Some cars will be built
December 14, 2011 in SAAB Automobile AB, Technical
The employees in the production plant have been working hard to reconfigure the production line for the new lower phase that it’s scheduled to operate. Normally one station for an operator is 6 meters. There are a number of tasks that are supposed to be done in those 6 meters and of course the faster the line moves, the less is done on each station and the more stations are required.
Just to give you an idea of the work that is behind the line reconfiguration, I will explain the process. Each item performed on the car is time-measured. At each step, every single thing the operator does or the operator touches is clocked. All of these timings are then gathered in a huge database which is in the thousands and thousands of parts and movements that each operator performs. Every single screw mounted into the car is time-measured.
Often one operator performs many movements at each station. Where to place all the parts along the production-line so that the production run as efficiently as possible is Saab’s greatest strength. The ability to use this database to create a smooth operation for the operators so that they don’t stress and are able to build quality but at the same time be efficient is a delicate work which requires lot of brain-power.
To break it down further, lets say that you would like to add a component to the car, like a new type of headlight that has two more connectors than the older version. Basically, the production engineers would need to make a test-case where they introduce a few of these on the production line and measure the time needed to install the head-light into the car and how much extra time it would take for the operator to fit those to connectors to the right cables. The cables might not be located in the ideal place so changes might have to be made to where these are placed into the car further up the production line, and thus new timings on that station as well. But just a few seconds have impact on these timings and each second needs to be accounted for. That’s how much effort is put into this database.
The people at Saab have done this for so many years that the experience they have with adapting the production line for different speeds depending on how the market is going and the requirements for the factory is to put it simply, amazing.
But let’s get back to the headline. We have learned that Saab is more or less finished with adapting the production line for the new production-rate and that they are getting ready to run a test to check if all the prep work runs how they want. During this test, a number of cars will be built, though we still haven’t learned how many. Some of them could be the ones on this very picture below which was sent to us from a friendly source.
And just for fun, here’s an example of the production line in full swing we found on YouTube.
JH said on December 14, 2011
Very interesting to read, thanks Tim!
Tomas TL1000R said on December 14, 2011
+1
JasonPowell said on December 14, 2011
Very good read, nice to see some car being completed… I’m sure this makes the workers feel great.
StateofNine said on December 14, 2011
Great to see! Keep that line going!
saabyurk said on December 14, 2011
Thanks for the explanation. I had been wondering why a production line would have to be reconfigured because of a lower production rate.
Angelo V. said on December 14, 2011
Good stuff. I’ll be thinking about this read when I take my 9-5 wagon out on Thursday. When driving that car lately—I think about the current state of affairs and I find it hard to imagine that a company that makes such wonderful drivers’ machines can’t make a successful go of it. I truly feel it all boils down to surviving this—re-starting production—and doing a better job of getting the word out about the strengths of these cars. I also go back to the need for slotting a lower priced Saab in the line-up and I agree with some who have written here that they need to de-content their base models and bring them in at a slightly lower price.
TimR said on December 14, 2011
I agree with you, they need to be able to make the 9-3 Sportscombi compete with the V60, even though the V60 is a very crappy car compared to the 9-3, price vs size still matters a lot!
dickerin said on December 14, 2011
Positive collective karma…
No 9 said on December 14, 2011
Can’t wait to see that line moving again!
dave said on December 14, 2011
+1
Gregg Zullo said on December 14, 2011
Great news Tim. Do you have any idea how many cars Saab has made since the large-scale shutdown in April? I know they did some limited runs from existing parts earlier. No matter what happens, I think THESE April 2011 and later cars will be very near and dear to collectors and true fans of the marque.
TimR said on December 14, 2011
From what I’ve read in some reports, about 150 cars have been built in total…
Sockmonkey said on December 14, 2011
Assuming these cars aren’t earmarked for the prepaid China order, Saab would be wise to shop these particular models to dealers to sell to their best and most loyal customers, not only for their collectible value, but also as a tangible sign of Saab’s fighting spirit. If I had assurances and documentation that I’d be getting a “post shutdown” car, I’d put a deposit down on one right now if I could.
