by Rune
March 25, 2011 in News
The e-AAM guys have posted three new videos on youtube demonstrating among other things torque vectoring and climbing a steep hill.
It looks like the new system is coming along nicely. I can see certain similarities with the 9-5 XWD navigating through those bends.
Videolist embedded after the jump.
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by TimR
March 25, 2011 in Uncategorized
I just got this in the mailbox, it’s a nation-wide advertisement to all SAAB owners stating “finally spring”. A number of items are on sale =)
What I liked most is that they have included the 9-5 engine upgrades (150hp-192hp) on year-models from 1998-2000 as well as the 150hp-185hp for year-models 2001-2008. These older engine upgrades are not available from Hirsch in Sweden.
by TimR
March 25, 2011 in Editorial
There has been a lot of speculation and comments in the media regarding Jan-Åke’s decision to leave his post at SAAB.
E24, like always, bring in their “german expert” who of course tells the doomsday story about SAAB losing money and Spyker having no money left. With the words “It will take a miracle” they describe the german expert: Ferdinand Dudenhöffer’s opinions about SAAB. Well, we all know, and have known, his feelings about SAAB and one can only ask if he is trying to promote the german brands by talking trash about others? He has so many questions about SAAB and while reading the article I sort of get the feeling that he is short-sighted, he can only see one solution to a problem and does not understand that things can be handled in different ways… The fact that he is a professor does not strike me as impressive or make him an “expert” in any way. Things change, the world is changing and I don’t think he can actually see that…
Here is a translation from the article:
He has said it before and he is saying it again: SAAB will not survive in the medium to long term. Todays news that the last swede in SAAB’s managment team, CEO Jan-Åke Jonsson, who is now leaving SAAB is a tough beat for the company, but it is not a deciding factor for the car manufacturers future. Swedish CEO or not. It will take a miracle to save SAAB and I dont know any CEO who achieves real miracles, say Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, who is a professor in auto-economics at Duisburg-Essen university. After Jan-Åke Jonsson take leave the SAAB owner and Spyker Cars chairman Viktor Muller, is now to take charge of the SAAB “car” with two steering-wheels. As CEO and Chairman. Does he and Spyker have the competence to develop SAAB and reach the goal of break-even numbers by 2012?
- What Muller does as CEO for Spyker is a smaller market. Thinking about SAAB he needs to compete with larger volumes and newer models which is a completely different world. He might be able to keep going for a while, but not in the long run.
Last year Spyker Cars sold 31 696 cars, which in a way is an increase with 15% compared with 2009 but in a totally different league than the competition in the market where SAAB is acting.
- Even if SAAB reaches 50-100’000 cars, its not enough. They have to double the prices to be profitable say Ferdinand Dudenhöffer.
The professors prognosis is that the customers are running away from SAAB since SAAB falls between two chairs. The company can not reach the volumes and advantages to compete in the premium-segment with Volvo, BMW or Audi. SAAB/Spyker is not exotic enough to compete with Ferrari, Aston Martin or Lamborghini.
- I think SAAB is being erased step by step. They must manage large costs to turn the structure around. Spyker has no experience in developing 300-400 000 cars, they have neither suppliers, production, design, sales or the engineers for such manufacturing say Ferdinand Dudenhöffer.
I find it absolutely amazing that he can make such assumptions without even having seen the businessplan and to my knowledge ever even sat foot in Trollhättan or seen any of SAAB’s facilities and most important of all: never understood the “saab-spirit” of the people working there.
I have been following SAAB for the last 12 years, also worked at the company for more than a year, also know so many people there, read all the books written about SAAB and my opinion in all of this is absolutely clear: I don’t think JAJ would leave SAAB and let all his hard work go down the drain, if he didn’t feel at ease about SAAB’s current situation and that SAAB will, “as so elegantly said by Mr Spock in Star Trek”, live long and prosper 
We thank you Jan-Åke for your fantastic work with SAAB and we at SaabsUnited, hope to get the chance to speak to you about your time at SAAB sometime in the near future!
by Jeff
March 25, 2011 in Editorial
Jan-Åke,
On behalf of the entire SaabsUnited crew and community, we want to thank you for your incredible and tireless work ethic in keeping Saab alive. As CEO, you steered Saab through some dangerous storms but now it’s finally coming through into clearer seas. We couldn’t be more appreciative of your leadership, your strength, but most of all your sincerity.
