Saab ad competition – vote for your winner!
December 22, 2010 in Saabology
FINAL CHANCE FOR VOTING, WHICH CLOSES AT 7PM AUSSIE DST TODAY.
IF YOU HAVEN’T VOTED YET, NOW’S THE TIME. AND PLEASE PASS THE WORD ALONG TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE VOTING AS POSSIBLE.
——
It’s time to vote for the winners of the Saab (unofficial) ad competition. If you haven’t read it yet, please check out the background information on the selection of these finalists. If you have read it, then it’s time to review the finalists and select your winner.
You get one vote and one vote only, so make your selection carefully and vote for your favourite. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place.
Here are your finalists. Click to enlarge. The poll is below.
——
#1 – Beauty comes from the inside. Why settle for that? – The only series selected. View at Flickr.
–
#2 – With great power comes great responsibility – showing Saab’s new low-emissions TTiD Saab 9-3 range. View at Flickr.
–
#3 – The relentless pursuit of…. common sense – part of a series cleverly using slogans from other companies to highlight Saab strengths. View at Flickr.
–
#4 – Regular 9-5 getting you down? You need ours – a clever play on words and a good story as well. View at Flickr.
–
#5 – People who drive a Saab usually buy one…. and a second… and a third – how many times have we said this? And the pictures bring it to life. View at Flickr.
–
#6 – The latest addition to great Scandinavian design – ties in to the idea of Saab being Scandinavian as a brand emphasis. View at Flickr.
–
#7 – Unusual – one of a group of 7, all of which were judged individually and all of which were quite clever. View at Flickr.
–
#8 – Less = Moore – Execution needs tidying up, but the judges liked the story, which had a Saab Vs likeness. View at Flickr.
–
#9 – Logic will get you from A to B – Simple, clean with an engaging line of thought. View at Flickr.
–
#10 – Love at first sight isn’t everything – a good educational ad stating some facts about the product. View at Flickr.
–
#11 – It’s all in the details – again, representing a series of similar ads that stood well on their own. View at Flickr.
–
#12 – Omnipresent – representing a series of 4 ads that stood well on their own. View at Flickr.
–
#13 – Four seasons, Four wheels, Four elements, Four letters – The only one without a true car image but a great layout and narrative. Interestingly, the judges preferred this earlier layout to an updated one. View at Flickr.
——
The poll
You have your finalists. The poll will remain for two days. Please cast your vote and pass this link on to all of your Saab friends so they can place a vote as well.
Saab (unofficial) ad competition
- Four seasons, Four wheels, Four Elements, Four letters (25%, 347 Votes)
- People who test drive a Saab usually buy one... (19%, 254 Votes)
- Regular 9-5 getting you down? (10%, 142 Votes)
- With great power comes great responsibility (9%, 117 Votes)
- Great Scandinavian design (7%, 101 Votes)
- UnUsual (7%, 93 Votes)
- Beauty comes from the inside.... (5%, 67 Votes)
- Logic will get you from A to B (5%, 66 Votes)
- It's in the details (4%, 53 Votes)
- The relentless pursuit of... common sense (3%, 40 Votes)
- Love at first sight isn't everything (2%, 32 Votes)
- Less = Moore (2%, 31 Votes)
- Omnipresent (2%, 31 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,369
Loading ...–
matsvbg said on December 20, 2010
1, 3, 4 and 7 are my favorites. #3 got my vote.
2natw said on December 21, 2010
In #3, was the car on the left a SAAB? It sure didn’t look right to me….
Swade said on December 21, 2010
It’s a Lexus.
The ad poses a different take on of Lexus’ taglines – the relentless pursuit of perfection.
2natw said on December 21, 2010
Yes, it looks like a Corolla, way to go Lexus. Good ad anyway, maybe I’m stupid at reading ads, but it was a little unclear.
