bitch alittle)
Thank you Mike,
I’m very excited, I am going to hit the road first time next week with my new 9-3 (Titan Grey 2.0T XWD).
SAAB UP!…to all Saabish people who are different and special!
Come on GM, think wisely…for once!
great words from hakaan
thats why we believe in SAAB.
i`m sad that this argumentation is too complex for the average people.
“I don’t thrust GM.” Well, nobody really trusts GM. I don’t trust them one little bit. Internally, many of the involved hardly can’t stand GM and its games any more. But we’re stuck with them. So we have to carry this deal through. (We = all SAAB enthusiasts.)
Keep the faith, even against all odds.
(That may be the hardest task of them all.)
… (no comment) … (no comment) …
Sometimes it is very healthy just to CRY OUT LOUD … (!!%xxx*F+S+DB*) …
… oh … didn’t say anything …
An article in GT today writes that a lot assessors like club chairman Paul Åkerlund thinks that the negotiations will start up again today.
http://www.gt.se/nyheter/1.1826732/tiden-rinner-ut-for-saab
good article – victor muellers kitchen is also included
Niklas G – you’re right. The hybrid concept car originally had a plug-in socket behind the trunk badge. But GM wanted save the plug-in feature for the Chevy Volt debute in Detriot later that year. Here’s some more on the Saab concept:
Stockholm MS version March 2005
http://archives.media.gm.com/archive/documents/domain_473/docId_24664_pr.html
London MS version July 2005
http://archives.media.gm.com/archive/documents/domain_473/docId_27357_pr.html
Thank you, I’m waiting for a positive outcome this week.
I have been tracking GM for the last two years including an academic presentation by me on the “GM Myths”, which was a posting on the old GM Website. GM Myths are now gone from the site.
One of the “GM Myths” was GM has too many Brands, which was refuted on the GM website. Basically GM did not want to give up any Brands. They were forced to do it to obtain US taxpayer money. The Saab sale was part of the deal with the US government. If the Swedish Government had at any time in the past year stepped in and supported Saab directly, none of this last minute stuff would be happening now.
The current GM Board is new so the old stuff is out the window. The lower level guys are however still the same. There are already a lot of losers in this situation including anyone who held GM stock.
I am here to support Saab, but it’s new car sales which will matter, so get out your check books and get ready to buy a new Saab, or certified used(leased) Saab. Or, buy a late model used Saab to keep up the resale value.
Saab only fails if the Saab community lets it fail.
if GM intends to sell why plan close down now. Can someone please give me some hope after this article from http://www.dn.se
“There are sources in Saab Automobile in the Dagens Industri – DI – indicates that GM now see positive opportunities to closure of Saab. By making use of Saab’s technology, tools and production equipment for GM use the new 9-5: an – that would be launched in the spring – to a future Buick in the U.S..
It is to suggest that it may be true is that GM has already failed Buick taking over a European model. Upcoming Buick Regal is an American blueprint of the Opel Insignia, which shares a platform with the new Saab 9-5.
But 9-5: an is considerably larger. Saab is five meters long, while the Opel Insignia / Buick Regal is 4.83 meters. A 9-5-based Buick would thus become a more spacious, even luxurious, and already fully developed since the GM stable.
In the GM is also talk of exploiting Saab technology for the production of a new premiumbil for Opel, “says DI’s sources. It would then be about the reopening of the closed trial with an Opel Senator in Europe.
According to calculations, the value of the new Saab 9-5 model to be roughly equal to the Chinese BAIC paid for the technology rights to the old 9-5: an, ie 1.4 billion.
DI’s sources also believe that GM can get away with relatively small costs for the closure of Saab on the American biljätten take sufficient time to wind it.
GM is in a letter to Saab’s sub-contractors have estimated the time of the killing to five years. If you continue the activity for some time, the costs of disposing of the staff is minimized.
Under the plans, inventories and decommissioned indwelling orders are delivered. Engineers and production technologies that build BAIC’s three Chinese “Saab” factories will produce revenue for GM for years to come.
Hakan Danielsson, club chairman for Academics at Saab, says a DI to GM at a board meeting on Monday announced a sketch of the closure. Lists are now prepared for the activities placed first and those that will continue.
“One thing is clear and that is to Saab museum will survive,” says Hakan Danielsson. “
Not only is my check book wide open, but I’m willing to run naked through the main street of any major city while signing off on a check for a new 9-5 (made in Trollhättan).
I think there are many like me (bar the nudity) who wants to buy, but are awaiting the new 9-5.
I am getting ready to write a letter to Mr Whitacre to thank him for selling SAAB should they actually do that!
)
Saab Up!
@ Swade, take tomorrow off. You deserve it!!!
I still won’t believe NG9-5 competes with Insignia. Its like saying Passat competes with A4, while latter is a class or so higher than formal.
Cowboy Up!
Swade- Merbanco & Swedes have stated that their offer is for the entire company and nothing less. Is this true of Spyker and other group.
actually the group from miami is not miami but palm beach. my sources say they have been dealing with GM on other assets since February. they were contacted when the deal fell apart just before thanksgiving. my sources say they have funding in place and need no government loan gurantee’s or EIB funding
“Saab only fails if the Saab community lets it fail.”