Peter Gilbert said on December 14, 2011
The key now is have QUALITY Control for these Cars. Reputation is now everything.
reindeer said on December 14, 2011
Independence griffen 9-5 sportkombi please! @ $35,000 a piece (we are back offer and want you to drive an believe) you would sell 200,000 in America alone without advertizing. Confidence and interest would be back in 4 months with these babies on the road. The following year, orders would be in for 300,000 for sportkombi alone laying the way for the new 9-3 to come roaring in.
TimR said on December 14, 2011
you should know that you can’t even buy a 9-5 sportscombi for that price in Sweden… you can barely buy a 9-3 sportscombi for that price in Sweden…
Prices in the US are just too low for european built cars to make any profit at all in that market =( The 9-4x is perfect since its built in North America, it can compete.
Angelo V. said on December 14, 2011
If Saab can’t sell the existing cars at lower sticker prices—-they need to (extremely quickly) come in with a smaller and/or lesser equipped car in the $20,000-30,000 range. Volvo is European and they are doing it. Volkswagen is European and they are doing it. There are small BMWs selling in the U.S. for less than the sticker price of the lower end Saabs. The point is—-this company hasn’t been profitable for the better part of two decades. There are a lot of factors that contributed to the current state of the company. One huge explanation is that Saab is at a price point with other European brands and Japanese brands that are luxury brands—-known to hold resale value and offer a premium of luxury appointments. At this price point, most buyers haven’t been willing to buy Saabs. If this weren’t true, they wouldn’t be on the verge of going out of business. They need to reposition themselves and try a new strategy—-which is to put more Saabs on the road by moving down-market. Even if the car isn’t made in Sweden—-they need to do something to get younger people without immediate means to spend $40,000 into a new Saab. With a positive experience, these owners will move up to the higher priced Saabs as they move up the ladder in life. If they continue to make cars that are well out of the average person’s price range, they’re in for a slow or not so slow death, even if they work their way out of the current situation. They have very little to lose by trying to bottom up approach. I think the jury is back and the verdict is in as far as the other strategy goes. We’re living it people.
MeanSabean said on December 14, 2011
Angelo, Where do you get your information? Obviously your an American who reads American news! According to Mr Muller Saab had made alot of profit when it was owned by GM, it was all hidden in GM’s own red ink! Do you actually believe that Victor and the Chinese would put so much time and money into a company that hasn’t made money in 2 decades!!! Give me a break, Gm raped Saab of all it’s technology and let Saab die or should I say almost die. Why do you think Buick and Cadillac are finally making good cars, because of Saab and a little bit of Opel technology. I rest my case!
Angelo V. said on December 16, 2011
So Saab (and in turn, GM) made a lot of money while GM owned Saab—-but they were about to contract and let Saab die for no money (when the purchase occurred, for which GM kept enough control to block the recent sale to Youngman)? That sounds like some sort of conspiracy/fantasy. If Saab was performing well and making profits, GM would still own them outright. GM is in business to make money. It’s been widely reported everywhere from the FInancial Times to the Wall Street Journal that GM never profited on Saab. If there is evidence to the contrary (not speculation or wishes, but evidence) I’m very open to seeing it. I wish it’s true.
Frank Wulfers said on December 14, 2011
Prices before taxes are actually pretty similar between the US and Europe. The difference often is the 40-60% or more tax in many European countries.
3cyl said on December 14, 2011
They could sell even more 9-5s for $25,000, but what’s the point.
JasonPowell said on December 14, 2011
exactly, there is no point. I could sell my house today for $100,000 less then I paid for it too. I’m sure Porsche could sell 200,000 911′s if they priced them at $40,000 and that might look great for volume but it wouldn’t fund a business plan at all and they would go broke.
Angelo V. said on December 14, 2011
Jason: Breaking news. Saab IS broke. The point to selling a lower priced model is to increase sales volume and get more people in Saabs—people who presumably will spend on higher priced Saabs later in life when they can afford to. It’s a tried and true strategy. Whatever they’ve been doing the last 20 years hasn’t worked. That’s the point. And by the way, Porsche did quite well with the Cayman, at least in the U.S.