Troels, Denmark said on December 21, 2010
But your comment is relevant, I think: IMO you can not have a picture of another car in such an ad. It will confuse some and also seem a little arrogant to those who might be insecure about the other car. I did not know either which mark it was. To conform and uninspiring to be a Saab. But again – if one haven’t followed the later development …
Bravada from GMI said on December 22, 2010
For the record – the shape of the Lexus ES and the tagline would be much more familiar to the American audience. I have designed an entire series of ads with the American market in mind, based on taglines from another automakers, and the “comparative” ad concept is seen as much more acceptable and commonplace in the American market.
I do agree in certain other markets, this kind of advertising wouldn’t work, and certainly not with the USDM Lexus ES.
x said on December 20, 2010
This was NOT easy – all are great ads and beat most official ads easy. I’ll have to think it over some more . . .
laurent said on December 20, 2010
All ads are good,
most are great,
and some are far better than the original SAAB ad’s,
SAAB Marketing, take notes !
Hans H said on December 20, 2010
I voted for “With great power comes great responsibility”.
“Less is more” and “Logic will get you from A to B…” were also favourites, but I had to pick just one.
Perry said on December 20, 2010
Really impressive work! Both by the entrants and the judges. Must have been tough decisions!
Not easy to choose a winner…I must think for a while..
res said on December 20, 2010
I think the ads deserve some higher res pictures….. it is not even possible to make out the text in some of them!
CraigSu said on December 21, 2010
Agreed. The inability to read the ad text on several of these renders them incapable of being properly judged.
Börjesson said on December 21, 2010
Instead of just clicking each picture, try using the right mouse button and choosing “Open link in new window”. (That’s Firefox, but I expect there is an equivalent in other browsers.) For most of the ads, you get a bigger version that way.
Smithy said on December 20, 2010
I’ll go with Hans!
Spider-Man is the deal.
Bravada said on December 20, 2010
My deep kudos to the jury – you must have spent quite a bit of time choosing those. But, may I say, this is really a premier selection – not because the ones not chosen were worse (I believe there were many more which could make the cut, it must have been really tough to choose!) but because this selection could just as well appear in print and get non-Saaby awards each! Well, shouldn’t be saying that of one particular entry, but anyway…
Congratulations everybody!
PS. I am keeping fingers crossed for no. 13 to prove lucky to a certain entrant
benrp said on December 20, 2010
1,5 and 13 are my faverites but all are great. Maybe as a bonus the winners could be published as an actual Saab advertisment, I hear Swade has some contacts at Saab.
Tomas TL1000R said on December 20, 2010
Have to think it over a little bit longer.
A reflection: What I want from an add is more information than a good picture, to combine that (which is not that easy) I proberbly will choose ad nr: 10. It´s not the hottest one to look at, but the message is very good and appeals to me. I like the text and the fact that you can stop at it and read it for a while like an article. The perpose is to capture the reader for as long time as possible to make your point and it does to me.
But I have to think about it for some time longer……….but first impression is nr: 10 I think.
Tomas TL1000R said on December 20, 2010
As a Saab driver I go my own way. I´m the only one thinking of the 10 ad therefor I put my vote for it. Why, because first impession last and I have not surreptitiously looked at the position before voting.
Dave said on December 20, 2010
I voted for 13. It’s a smart add. And there are no cars in the picture which I think is original.
I was also thinking of voting for the 5th add cause I thought it might bring back some nostalgia to the old Saab drivers who changed to another brand.
Me said on December 20, 2010
My vote goes to #11
Is the most similar to my entries
Rtom said on December 20, 2010
You can just feel the Saab spirit behind these great ads!
Each ad has it’s own purpose and would be suitable in their own respective marketing campaigns.
2, 5, 6, & 13 are my personal favourites. Too bad we can only pick one
logan said on December 20, 2010
These are great. My vote goes to “It’s in the details.” Good play on Saab’s roots.
Wulf said on December 20, 2010
#6 Scandinavian design with #13 a close second. #6 tells the story of the ad without the need to read the text. Brilliant! #13 because it is different than any other regular car ad but interesting enough to draw you in and read it.
