Does She Look Fat to You?
June 23, 2011 in News
Seriously folks, the game isn’t even remotely close to being over. As Swade said on his blog, he (and I’m sure many others) isn’t throwing in the towel anytime soon. Victor Muller as reported is in the US tonight trying to iron out a quick solution. Both of the links covered here were reported in comments earlier, but for anyone not patient enough to wade through them, I’m putting them up on the main page.
According to Swedish Radio who got in touch with CIO Eric Geers, this whole situation boils down to putting too much faith in the deal with Hemfosa coming through in time.
“We still had the feeling that we could come into port with a business, we tried to get out of the payment on time but now was not the case,” he says.
turbokalle said on June 23, 2011
GerritN, thanks for bringing that picture up again
Brings back old memories :p
Jeff said on June 23, 2011
It’s all Gerrit on that one.
RS said on June 23, 2011
+1
As the midsummer weather ‘could be somewhat sweeter ‘ around here it’s better/safer to get waisted indoors reading SU :p
PS. If anyone needs some calming down music I recommend to click here for some excellent cover guitaring of a classic tune.
Tripod said on June 23, 2011
Thanks, needed that (btw: great cover).
Tripod said on June 23, 2011
The comments from the readers of the Swedish media, news papers and radio, have been really depressing today. Usually they don’t know much, so most of them are easily ignored, but there is so much hatred against the brand, the owners, everything related to the company. Several comments are libellous; it’s not like they loved the company but dislike the recent events; they simply hate it.
Sad; I’m happy that Saab’s customers abroad doesn’t have to read such comments.
Khrisdk said on June 23, 2011
Just back from our Midsummer celebrations in Denmark.
Fires along the coast, and a lot of pyrotechnics going on.
Nice ride in the Saab and great views.
And thank you for the music. and the nice picture.
At the moment I am still fluxing between depression and optimism, with a couple of Hieronymus Bosch and William Blake flashes coming up at times.
“Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on”
Depression and Optimism
The optimist will probably win as I catch my breath, Keep Calm and Carry On
GerritN said on June 23, 2011
I stashed her away last year for when Saab would need her again….
Toby K said on June 23, 2011
Damn fine pic…nice music too-makes you want to go on a midnight drive. Saw about fifteen Saabs on the drive over to MK from Oxford tonight…2x 11 plates too (brand new)…they are starting to become a feature on the UK roads especially the 9-3SC they looked amazing…this company must be saved.
GML said on June 23, 2011
I’m starting to wonder if Saab wasn’t better off with GM. I wonder if VM is going to try to get them to buy a stake in the company again. It would be risky for GM and probably bad press, but Saab does have a very promising portfolio.
OliverH said on June 23, 2011
Better Saab than OPEL in portfolio (lean processes, agility,..). Saab could play again a good role as a pathfinder, “prototype garage”, innovative company. Saab needs some goods in shelf to make a good car of this parts (engine choices should be more independent). Also it needs a network for distribution. Otherwise good volumes are not possible in time. And this volumes need to be 100k+
Jeff said on June 23, 2011
I’d argue that Saab as a car company is more agile as an independent company– the BMW engines, the Vicura transmissions, the eAAM hybrid system, none of that would have happened under GM. The problem now is stopping the cash hemorrhaging and make sure operations can resume normally.
jelger said on June 23, 2011
@GML: GM was winding Saab down when VM stepped in. If not for VM, Saab would already have been buried for a year.
zippy said on June 23, 2011
My head hurts!!
OliverH said on June 23, 2011
But some had it’s “fun” in independancy. They need some baked up partners with some free minds..
Not the same “partnership” as in the past. Engineering, innovations, strange stuff
74StingSaab said on June 24, 2011
+1
coggs said on June 23, 2011
If GM buys back Saab and the “Independence Edition” 9-3 convertible I have on order eventually gets built – will it be renamed the “Repentance Edition”?
MK said on June 23, 2011
Maybe VM is in US to talking with GM and try to make them agree Antonov?
Just a thought that came to me ..
Jeff said on June 24, 2011
I was wondering the same exact thing. It’s way more complicated than that I’m afraid.
Mark O said on June 23, 2011
Swedish girls sure are pretty. ;”)
Toby K said on June 23, 2011
Is she Swedish?? I do like stuff from Sweden.
Saab.
Pepperkakor
Victoria Silvestedt
Mark O said on June 24, 2011
Toby, I really have no idea. She could be Swedish or she could be from California. Just trying to make light of what has been a surreal ride.
If Saab would just get some positive support from those who can facilitate its success, or at least get out of the way, the future I believe is very bright. But some just seem determined to exterminate the brand by putting up road block after road block.
I have no understanding of how Saab is not considered a national treasure in Sweden.
74StingSaab said on June 24, 2011
Oh silly people, can’t you tell she’s from West Virginia?