JasonPowell said on December 14, 2011
Angelo V: Breaking news. Thanks for the obvious point, I was not aware of this at all, when did this happen? Kidding of coarse. My point was simple, any of us could sell things, houses and cars at a loss, it just doesn’t make sense. My response wasn’t to yours about a lower priced smaller car (which has been talked about for a long time) but more to the one about a 9-5 sport combi for $35,000. A 9-5 sport combi priced that low would make Saab broke all over again and is not the way to get things going again and I’m sure that the person that wrote that would not be suggesting that if Saab stood to lose money on every 9-5 sport combi sold at that price, that it would be a good business plan. Canadian pricing for the Cayman starts at $59000, so not quite $35000 but do they make money on their base model Cayman would be the question? Regardless, Saab cannot afford to sell cars at a loss in the future.
Chris Hansel said on December 14, 2011
Angelo and Jason:
Yup Saab is broke. Couldn’t sell cars in North America at a price then needed to get to profitable, neither could GM. That is why I for one don’t have a problem with a cheaper smaller Saab being build in China. The fact that Saab entered the US market as a cheaper, smaller, smarter car is without doubt, all the historical records show this. It worked before and it can( will) work again!
Jeff said on December 14, 2011
Calm down people
The 9-5 SC can come in around $35K base, but it would do so without many of the options that people have come to expect in the US. Dealers would most likely choose $40K models with the basics (leather, automatic transmission, etc.) than a bare bones model. Don’t forget, it’s the dealers who Saab is selling to. SaabsUnited is definitely skewed towards enthusiasts who prefer manuals, etc. to the average suburban driver that Saab needs to appeal to for core US profitability.
Angelo V. said on December 14, 2011
Chris is correct—-go to the history books to see how Saab established themselves in the U.S. As a child, I remember seeing the 96 models on the road (no, not 1996, just 96, from the 1960s!). It was fine for Saab to move upmarket in the 1980s—-but the problem is that they abandoned the entry level. It was the wrong decision. The record shows—-it was the wrong decision. They need to get back in the business of selling entry level cars to support their expensive cars. At least in the U.S., that works. And Jeff, Americans are willing to forego those options you refer to. I honestly believe a 9-5 would sell well if it was brought in at a lower price—-decontented. U.S. drivers want an automatic transmission and air conditioning, along with a radio that plays CDs. Beyond that, they are willing to compromise or do without. More and more people are buying Magellan, Garmin, Tom Tom or other portable navigation systems to move from car to car, for around a hundred dollars. Expensive factory navigation systems are not needed. People here are more than willing to live with cloth upholstery—-or leather seating surface with vinyl sides and backs. We don’t need auto dimming mirrors, rain sensing wipers, mirror or headlight defrosters, etc. There are a lot of families in the northeast and mid-atlantic who would buy a 9-5 with manual adjust seats, regular wheels/tires (not expensive alloys or low profile)—–just a good, basic family car. I always like a sunroof—-but if the manufacturer sticks it in a package that raises the price of the car dramatically, I’ll go without—-or have an aftermarket one installed. In fact, I know a lot of people who view these “goodies” as just another thing with a motor that eventually stops working. Some people actually PREFER a basic car without all the add-ons.
julie@KellySAAB said on December 14, 2011
+1
Well said, all.
i agree that SAAB should de-content and sell for less. Cloth seats are something that many folks still request in our showroom all the time- on both SAAB and Cadillac!
RS said on December 14, 2011
Jeff, the big question is will customers prefer a loaded Turbo4 SC or would it be good to have a FWD, standard chassis, (even cloth seats, green SID) model in the US with a low(er) MSRP to get things started again?
I’ve understood the plan was to only sell well equipped Turbo4′s, that must have 5-7k USD worth of options on them (incl. XWD). Does a 9-5 even need AWD?
I’d personally offer both, plus a loaded Turbo6 with Hirsch. Then people wouldn’t probably be so hung up on price as they’re getting what they pay for.
3cyl said on December 14, 2011
By the time you delete the turbo, replace the leather with vinyl, the carpets with rubber and the six speed with a three speed and drop the alloys in favor of some nicely styled steel wheels you will have a four cylinder version of a 50s American station wagon. Exterior vinyl wood trim would be a nice touch (optional of course).
RS said on December 14, 2011
You can always use hubcaps
http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/02/saab-9-5-sc-spyshot.html
PS. I strongly recommend rubber carpets in the winter.
Angelo V. said on December 14, 2011
Or, they can keep “selling” $50,000 Saabs—–by dropping the price to $38,500 at the end of the year to get rid of them. Personally, I like the idea of offering both loaded and standard base models—-and letting people choose to spend as they see fit, for what they want.