Tim Caines said on December 20, 2010
I’ve voted for no.4 – definitely the best!
LG Aero said on December 20, 2010
Great work and a difficult decision. I chose #5 because if reflects my reality !
As a US (Saab’s largest Market) customer , there was agreat irony in the ads for the ttid Diesel models. No where on our horizon.
Urge your friends to vote, particularly if they are NOT Saab owners. After all most people who read a Saab ad are in that category.
Smithy said on December 20, 2010
Take a peek on this Swade: http://www.teknikensvarld.se/nyheter/101217-framtidens-saab/index.xml
Run a GTranslate, I’m not in position to translate right now.
Talladegan said on December 20, 2010
Well I’m really pleased to have made the final cut with one of mine. Interesting that the one that got through is my very first effort too.
Best of luck to all entrants…what a great set of ads to choose from!
Swade this has been a really great idea!
monte03 said on December 21, 2010
off topic,
The Spyker stock is up 25 % at this moment, did we miss something ? Or has it to do with the link which Smithy posted right now ?
monte03
Rune said on December 21, 2010
This looks significant:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6BG49T20101217?type=companyNews
“Spyker close to BRIC distribution deals”
Tim said on December 21, 2010
Actually, that’s already old news. Today Saab has signed a preliminary agreement with CATC to distribute cars and parts in China. A final agreement will be signed during Q1. Saabs expects to start selling cars in China in July 2011.
Tim said on December 21, 2010
Press release
Smithy said on December 21, 2010
Interesting, and no, that’s not what my link was about.
monte03 said on December 21, 2010
From Bloomberg
“Saab auto signs deal to re-enter China”
the stock is now up 33 %
JL said on December 21, 2010
Great fun to study – very impressive efforts
To make my decision easier I decided to pick the ad that I think would be of most use in the very near future:
-prioritize the most important news = ng 9-5
-ng 9-5 design will sell, but with just one shot, I pick a shot from the front 180 degrees. I believe that cars are usually identified and mostly appreciated from the front.
-the interior has been critized – then display it in all its beauty
#1 is my pick of the day, but thanks to all of you artists!
RS said on December 21, 2010
What you just described was my reasoning too. An ad without the car could go totally unnoticed by potential customers owning other brands. Four seasons in very good ad for Saabers (Saab Magazine) but don’t know about the general public?
Swade, could we have a head to head final between the two that get the to most votes ‘in the first round’? Would make it even more interesting imo.
Tomas TL1000R said on December 21, 2010
+1
You´re right an ad whithout a car (you want to sell cars right) it´s work for Benetton, but you don´t run you ass of to nerest Saab dealer after reading that ad. It´s cool (yes it is but thats it) it does´nt sell cars cos you dont know anything MORE about them, it´s just a reminder of the name Saab. Does´nt we want people to know more about them and we need to show them cos they don´t se them enough on the streets,Right!
Oistein said on December 21, 2010
+1 my pic too
Seb C said on December 21, 2010
I voted “Great Scandinavian Design” because I think it best represents the non-ostentatious, “intelligent upmarket” that Saab is striving for. Simplicity and quality.
Second in my thinking is the “Great Power/Great Responsibility”, the best tagline but the car isn’t available to us North-Americans so not as universal as the other.
My favourite of the competition is not in the finals, it was the cheeky “Descended from Jets” drawing of Saabs parachted from a jet. But all the finalists are worthy IMO, excellent initiative Swade and thanks for the entertainment to all the entrants.
Jason Petho said on December 21, 2010
A big congratulations to the finalists!
Well done!
Jason Petho
Iiari said on December 21, 2010
Wow, VERY hard decision.
In my mind, only #6, 7, and 13 have the potential to be spun off into ongoing series of advertisements that could define the entire brand. The others are too limited or specifically targeted to get my vote, despite how impressive they all are.