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Y E S . If this deal works, the real work begins!
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First, we will all take a deep breath
(and maybe scream out loud! > I’ll do so) …
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But the NEXT TWO YEARS will be THE critical period.
LAST exit “to be or not to be” for our beloved brand.
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1. If we all wait for those far away new SAABs – THEN there will NEVER BE ONE!
2. There is ONLY ONE CHANCE for SAAB to survive: We all have to buy SAAB cars in the next months. Every SAAB enthusiast with the necessary financial opportunities should do so. Buy or lease your SAAB NOW.
3. We are all proud of our exclusive status as SAAB drivers. But our little club is TOO SMALL to give SAAB a healthy living. So: it wouldn’t be a bad idea to find some new members …
4. Swade/SU makes a great job for all of us and for the SAAB. We should show him, that we are no ignorant or stupid fools. Let’s do all we can, to help SAAB into a great future. That means: NO business as usual for us and for SAAB.
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> That means: Our NEXT SAAB may be the second best.
The subsequent one after that then a NEW GENUINE
“new generation” SAAB.
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And then WE ALL have made it possible.
> That is the pact! You’re with me?
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(That’s part of this “open letter” from July 2009.)
RJ
I agree, the 9-5 is much larger than the Insignia and classed as a luxury model.
I’m already dressed for a visit at the dealer and tha pocket half full of cash.
The dealer will smile all the way to the bank…
I am still wondering what this 5 year winding down period means. I guess they want to slowly suffocate SAAB, by doing this:
- telling the dealers that SAAB still exists, but no one can order new SAAB car. This way the dealers can not prosecute SAAB for not fulfilling the contract, and the dealers will jump out of the ship themselves during the time.
- Swedish government will just sit and pay enormous money for unemployed workers, their education to new qualifications, etc, while GM will still tell teh world that SAAB still exist.
- GM will take the money from BAIC for consultative services that SAAB people will do, and the SAAB people will have to be thankful because hey still have jobs.
I have just one question: Do GM think that the rest of the world are just idiots and will accept this?
your right iggy i agree thats the GM way..i know them..5 miles away from where i lived they closed a productive plant and left hundreds with no job after our provincial govn stop those subventions..tax credit.etc.if they close it it will simply fade away ..only us some irreductible will survive..not sure about translation here sorry
i own 7 saab since 1989 im up and willing to change my current 9.5 2006 to that new one….if it survive
the world r not idiots but you can make them believe anything u want..( i heard that from one of our past prime minister in canada!!!)GM will tell all the usual blah blah blah and put everyone in some state of coma like usual…we should offer the non saab ppl some redbull to keep them awake so they are aware of the situation…anyway wont make a change cuz if u drive one of those GM car well u do need to drink a lot not to fall asleep behind the wheel of those zzz cars.
But then if you are a SAAB dealer and a customer comes in the shop:
- I want to buy a new SAAB.
- Sorry, we have stopped producing SAAB cars.
- But…you are a SAAB dealer!
- True…But SAAB is winding down!!!
- But for how long?
- Don’t know for others, but certainly until my dealer contract goes out!
Do GM think a dealer can do business like this? Is it possible that dealers have such lousy contract that allows this scenario to be real? I simply don’t believe that it can be this easy for GM.
Yo Swade!
A smile you’re saying? This is the best news that came across me in the last few weeks!
I bet there is someone out there, making the “Go” or “No go” decision, and I wonder who that person is. Is he reading all of our comments here and in other media? Is he reading the “iwontbuyfromgm” comments? Is he waking up sweaty at night, dreaming of having to work on the handicap on the golf course? Is he seeing faces and hearing voices of the Trollhättan plant workers who might be laid off?
So many puzzling questions in my brain…. And the answers only days, or even hours, away
If it´s any comfort, that article is just stupid.
* 1,4 billion krona for the old toolings, same price for the new? Ehhh shouldn´t think so? If I were BAIC, I´d bought the new!
* Does Buick need another epsilon II car? They have the Lacrosse, the article even implies that the 9-5 should be the next-gen, in 6 years or what?
* If Opel want´s a preimum car (but who would buy?) why don´t they just rebadge the Lacrosse, why manufacture 3 epilson II cars?
* But last but not least, who has given DI this information monday morning? According to most sources the negotiations took a break over christmas, did the DI-reporters celebrate christmas with someone involved? Shouldn´t think so. They even headline with:
“No major progress has been made during the holiday season and now starts the time running out for Spykers bid for Saab Automobile”
No major progress, and yet everyone involved celebrated christmas with their famylies!
Nonsense!
Swade,
Call me a pessimist, but I believe that GM purposely made sure to drag the process with Ksegg on to have them drop out. This makes it look like they tried to save SAAB while putting the blame on someone else when they “have” shut it down.
I hope I am wrong, but I feel there is no real effort to sell SAAB. I really hope you prove me wrong Swade.
Thanks Niklas for the link to http://www.sverigesingenjorer.se/press/debattartiklar/Sidor/satsapasaab.aspx. Lovely article written by an insider. Short and succinct.
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