Report: Saab not showing at the Chicago Auto Show

A big big bummer, but I completely understand given the times. They really needed Chicago to get back on the radar. Hopefully they'll be showing in NYC (I'm assuming they will). I'd like to see them there.

Very disappointing - I was all geared up to head down this Friday.

For those in the Cincinnati market:

SAAB will be represented at the Cincinnati Enquirer Auto Expo c/o Just SAAB. We, as a dealer, have purchased the space and will provide our own cars. It won't be as "fancy" as if GM had provided our display and cars but we felt it was important to show that we're still here and to be able to spread the message of SAAB being purchased.

Dates:
February 25 - 28, 2010

That was the whole reason I was going!! . . . very disappointing

Saab is listed as an exhibitor at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Auto Show, from March 6th to the 14th.

Someone reserved the space for Saab; perhaps it was the local dealers as well.

Too bad. However they need to be at the New York show. It is the largest in term of attendance and it is in Saab's traditional region. It is usually around the end of March begining of April, the deal will have been completed at that time. A Joint set-up with Spyker would be nice.

I can respect this. Nothing is harder on show staff than to address the ownership issues vs. talking about really good cars. The pricing and release dates are not set for the U.S. market. That would be a total pain to have to dance around too.

Are car shows as important in 2010 as they were in the past?

That is really unfortunate. I have already booked a nonrefundable hotel room. My plan was to go down there and see the new 9-5 in person, so I could pre sell the vehicle to my customers.
Very Disappointed!

Well, I imagine that the Saab space would have been reserved by GM, and now that Saab will no longer be GM that they would have not had the time and etc. to change it over and get the cars here, etc.

As Swade mentioned, just bad timing.

Agree with Mitch, it would have been difficult to explain, too.

That's too bad, I was planning to go to that show. Maybe I'll road trip to MPLS, or plan the NYC trip we've been talking about around that show...

Ugh - I'm hugely dissapointed. Was going to bring the family. Bleah.

Very disappointing and also a bad choice from a marketing standpoint. The Chicago show is pretty much "The" midwest car show. They need this to prove they're still alive. Chicago, Milwaukee area is a huge market for Saab and they need to roll out the new hardware now.

Off topic, but over the weekend I heard from a well placed source that BMW is considering abandoning the station wagon market in the U.S. This could be a great opportunity for Saab with the new 9-5 wagon. I suppose that the wagons sell in such few numbers in the U.S. that it doesn't make marketing costs worthwhile here.

Sounds amazing to me that all the arrangements are made to have the new 9-5 and 9-3x on stage and in the last week they back off... I think it was all organized by GM. Aren't the cars in the US already and can't they make an appearance on a local Chicago dealer? Why don't US dealers ask VM or Jan-Åke Jonsson to put these cars somewhere in a showroom in Chicago? Just a stupid idea, maybe?

Their site still shows Saab will be at the show:
http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/vehicles/detail.asp?make_id=44

Just last night, eating dinner with my family, I proposed we take the train or even drive up to Chicago (from St. Louis) to see the show, hang out, and grab something to eat. Everyone was up for it.

We go to the St. Louis auto show every year, but I boycotted it this year because Saab wasn't there.

I got all excited about going to see the new 9-5 in Chicago for nothing. :(

I also saw or read something within the past month indicating that BMW was seriously considering abandoning the wagon in the US market. They only sell something like 500 5 series wagons a year in the US. I agree that this is a good opportunity for SAAB.

I think that SAAB would be well-served to introduce a 4 wheel drive variant of the 9-5 combi that has a third row pop-up seat. I think the lack of those options in the current 9-5 combi has driven many potential buyers to other options and away from SAAB over the past decade.

Big mistake, I just moved from Chicago where Saabs are popular, they should be showing the Chicago crowd the new 9-5 and 9-3x even if there is no presentation.

This is just bad form, reminiscent of the past year. I would think with the new purchase, Saab would be more mindful of the great effect that such a withdrawal will have: for two weeks it's "in" the show, and then a sentence is added and it's out. Had it never been showing the first place (post sale), it would be understandable.

I realize the sale to Spyker isn't through, but an explanation would be appreciated rather than the "we know best and don't have to explain ourselves to you" style action of a giant corp.

i think they have more important things to do next time. of course a motorshow is important - but they have to take control back from the liquidators first. and the deal has to be closed first.

Saab wasn't at the Philadelphia auto show last week either. I can walk to the Convention Center in about 15 minutes, and I go to the show almost every year, but declined this year due to the absence of the new 9-5. I assume the space needed to be reserved when Saab's future was still in question, and obviously GM wasn't about to spend the money. So I understand, but I'm still disappointed.

That just means I'll need to visit the dealerships as soon as they're available, which is fine.

While Saab will not be at the Chicago show, Saab does plan to be at the show in Cleveland, Ohio a week later. This is all due to the timing of the closing of the deal with Spyker. If the deals closes on time (Feb. 16th or so), Saab will be in Cleveland with the 2010 9-5!

While not as large as Chicago, the Cleveland show is the 6th largest in the US and occupies 1,000,000 sq. ft. on one level. It is conveniently located next to the Cleveland Hopkins Airport.

We hope to see many of you there!

Jim Levine
Saab of North Olmsted

This is very disappointing. I'm a lifelong Chicagoan and I had already taken the day off on the 19th to attend the Auto Show with the purpose of seeing the new 9-5 in person.
I understand the reasoning behind it but still... boo-hoo. =(

I really don't feel like attending anymore. Saab was going to be the main reason I was attending. It would have been awesome to see the new 9-5 and 9-4.
New BMWs don't really interest me at all even though I have a 2002 330ci. Audi seems very interesting to check out, just to compare to Saab, but with Saab not being there it's really hard to compare both brands.