#13 got my vote, though. It’s an absolutely beautiful, simple, and powerful reintroduction to the Saab brand that could easily be spun off into model and feature specific applications.
Börjesson said on December 21, 2010
My second favourite is #4, with that ingenious 9-5 wordplay. But I’m definitely voting for #5. I rather think Jorrit has been unlucky with the jury, who didn’t consider his seven brilliant entries as a series. And if I had to choose only two of Jorrit’s, I would have picked neither #5 nor #6. (It’s a hard choice, but I’d go for the “66°02′N 17°57′E” and the “Passion included” ones.) But even so, I think #5 is very good, and the best ad in the final.
Börjesson said on December 21, 2010
Correction: Jorrit actually did nine brilliant entries, not seven! The last two were presented with the name spelled wrong on the AdComp page, that’s why I didn’t find them at first.
Oscar, from Barcelona said on December 21, 2010
From the press release:
“… a holding company that owns subsidiaries which produce and sell premium automobiles under the Saab and Spyker brands, …”
Doesn’t sound fantastic?
peeceepeh said on December 21, 2010
At first, I liked best the # 13. But then I asked myself what the four elements have to do with SAAB. I found this a bit disturbing, so my vote went for #5 because it combines beautiful pictures with a nice message. SAAB will go on!
But great ads all 13. Thanks to the contributors! It’s been a lot of fun.
anonymous said on December 21, 2010
Although #13 is very attractive, I’m curious as to why it has received such an overwhelming number of votes. If I was part of a struggling company, this would probably be my last choice of the group, simply because it offers very little information about the company or product to create new customer attraction.
I also think it is a disservice to the contestants by resizing the images and not including links to the rest of the ads in the series.
Regardless, these are all very very good entries and there is really no loser in this group.
Börjesson said on December 21, 2010
Agreed about #13. It’s brilliant both in creative concept and in execution, and I wouldn’t mind having it as a poster on the wall. But I don’t think it would sell any cars whatsoever. Not in Saab’s present state of obscurity, anyway. Maybe five years from now, when every potential customer already knows what Saab is about and what the current lineup looks like? Then this sort of ad could help underline Saab’s image as a classy brand for cultured people, a car that stands out from the crowd. But at present running a campaign like that would quite frankly be a waste of ad money.
sorenc said on December 21, 2010
I too was wondering why #13 is so popular. It’s an absolutely brilliant idea as well as execution but I just cannot see what that add can possibly do for Saab at this point and thus the popularity.
My wife gave me the clue as to the popularity. I asked her to look at the adds give her view as an outside. She prefer #1 and #9 because of the great peictures and did not really care for the “green” ones which really surprised me. With respect to #13 she said “this is a sweet one but it is speaks solely to the loyal following. I will not resonate with people outside the inner circle”.
She made me realize just how important stunning images are. I voted for #6
sorenc said on December 21, 2010
A small but important correction to the above:
“this is a sweet one but it speaks solely to the loyal following. It will not resonate with people outside the inner circles”.
My apologies!
Quijote said on December 21, 2010
Congrats to the finalists! I do think some better entries didn’t make the cut (FU GM included hehehe), but nevertheless its great to see the SAAB community take such proactive action!
J Fan said on December 21, 2010
I feel like I’m at school again, and my name didn’t go up on the board :’(
Voted for no.5, as although it looks very nice and I like it, no.13 wouldn’t make much sense to a lot of people apart from us lot I think.
RMinNJ said on December 21, 2010
All the finalist ads look great to me. What a hard decision it must have been to go through them all. I voted for “People that drive a Saab usually..” because I think it shows the cars along with
telling a story about the quality and product. But they are all great.
I’m going to ask my wife (a non-Saab nut) to go through them and choose. After-all ..those are who the ads really have to appeal to,.
RMinNJ said on December 21, 2010
Well my wife liked #12…(funny that was my initial choice or reaction to this group of ads before I chose another).
Looking at the poll results it looks like my wife is, as I knew, clearly not in the same frame of mind us Saab nuts. Who were these ads suppose to appeal to again ?