We wish you the best as you embark on your retirement, and will always remember you as the CEO who saved Saab.
by Red J
March 25, 2011 in News
Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile is continuing to expand its international
distribution network with the appointment of a new importer and distributor for the
highly important Russian market, Armand Import. Effective immediately, Armand
Import will take over all marketing, sales and distribution responsibilities from GM
CIS. Official sales are expected to start mid-2011.
by Jeff
March 25, 2011 in News
Financial Highlights 2010
• Full-year sales of € 819 million, Q4 sales of € 301 million
• EBIT (Operating Income) of € (loss of 140) million in 2010
• Gain from bargain purchase of € 78 million resulting from acquisition Saab Automobile AB (‘Saab Automobile’) and Saab Great Britain Ltd Result from discontinued operations of € (loss of 60) million includes the losses of the Spyker Automotive business and the effects of the planned sale to CPP Global Holding Ltd
• Cash generated from operations amounts to € (loss of 115) million for 2010
Corporate and Operational Highlights 2010
• Sales continue to build momentum in several major markets (Sweden, US, UK) as independent Saab distribution network was re-established
• 31,696 cars sold (wholesale 2) in 2010 compared to 27,482 in 2009, an increase of 15%
• 11,448 cars sold (wholesale 2) in Q4 2010, up 129% compared to Q4 2009 and up 31% compared to Q3 2010
• 32,048 cars produced in 2010, compared to 20,905 in 2009, an increase of 53%
• Restart of production in Trollhättan with over 800 suppliers after seven weeks of total stand-still
• Production of 9-3 Convertible and 9-5 Sedan relocated to Trollhättan
• Concentration of all operational activities in Trollhättan, enabling more efficient operations and reduced costs
• Wholesale and retail financing agreements secured with major global financial players such as Banco Cetelem, Santander Consumer Bank and GMAC
• Key management appointments in several areas
• Successful global launch of the new Saab 9-5, with positive response from media and consumers alike Successful unveiling of the Saab 9-4X, Saab Automobile’s first ever cross-over vehicle-with equally positive response
• Introduction of new diesel engines program delivering class-leading low CO2 values for the 9-3 range
• Agreement with BMW for supply of gasoline engines for new 9-3, to be launched in Q4 2012
• Launch of partnership with American Axle Manufacturing (AAM) for development and marketing of Saab- developed electric all-wheel drive system
• Launch of the e-Power electric vehicle program in cooperation with external partners
• Establishment of a global, Saab-controlled sales network covering 51 countries and the launch of Direct Dealer concept for 9 European countries
• Sales network continued to expand with new importers in Portugal and Japan, re-establishing sales network in Canada and Australia and principle import agreement for the Chinese market.
by Carl-Henrik
March 25, 2011 in News
Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile today announced that Jan Åke Jonsson has
decided to retire from his position as President and CEO of Saab Automobile AB
(“Saab Automobile”) effective per Spyker Cars N.V.’s Annual General Shareholders
meeting to be held on 19 May, 2011.
by Jeff
March 25, 2011 in News
Hot off the presses from Spyker:
Zeewolde, The Netherlands, 25 March 2011 – Spyker Cars N.V. (Spyker) announces that Saab signed an agreement with China Automobile Trading Co. LTD (CATC) regarding the import of Saab vehicles for the Chinese market. The contract is the formalization of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CATC, which was signed and publicly announced in December 2010.
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by Jeff
March 25, 2011 in News
This is the first post I’ll be making in what will hopefully become a regular series. While we’re clearly a Saab blog, every now and then it’s nice to keep one eye out on what the competition is cooking up for those interested in seeing what Saab will be facing off against in the future. As relevant stories come up, you’ll hear about them and get our take on what it impact they have on Saab (or what elements were ripped off from them). For those worried that we’ll be serving more articles with Bavarian cream around here fear not, lingonberries remain the topping of choice for our coverage.
First up is what is surely the most direct competitor (or copy) BMW has ever had to the classic 900, the 3 Series GT.
Photo from leftlanenews.com
by Jeff
March 24, 2011 in News
As we already know, the next 9-3 will be available with e-AAM’s new eXWD setup. Up until now we’ve been told that it works in conjunction with the 1.6L engine from BMW to achieve somewhere between 220-240HP combined during temporary boosts. As we’ve seen in videos, the electric motor’s high torque helps with difficult traction situations, and its torque vectoring keeps you going in the direction you want. What we haven’t yet heard (correct me if I’m wrong) is that it will be available with the current 2.8L V6. An article over at thedetroitbureau.com claims this, and they say they’ve heard this directly from senior Saab officials.
