Nice Residual News from Saab GB
May 5, 2011 in News
SAAB ON THE MOVE WITH RISING RESIDUAL VALUES (PRESS RELEASE)
Major leasing companies and industry analysts are forecasting trend-busting improvements in future residual values for Saab’s best selling models.
The Swedish premium carmaker is entering its second year as an independent company and rising confidence among business users is being reflected in a significant uplift of residual values for its core 9-3 range.
According to leading industry analysts CAP, the residual value of Saab’s top-selling model, the 9-3 1.9-litre Turbo Edition diesel Saloon, has risen over £1,000 during the last 10 months.
Jeff Knight, Monitor Editor at CAP, said: “The rise in forecast values for the Saab 9-3 over the last ten months has been driven by an increased confidence in the brand; allied to an improved product content creating a better future used car.”
Apart from renewed confidence in the Saab brand, this trend reflects a class-leading benefit-in-kind taxation advantage for Saab’s latest 9-3 manual twin turbo diesel range. With CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km in combination with the 180 hp variant, the most powerful sub-120g/km car on sale in the UK, the Saloon and SportWagon are within the lowest diesel benefit-in-kind taxation band (13 percent) for company car drivers. Recent specification improvements, such as Bluetooth phone connectivity, Leather upholstery and heated front seats are fitted as standard on all models.
With sales increasing by 73.5 per cent in quarter one compared with the same quarter last year, Saab Great Britain is also expanding its corporate sales team with the appointment of Michael Cutts as Corporate Sales Manager for the North. His role is to establish contact with user chooser fleets with the objective to place Saab products on their choice lists and develop relationships with the independent contract hire and leasing industry.
“These rising residual values show that Saab is moving swiftly in the right direction,” says Paul Adler, Saab GB’s General Manager, Corporate Sales. “This significant trend is due to a number of factors: greater confidence in the brand, improved specifications offering greater value, and a competitive advantage in terms of CO2 emissions for our best-selling models.
“With more new products to come later this year, such as 9-5 SportWagon and 9-4X crossover, Saab is in good shape to continue its renaissance.”
theSandySaab said on May 5, 2011
Wow, that is more like it – very positive article indeed. Also, after having watched Wheeler Dealers (my favorite car show) there seem to be a genuine interest in UK for the “quirky” and now independent Saab, also used or PreOwned, especially now with few new having entered the country/ben sold over the last 2 years.
Saab (residuals) Up!
saab93f said on May 6, 2011
This is good news as well methinks.
“GMAC, the provider of car finance for Saab in the UK, has also put in place schemes to support the brand’s sales growth – until July 4th, the lender will be offering reduced monthly payments on contract hire schemes for business and private users, as well as 0% finance schemes for all regular models in the Saab range.”
http://www.vrl-financial-news.com/asset-finance/motor-finance/issues/mf-2011/mf-78-april-2011/saab-rv-uplift-as-chinese-resc.aspx
jpfriis said on May 5, 2011
More good news from GB! We like!
ANA said on May 5, 2011
Well done Saab GB!
Red J said on May 5, 2011
Either the sales figures tomorrow will be very good or really bad. I’ve never seen such a Press release blitz before 8-/
dave said on May 5, 2011
Either way, it’s good to hear good things about SAAB for a change
Belfast_Saab said on May 5, 2011
Go Saab GB – I know what you’re saying Red J, I fear they will be down because March is the 6 monthly bulge in GB when plates change, so Sept will be next big month. For all car manifacturers, April should be down on March, so let’s see if it bucks the trend.
Red J said on May 5, 2011
I know they will be down.
Anything between 500 and 600 will be fantastic, anything below 400 not that much. And February figures (160) somehow …….
ANA said on May 5, 2011
They probably had the 2 releases written and ready to go but were waiting for a financial solution to be communicated by Saab Auto before publishing them.
Bazzer said on May 5, 2011
Red J
Something like 375 in the UK, we will know tomorrow I think.
Barrie
obelix said on May 5, 2011
True, but at least it creates a buzz. Anyone reading or hearing this will have no doubt that Saab is alive and wasn’t closed down / gone bankrupt / etc. So I think this is a good effort.
rostnes said on May 5, 2011
The last few days have been nothing but joy for me since the Saab-Hawtai deal.
And now this from UK! Lovely reading!!!
Why cant Sweden and swedes be like this, positive and happy for Saabs sake when it´s finally looking better than in a long time.
Olav said on May 5, 2011
Maybe it has something to do with the separation between Norway and Sweden back in 1905?
Cheers from Norway
-Olav-
Always on the longest road home when out there with my SAAB. Always!
Goose said on May 5, 2011
With Norway in the role as GM?
Khrisdk said on May 5, 2011
Nah, more likely sweden.
Denmark_Norway happened to bet on the wrong horse when they stuck with Napoleon, so Sweden took Norway from us in 1814. The Norwegian-Danish opposition did put up a glorious fight…for about 2 weeks..
It’s not really been going in our direction since Kalmarunionen
gunteman said on May 5, 2011
A lot of us are, but there’s a big crowd of haters on the Internet. If there was no Saab, they would choose something else to hate.
Olav said on May 5, 2011
Second that!
gryphon95 said on May 5, 2011
Great news from the UK. Truly good to hear!
saabsideways said on May 5, 2011
Saab UK have a real opportunity here, if they can get company buyers into low CO2 9-3s now and for a two or three year fleet deal then they can likely put those same corporate customers into the NG hybrid e4wd 9-3.
The UK can be a very strong market but Saab must really stick to it’s history here, it must go after the lifestyle as well as the unique position in which it is held apart from Merc Audi and BMW.
Oh and it needs to get rid of one or two of it’s dealers, wouldn’t pay some in washers.
Per said on May 5, 2011
17.Mai forever
Paddan said on May 5, 2011
I hope to see a similar press release someday soon for the US market!
Ct Pete said on May 6, 2011
Saab is going to need the higher residuals to compete in the US lease market. The monthly lease rate rose 13% from my 2008 convertible to the 2011 convertible. Unfortunately, too much for me to renew with a new 2011, especially with the German competition now lower in cost. A complete reversal from 3 years ago.
JasonPowell said on May 6, 2011
Ct Pete,
Unfortunately that’s more like a North America problem, we have worse residual values up here in Canada then you. The residual thing is really goofy though when you look at true residuals based on what a dealer pays for a 2008 at auction right now. It would be nice if they used realistic numbers for residuals, but I think because we didn’t have cars for a year and the huge GM rebates when they were finishing 2009, have affected residuals. All that being said, if I could have lease payments like they do in the US I’d be happy because ours are way out wack. How much more is your lease payment on a 2011 then it was on your 2008?