GerritN said on December 21, 2010
#2 got my vote. Simple, but extremely important for the European market and hopefully soon for the US market too. Those damn ants keep on showing up, though, but the Spiderman reference pulled me over.
I would have loved to vote for #6, because I think it incorporates a lot of the Saab design spirit. Unfortunately the new 9-5 is not the best example of Scandinavian simplicity. With some luck the ad can be used with the new 9-3 next year.
ivo 71 said on December 21, 2010
#4 for me, without hesitation, IMO the most creative entry contentwise. It may need some reworking for max impact but even so has the best appeal potential by far. Well done, Talladegan!
Ivo
Talladegan said on December 21, 2010
Thanks Ivo
To be honest I think everyone wins here and the ultimate winner has to be Saab.
J Fan said on December 21, 2010
They are all indeed excellent – Saab should somehow use this
Good luck, Talladegan, and one and all!
ivo 71 said on December 21, 2010
+1, Talladegan. But there is always a ‘primus inter pares’.
Ivo
Angela L said on December 21, 2010
They are all good but Number 4 got my attention. Excellent and Good Luck!!
Audrey Wineglass Foster said on December 21, 2010
I vote #4.
Troels, Denmark said on December 21, 2010
As I am not completely satisfied with any of the texts, I voted for one with very little text, a simple and clever message, a simple well executed layout and a nice, convincing picture: no. 9.
zippy said on December 21, 2010
I read, and re-read, each and every one twice over so can I vote for all of them!? In the end I liked the simplicity conveyed by #9.
Talladegan said on December 21, 2010
I’m really regretting not sending mine in a high enough quality format and resolution. The others are just looking way too sharp in comparison. Hopefully the content stands up though!
Oh well. we live and learn!
SteveW said on December 21, 2010
I am not able to vote via iPhone, has any one managed to do this? Btw I like #6 but #4 gets my vote (when I can place it, use PC tomorrow)
Talladegan said on December 21, 2010
Voting works fine on Android so I’m sure iPhone should too?
shp2rd said on December 21, 2010
#9 has my vote! Because of the text and because of the 9-5 highlighted in that color… Fantastic!! Now that is an ad I would like to see on the dark streets of an winter night illuminated by blue lights! The animal has returned!!
Ps: I also liked: #11, #12 & 13. Good luck to all!
Tomas TL1000R said on December 21, 2010
This has nothing to do with Saab but sometime it´s not bad to laugh either.
This Thing is from something thats called Grotesco and 23.09 minutes in, there
is quite fun in English. Look and enjoy the Liverlellie sketch.
Sweeds trying to be fun in English, do they make it? I think it´s just great.
http://svtplay.se/t/140137/grotesco_-_del_7
Hope it works, from SVT Play 23,09-26 , Sorry Swade I could´nt help myself.
Talladegan said on December 21, 2010
Yes it works
Good find!
marc said on December 21, 2010
Why doesn’t it surprise me that the one that differs from all the rest gets the most votes
ivo 71 said on December 21, 2010
Because the answer is simple: it’s just too good. It is almost a work of art. And there is the problem: an ad should not be designed as a thing of beauty, it should be designed to promote sales of Saab cars. An age-old advertising adage: if an ad is too brilliant in itself, it won’t move the product. Here in Holland we have this long-running series of TV commercials for an insurance company. These are very, very good. Great concepts, full of easy-to-understand humor, well-cast, perfectly filmed, just great. Everyone in the country is familiar with them, I am pretty sure every Dutch person here knows what I’m talking about. The only problem is that they are so good that hardly anyone can recall what insurance company they were an ad for.
People vote for the artistic quality of the graphics and the conceptual originality of the ’4 seasons’ entry. What they actually should vote for in this ADVERT contest is the one that is most likely to attract attention and so best help sell Saabs. But since SU readers don’t need convincing how great a deal a Saab is, they prefer to go for the sheer beauty instead of for the max attention appeal and commercial impact.