Cutaway of eXWD system from PhoeniX video.
by Jeff
March 24, 2011 in News
As a follow up to the information about setting up a Swedish division of his Latvian bank Latvijas Krajbanka in Stockholm, Vladimir Antonov was interviewed by Reuters today and said he wants to get back into the Spyker group (as in the one that owns Saab, not the car division that he bought a month ago). Article after the break.
*UPDATE*: There’s a new opening on Spyker’s Supervisory Board as of Monday, food for thought.
SPYKER CARS N.V. ANNOUNCES CHANGE IN SUPERVISORY BOARD
Zeewolde, The Netherlands, 21 March 2011 – Today Spyker Cars N.V. (Spyker) announces the resignation of Mr. Pieter Heerema with immediate effect as member of the Supervisory Board of Spyker for personal reasons.
The Management and Supervisory Board thank Mr. Heerema for his contribution and anticipate that a new member will be proposed for appointment by Spyker’s shareholders’ meeting in the foreseeable future.
by Rune
March 24, 2011 in News
According to di.se, Antonov is setting up business in Sweden. His Latvian bank Latvijas Krajbanka has already set up representation in Stockholm and are making plans for running a bank there.
Antonov comments that the process of investing money in Saab is ongoing. He and a partner are able to invest the 3.5 billion SEK “that are needed” (presumably in order to terminate the EIB loan and thus enable Saab even more freedom?). Finally, the plans for a Saab factory in Russia are not dead. However, the retail network in Russia needs to get organized first in order to determine what kind of sales volumes they are looking at.
by Jeff
March 24, 2011 in News
Today was the first press day of the new 9-4x outside Washington, DC today at the Swedenburg Estate Winery in Middleburg, VA. While the severe thunderstorms made the weather atrocious, it may have actually shown off the incredible abilities that Saab has baked in with their XWD system. While impressions are embargoed on the car for a little bit longer, James Bell from the Motor Press Guild came away with a good feeling. From a USA Today blog post:
Bell test drove the new 9-4X crossover today and snapped a photo of it outside the Swedenburg Winery in Middleburg, above. While the embargo hasn’t lifted yet on driving impressions, he says “rest assured that this vehicle should put this venerable brand back on discriminating shopping lists across the country.”
9-4x test drive outside Swedenburg Winery. Photo by James Bell
We’ll have much more coverage of the 9-4x from the New York International Auto Show later in April and also follow up once articles are published.
by Brendan
March 24, 2011 in News
Autoblog are at the 2011 Saab 9-4X launch event and they’ve been talking to Magnus Hillerborn, Saab’s Vehicle Validation Engineer. They are now reporting that a a five-door hatch is confirmed alongside the convertible.
The changes are so significant that Hillerborn says he imagines GM executives will be “very surprised” when they see the production car, which is tipped to take design cues from the PhoeniX concept car that debuted earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show. Hillerborn says that the hatchback will likely be five-door only (presumably a SportCombi wagon variant will follow), though we imagine there are some three-door renderings knocking about in Trollhattan. Hillerborn promises a very sleek and unique hatchback, one that should appeal to traditional sedan buyers as well (read: not bulbous and overtly hatch-like, but more streamlined).
There’s no word on a 3 door hatch or a sedan at the moment, feel free to head over to Autoblog for a read:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/23/2012-saab-9-3-hatchback-confirmed-but-is-a-sedan/
With all this speculation, we’re curious as to what everyone here would be interested in purchasing. Sound off in the poll below.
by Jeff
March 24, 2011 in Editorial, News
An article from automotive news spiked my interest this morning. As GM tries to consolidate its dealership network into a tighter more integrated group, some dealers face the threat of becoming used car dealerships or worse, shutting down. These same dealers are now applying to become Saab and Volvo dealers.
Which leads me more to this question for US readers– what’s going on with your dealer? Is their stock finally replenished to where it was a few years ago? If your Saab dealer was part of a larger automotive group (especially GM brands), has your dealer segregated its showroom space to a different building? You’ll remember GM set a deadline of 3 years to achieve this goal. From Swade’s interview with Mike Colleran last September:
Second, the requirement to have separate showroom space was one that GM and Saab/Spyker agreed upon when signing the deal to sell Saab. In short, there was a three-year time period set and all selling spaces should be separated by that time (Feb 2013). Connected to that is the fact that it’s quite normal for brand management, whether it be GM, BMW or Audi, to ask dealers for separate space on their lots.
If your dealer has multiple brands, how do you feel they’re doing pushing Saab vs. other makes? Have you been contacted by your dealer recently to come in to see their new inventory (aside from the standard SCNA mailers for national service promotions).
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