Niklas G said on June 24, 2011
This is tough times indeed, but remember that VM and many other hard working people at Saab has performed miracles before and with all the training they have got during the last tough years they are getting more experienced in doing the impossible every day. Which brings me to another tough and famous guy from Trollhättan. His name is Rune Larsson, probably as unknown on a car forum as he is famous in the ultra marathon and advenrurer community, but there is very strong connections to the famous Saab spirit there. The Last time I met him IRL he was running a mountain ultramarathon (Swiss Alpine) wearing a T-shirt with the (very ‘Saabish’) messsage “Impossible is Nothing!” written on it.
Thus I found some nice symbolism in the news that just has returned home to Trollhättan, not in a Saab, but by foot, completing a 4000 km run from Sagres in the south of Portugal back home to Trollhättan. Some of his previous achievements are listed (in Swedish) here and here, not all of them (at least one run accross the USA and one accross Australia are missing), but he really lives up to the catchphrase “Impossible is nothing!” and we know that there are other people (at Saab) in Trollhättan having the same kind of spirit. Fingers crossed for them to win this battle too. There is always too early to give up!
Niklas G said on June 24, 2011
Oh, here’s a better link to articles in English about some of his achievements and adventures (like rowing accross the Atlantic Ocean). Still no Saab contents, just the same positive spirit and made in Trollhättan, but in my opinion very nice reading, well worth spending the time with while waiting for news from Saab. =)
Johnaaj said on June 24, 2011
TTELA reports that the deal on sellig the property is 99% in place and that money should be in place early next week:
http://ttela.se/ekonomi/saab/1.1263707-fastighetsaffaren-i-princip-i-hamn-uppgifter-till-ttela
This company is a stayer!
- John, Oslo, Norway
Jeff said on June 24, 2011
I know you’re a new commenter John, but quite literally that link was already in the post
Try to read the articles before posting links, lol.
terry9000k said on June 24, 2011
We will fight them on the Beeches………,
We will fight them in the Air……………….
We will Fight them on the water, and
……..the bailiffs are not welcome here.
‘NEVER GIVE UP… NEVER’
OurMoldySaab said on June 24, 2011
Did VM ever get paid that bonus of his? I would hope not considering the current situation. Otherwise, it would speak louder than his words to use it to pay the employees.
BTW, BS is at it again at TTAC. It’s funny how easy it is for me to tell who the author is of a Saab article just by reading the first two lines. If it’s trying to report some facts while trying to say it’s time for Saab to go belly up, it’s Ed. If it’s some smart ass, vindictive portrayal of some event, demanding the death of Saab, then it’s BS. I’ve already been warned by Ed …
Jeff said on June 24, 2011
No, no bonus compensation yet. And as a favor, try not to post about TTAC here anymore if you could, please
Don’t need to feed them traffic.
OurMoldySaab said on June 24, 2011
Understood. I face the same dilemma before posting there. It’s unfortunate since it’s really the fault of about 1.5 people there.
USAaber said on June 24, 2011
Nooo…. she doesn’t…..
Jeff said on June 24, 2011
Supposedly she can’t sing either.
100%Saab said on June 24, 2011
The whole idea is to stay on the horse.
GM is in a much better financial state now and they are a shareholder in Saab. So, let’s just get back to making cars.
Just a thought.
Jeff said on June 24, 2011
No one noticed the secret symbol on her hoodie yet?
GerritN said on June 24, 2011
Ah Jeff, you really have too much time on your hands!
Toby K said on June 24, 2011
I noticed it straight away!! Nice touch!
till72 said on June 24, 2011
Aaaah, the hoodie. Got distracted a bit…
Markac said on June 24, 2011
If you’re really feeling depressed try this one
Markac said on June 24, 2011
This one’s probably better though!
Börjesson said on June 24, 2011
“We’re no car people”
Real estate company Hemfosa leads a consortium of interested parties who are negotiating with Saab about buying the company Saab Property, which includes the factory building. This would give Saab a vital cash infusion of up to SEK 300 million, and result in them leasing space in the factory.
CEO of Hemfosa is Jens Engvall, who explains to Dagens Industri why the deal is dragging on.
- It’s a difficult matter and we need to assess how likely it is that Saab survives for a reasonable length of time. We also need to understand the rest, what the deals with Pang Da and Youngman look like and how the EIB system works. This has made this take a bit longer than a normal real estate deal, Engvall says to DI.
In the consortium lead by Engvall, there are mainly companies and individuals that invest in real estate. He says it’s important for all parties to be able to develop the property, “with or without Saab”.
- But there are many parties, and they need to get acquainted with all aspects. We’re no car people. We’re working on this now, and will keep working over the weekend if necessary. Monday is an important day. It’s vital now that we find a solution, he says.
http://www.gp.se/ekonomi/1.660733–vi-ar-inga-bilmanniskor-