Ivo
Tomas TL1000R said on December 21, 2010
ivo71, You are so right, very well put.
mark, Your point is as good, totally agree.
Dan said on December 21, 2010
I said it when it first appeared and I’ll say again, the “four seasons” one looks the closest to being print-ready.
jchan2 said on December 21, 2010
I like the new tagline in no. 10: Saab: Independent Minds.
Reminds me of “The State of Independence” that appeared several years ago. Now that Saab is actually independent, I wouldn’t mind seeing that tagline again.
100%Saab said on December 21, 2010
Even my wife wants to vote.
Steve in CT said on December 21, 2010
Voting for just one ad was likely among the most difficult of decisions I have made in recent times!
All of the entries impressed me and I can’t fathom how the judges were able to narrow the choices for us to vote. I am glad someone else had to make those decisions to narrow the field.
#3 – the relentless pursuit… did not get my vote but the mentions of the crash test ratings and reliability are among the things I think Saab needs to promote loudly. No offense to the creator but I am uncomfortable with anything that evokes thoughts of overpriced Toyotas (Lexus). Family members of ours drive Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, etc. For my money I may as well be driving a loaf of bread for how boring the cars FEEL when I drive them.
My first choice personally was #5 – people who test drive a Saab… This is my personal favorite and hits home with us as owners of 7 Saabs in 24 years (along with an array of other brands we will never go back to). I love the ad but based upon not being convinced that this would give Saab the most advertising benefit for the money spent on an ad, I did not vote for #5.
#9 – Logic will get you from A to B – simple, sexy, attractive… I think that this might be a powerful ad to get those not thinking about buying a Saab to look into buying a Saab. Perhaps a way to attract non-typical buyers to the Saab show rooms?
#10 – Love at first sight… this one got my vote. Again – NO offense intended towards the creator, but I would prefer something a tad less cliché for the largest line (love at first sight), and a more “sexy” pic of the new 9-5, perhaps in a more bold color (even though silver is a personal favorite on Saabs for us).
I am looking at these ads from the perspective of what I think will help Saab most in the U.S. where I think there remains much to be done to repair the brand image with the average car buyer.
I voted for #10 because I think that going after Mercedes, BMW and Audi is a smart way to get European car buyers to stop and think before they buy one of those German cars.
IF Saab were to use #10 in the U.S. I would suggest they add mentions of the crash test ratings and reliability ratings from the Germans in #3…
I don’t think that Saab buyers are people currently driving Cadillacs or Lincolns and accordingly like the idea of going after the German car buyers with facts and some shameless touting of the benefits of owning a Saab versus a German car.
I hope my comments are not offensive to anyone, least of all to the creators of these stellar ads. I am merely offering my opinions hoping that they might help the brand return to profitability sooner than later!
Accordingly my vote was based upon hoping to help Saab, not simply what appealed to me personally.
Steve in CT said on December 21, 2010
My wife voted for #9 logic will get you from A to B and said that for a magazine reader she thinks that might be most easily absorbed and noticed, and perhaps get someone to think Saab if in the market for a car… perhaps a non-typical Saab buyer (we think alike – perhaps that makes us boring
Her favorite however was #13 – Four Seasons with #5 People who drive a Saab coming in 3rd for her. My wife thinks #13 is a perfect ad perhaps for magazine use in the U.S.
We talked about our votes after with one another and agree that we wish Saab might actually use more than just one of these ads. Perhaps as a fun and bold advertising move to bring attention to the brand?
Run all 13 in actual Saab press (edited if Saabs needs), and also mention this contest with nearly or over 500 submissions and the dedication of Saab owners?
Another way to mention the brand loyalty Saab enjoys. Perhaps a crazy thought but we agree as do others I have spoken with that it is very difficult for some of us to choose just ONE! We REALLY enjoyed the work that everyone submitted.
