Fuel wars (I never run empty, do you?)
September 20, 2011 in Uncategorized
What is that?
you may ask. Well, that my friends, is a receipt from today’s stop at a gas station.
Read the rest of this entry →
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by Rune
by till72
IF Metall demand bankrupcy
September 20, 2011 in Uncategorized
IF Metall decided today to hand in the bankrupcy demand at the local court. Still they don’t want to give up hope for Saab and call it a very painful decision in their press release:
It is a very painful decision, but we need to secure members’ wage claim and then we can not wait any longer, says IF Metall Federal Chairman Stefan Löfven and the local union shop steward at Saab Hakan Scotland.
We assume still the Court of Appeal gives Saab opportunity for reconstruction. We believe definitely that Saab is worth a try with a professional assessment of reorganization. Especially when both Youngman and Pang Da believe that Saab’s problems are temporary and they are prepared for long-term investments as soon as the NDRC, National Development and Reform Commission, China has granted permission, says Stefan Löfven and Hakan Skött.
This is surely not the news that we want to hear but I’d like to remind you that all unions have the duty to protect their members’ rights. So sooner or later they had to take that step regardless of their feelings for Saab.
After all I am very optimistic regarding the decision on reorganization so this should not become a problem.
by Jeff
Letter of Support From Heads of FKG
September 20, 2011 in Editorial, News
I’d love to write about Saab interest stories, tech pieces, or launch competitions, but for the next few days while this cloud is over us, I’d just like to remind everyone how important a positive decision in favor of reconstruction would be for Saab’s future. Whether or not the Court of Appeals grants the reconstruction, I’m confident Saab will make it through one way or another, their staff just won’t give up. Hopefully the Court will see this spirit and help to remove any obstacles from Saab’s way so they’re on the right side of history.
Frederick Sidahl, Managing Director FKG (the Automotive Suppliers Group) and Christer Palm, Chairman FKG, authored a letter in support of Saab in Swedish magazine Ny Teknik. They emphasize points we’ve heard before, on how shuttering Saab means losing a very crucial industrial company. While they focus on the enormous loss of technical expertise Sweden would suffer if Saab were to shutter, they also mention the loss of exports.
I have to echo their sentiment, and if anyone from the Court is reading this, please understand that Saab is for me and many others around the world, the most recognizable positive export Sweden has besides Ikea and H&M. Trying to stifle Saab is like cutting off a major artery in your national circulatory system, it may not seem like a lot of jobs or industry on the surface, but the company is a vital and unique link for the rest of the world into your Swedish identity. If Saab didn’t exist, I’d never have developed an affinity for Sweden so deeply.
Read their letter after the break.
by Red J
Saab’s technology, top or flop?
September 20, 2011 in Saabology
After my visit at the IAA I’ve started reviewing some of the press kits the different brands were so keen to distribute among the press people during the press days of the motor show. Too bad I started collecting the press kits on the second day, as many brands ran out of them and the only one I got was a visit card with a web-address to their media site.
But for some of Saab direct competitors I have the information I wanted. No this time I will not talk about the current product portfolio, or about visionary prototypes on the mobility in the future like the VW NILS, this time I will talk about technology other brands will introduce in normal cars in the near future and compare this with announcements Saab has already made about their future plans.
So let us check if Saab can be competitive in terms of technology or not.
by TimR
Breaking News: Court says yes
September 19, 2011 in News
The Court of Appeals sides with Saab and grants an appeal. The case will now be heard. From yesterday’s TTELA, we learn from Peter Islander what happens next.
If a Yes is decided the issue will proceed further. At that stage four judges will decide upon the issue.
“It might be swift or it can take a lot of time. We might need to contact Saab to get more information. Even if it takes time, it is not a factor of weeks. We can not state anything before we start but anything we do needs to be motivated and the words need to be considered carefully, which can take a couple of days,” says Peter Islander.
And from an Interview with DI, Court of Appeals President Gunnel Wennberg says that an answer is to come within days, but wouldn’t specify further. According to her, they will be deciding using the documents Saab already provided in the appeal, and not be summoning Saab for a negotiation, which should mean a shorter deliberation time.
by TimR
Maud Olofsson on Tv yesterday…
September 19, 2011 in Editorial
Yesterday was a big debate in Swedish Tv with regards to the fact that Denmark has now got a woman leading the country politically.
Sweden is the only country in Scandinavia that has not yet had a female leader and being such a equal-rights area of the world this of course was very important for the media to speculate on.
So they brought in the two top female politicians in Sweden right now, socialistic Mona Sahlin and of course the one we know too well, Maud Olofsson.
Maud made some very interesting remarks that there were much higher demands placed on her than would be placed on a man. “One is considered as an un-educated person who do not understand how things work just because I’m a woman” she said…
by TimR
IF Metall demand bankruptcy regardless of court decision
September 19, 2011 in News
Di.se (original article here):
If Saab is not granted permission to appeal in court, IF Metall (Union) will demand bankruptcy from Saab tomorrow, even if Saab will appeal the courts decision. Read the rest of this entry →
by RobinM
Etienne chasing 96′s
September 18, 2011 in News
Our good friend Etienne from Huy has been on his travels againn looking for Saabs in action.