Cheers,
Steve
Momcat said on December 21, 2010
As Steve suggested above, I totally agree that these very impressive ads written by Saab enthusiasts need to be seen by/shared w/ the marketing folks at Saab. What better way to promote the brand than by these testimonials from those who know it best–its owners, most of whom have driven multiple Saabs over many years. The talent is obvious and the messages are clear–Saab is back and here to stay. The contest may be ending tomorrow but I, for one, hope this collective endeavor does not end w/ the closing of the contest, and that we actually will see some, if not all of these ads, in magazines and on billboards nationwide. Saab Up!
Tomas TL1000R said on December 21, 2010
Good choice! We thinking the same way. The #10 is not the perfect one but the idé is
the most selling.
Jim said on December 21, 2010
Especially good were the ads that kept it clean and simple. The “Logic” ad was a favorite. But I voted for the Scandanavian Design ad, because it’s a theme that Saab needs to take on. Saab has instant credibility there. And, the market for Scandanavian design products is very large (think IKEA).
Arild said on December 21, 2010
First of all, there are no loser in this poll. All the ads are great.
After seeing through the ads a third time my vote went to #6 “Great Scandinavian design”. Saab is Swedish and Scandinavian and should be proud if it.
I also like #13 “Four seasons…” a lot. It really appeals to me, the Saab enthusiast.
Jörgen Trued - SUHRT said on December 21, 2010
Victor Muller was interviewed last night by http://www.tv4.se
Judge for Your self. The Cut in the internet is not the complete interview that one was aired at 18:55 but was cut down at the 22:20 Economy news.
I can not write the words that was said…….. (there might be children reading this site)
Rune said on December 21, 2010
TV4′s report on VM putting up Spyker’s factory as collateral
A quick stab at a recap:
The Dutch association for stock owners says that VM did not properly inform Spyker’s stock owners properly when he used the factory as collateral for a loan to his personal company while putting together enough money to buy Saab. VM states that it was all in the financial report presented to the shareholders. TV4′s reporter retorts (more or less) “it is difficult to read” to which VM replied “This is a waste of my time. Complete …”. The story also mentioned that the association for stock owners had decided not to sue VM after all. (said very quickly, I almost did not catch it)
What I got out of that story:
1) News reporters have reduced reading skills
2) The representative from the Dutch association for stock owners seemed to be on a personal crusade against VM. That could be trouble down the road. I’ve never seen an economist talk like that before. Very surprising. And not very professional IMO.
3) VM could probably use a little vacation. We need VM to be fully charged, and he has really earned some R&R now.
I think the simple truth is this: VM pulled off a major win for the Spyker stock owners when he pulled the Saab deal through. Even had VM sold off all their grandmothers would this remain a major win for the company and its owners.
(I did realize that bull excrement was considered dangerous to the ears of kids?)
RS said on December 21, 2010
At least no one can argue that there is lack of emotion at the top of SAAB anymore
I agree. He should spend a relaxing xmas and even take a week off at the beginning of next year to go skiing. In the meantime Saab could hire this guy to take calls and handle investor relations
GerritN said on December 22, 2010
“the Dutch association for stock owners”
HAS been on a crusade against VM for years now. The bottom line is that entrepreneurs are just not liked in The Netherlands. Moreover, anyone who is successful in The Netherlands is not liked, especially if that person seems to make a lot of money.
Everything that VM has done he has done above the table, for everyone to see. His recent financial constructions have been creative, but not illegal. The people investing in Spyker (Spyker/Saab) are not complaining. This all made the Dutch association for stock owners very, very frustrated and they seem to be resorting to throwing mud.
Unfortunately VM got so fed up with this witch hunt that he took up residence outside of The Netherlands. Another interesting Dutch person lost to The Netherlands because he refuses to blend in with the gray masses.
StefanH STHLM 93x said on December 21, 2010
Voting for #11 In the details. Stylish and nice overall.
Regarding #13. Its a great ad with nice arrangements and message, but I think a winner Saab ad needs a picture of a Saab in it.