Last week he did not have to go too far as the 12 hours rally of Huy was in his home town.
by TimR
Case 3869-11, Approval for Saab reconstruction starts monday morning
September 18, 2011 in News
TTELA (original article here):
At 9.30 monday morning the court of appeals-counsil Peter Islander will bring case 3869-11 to the appeals-court president Gunnel Wennberg and another judge at the court of appeals for western Sweden. The case to be judged is whether or not Saab is to be granted permission to apply for company-reconstruction after it was turned down by the local court.
A Yes does not necessarily mean a Yes for company reconstruction.
- A yes does not mean the tee are positive, but rather that we would like to dig deeper or that we issue a precedent, say Peter islander.
He worked on the case yesterday and explained how the work is progressing.
- It will take a while to go through it all on monday. That a decision will be reached before lunch-time is unlikely.
by ryanonsrc
SU-Cars: Meet Lars-Erik
September 18, 2011 in Uncategorized
This is Lars-Erik from the Rear side
As I grip the door handle: I swing the door open only to be greeted with the fresh, and moist air flowing from the San Francisco Bay. This cool draft was surely welcomed, as I have just spent the last 90 minutes driving a Deutsch rental (hint: It starts with a “J” and ends with an “etta”). My ears are still ringing from the excessive wind noise during the journey, which I have just completed. Mere seconds after closing the door, I witness the largest assortment of Saabs that I have ever seen. At this moment, I feel an odd sense of giddiness. This is a curious sensation for someone who hasn’t driven a Saab before. Yet, here I am, walking through a lot full of 9-3s, 9-5s and 900s, finding myself full of intrigue.
Read more after the jump. Also: Check-out this YouTube video of my Saab 9-3.
by JasonPowell
Dealer Profile – Springman’s Saab – Canada
September 17, 2011 in Dealer Profiles, Editorial
Springman's Saab - 19550 Langley Bypass, Surrey, BC, Canada
by TimR
October Fest: Simo Lampinen joins in at the Dinner event
September 17, 2011 in SaabsUnited Related
Two time world rally champion (WRC) Simo Lampinen from Finland will take part in the History talks on stage during the October Fest dinner event. Jörgen Trued will host the rally segment of the talks and will have a very exciting interview with Simo Lampinen about his racing career. Simo held a very nice presentation during Int SAAB in Finland this summer and for everyone who missed that, make sure you do not miss out on this one!
For everyone who are not able to attend the dinner event you can of course follow the presentation live via our cameras that will be broadcasting the event all over the world. The video will of course be available online through our youtube account as well for everyone who are busy with other things at the time. Be sure to visit one of our co-hosting events around the world to have a very exciting day together with SaabsUnited and SAAB!
To read more about the SaabsUnited October Fest, please click here!
History
Having contracted polio at a young age, Lampinen was left with a pronounced limp, and as a result he was granted a driving licence aged 17 so he could travel to and from school more easily. He quickly graduated to competitive driving, and won the Finnish Rally Championship twice in succession in 1963 and 1964.
His early victories were in the Saab 96, before being lured to Lancia in 1970 where he continued his winning ways. He also drove for Peugeot, Fiat and Triumph, though without the same success.
More recently, he has been Clerk of the Course at the Rally Finland, the event he won three times himself, and he has also assisted Saab in two racing events; their Saab 900 Talladega Challenge in Alabama in 1996 where several speed records were set, and the 2000 Pikes Peak race, when Per Eklund won in a race-prepped Saab 9-3 Viggen.
Winnings
1963 – 13th 1000 Lakes Rally (Saab 96)
1964 – 14th 1000 Lakes Rally (Saab 96)
1968 – 17th RAC Rally (Saab 96 V4)
1970 – 3º TAP Rallye de Portugal (Lancia Fulvia)
1972 – 15ème Rallye du Maroc (Lancia Fulvia 1.6 Coupé HF) & 22nd 1000 Lakes Rally (Saab 96 V4)
by RobinM
The new 9-5, More Tempting Than Ever.
September 17, 2011 in News
As some of you may know, friend and fellow Saab enthusiast, Graeme Lambert, took delivery of a Saab 9-5 TTiD Aero as a long term test back in April of this year. Graeme is a journalist for the British Car Weekly Auto Express. He has just sent us his latest artical about life with the stunning 9-5 Aero which can also be seen in full online.
Latest deal price: from £23,487 to £35,707
Don’t worry, I’m not trying to sell our long-term 9-5. But if that was my plan, Saab has just made the job a whole lot easier. Although the firm is in short-term financial trouble at the moment, UK bosses’ latest move ensures the executive car is more attractive than ever.
by TimR
October Fest stickers have arrived
September 16, 2011 in SaabsUnited Related
The Octoberfest support stickers have now arrived and are being sent out to everyone who has pre-ordered them. If you want to support the SaabsUnited octoberfest even though you might not be able to attend, we would appreciate every order we can get!
by TimR
IF Metall will wait until tuesday
September 16, 2011 in News
According to the Union IF Metall’s own website the union plans to wait until tuesday afternoon with its bankruptcy demand hoping that a favorable decision will come from the court of appeals in Gothenburg before that. Read the rest of this entry →