3cyl said on December 14, 2011
If SAAB were to decontent the 9-5 enough to make a decent profit for the Company and their dealers with a $35k MSRP, I doubt anyone would want it,
Angelo V. said on December 15, 2011
3 CYL: I don’t know enough about what it really costs to build a 9-5 to speculate—but I think that in the U.S., you can still get a base BMW 3 Series in the mid 30s (Autoweek claims that the base price of the redesigned 3 Series will be 35K. Personally, I’d expect closer to 40K). You can buy Japanese and American sedans that are very well equipped, with 6 cylinder engines (no shortage of power) and high resale value (in the case of the Japanese cars), under 35K. Volkswagen is a European nameplate selling cars from the teens to what, 40K-plus? The Volvo C30 starts under $25,000. I know, none of these are a 9-5. In a way, yes, it’s comparing apples to oranges. But you know what? If a fruit stand only sells oranges for $2.00, and a fruit stand down the street sells oranges from $1.50-$2.00 and apples for under a dollar—-people are going to stop visiting the place that only sells expensive oranges. Hopefully, no lemons. The point is, Saab has to find some way of selling entry level cars in North America. If they aren’t ready to come to market with a smaller car (make mine a hatchback) selling for $20,000-$30,000—-very soon—-another option is to decontent the 9-5 and 9-3 models enough to make the base models price-competitive. That brings people to the showroom. From there, salespeople can work with financing and other gimmicks to try to upsell customers. But if you don’t have the price leader advertised on the internet and in newspapers, those prospects are going to showrooms that DO have more affordable cars advertised. I’m a car guy who doesn’t work in the car industry—-so maybe I don’t have the pricing possibilities (or impossibilities) figured out as you do. But I am an advertising/marketing person, and I have been in that industry (and public relations) for over 25 years. I can tell you that absolutely—-Saab has NOT marketed or advertised their cars adequately for at least the last 20 years. In the United States, they haven’t positioned their cars to win in the marketplace. Peugeot had the same issues. In some ways, so did Alfa Romeo. Peugeot and Alfa are long gone from North America. Saab is holding on by a fingernail. If Saab gets another chance, they have to make it count—-and doing the exact same things that have them in the awfyk position they are now in—-doing these same things would be crazy. It’s time to really think outside the box.
3cyl said on December 15, 2011
A nice lower priced SAAB that the Company can make money on is a great idea, but the $35k 9-5 isn’t it, unless for instance the cloth seats referred to here are burlap bags thrown over a seat frame. (High quality upholstery fabric isn’t that much less expensive than the leather typically used in cars, and that fabric still requires sewing and fitting).
Even if BMW can profitably price the 3 series at $35k (and if they do, it will be hard to find one at that price) SAAB needs more than that for a decent 9-5 if only to make up for the far lower production volume. It has been said that SAAB MSRP’s are inflated based on the evidence that they need steep discounts to sell. Actually, SAAB needs those “inflated” MSRPs to make a profit on the cars. Those MSRPs reflect the cost of relatively low production numbers. If the buyer isn’t able to accept a noticeable part of that price for having a somewhat less familiar production car, the MSRPs will always seem inflated and require steep discounts resulting in a loss on each car.
Selling cars at a loss to build volume is a way to reach profitability, but an expensive way. Maybe if deep pockets come through, SAAB will take that route. However, although an uncompetitively equipped 9-5 platfrom with a $35k base price might appeal to some of us, the buyers SAAB needs to reach to gain volume efficiency will see a car that still seems overpriced for its equipment level. Hardly the way to build volume.
As someone suggested, SAAB may well have been better off going with a somewhat pricey for its size small car (like the mini) instead of going so far upstream with the 9-5. I know that a smaller SAAB was a goal of the new owners in 2010, Make mine the high performance turbo version – with 3 cylinders of course.
Angelo V. said on December 15, 2011
3CYL: If the goal is to sell in HIGHER volume (and it seems to me that is and always has been the goal), this becomes a chicken and egg proposition. What comes first: High volume (that can lower prices) or lower prices (that can raise volume)? I don’t think Saab’s intent has been to be a boutique brand—-I think they’ve always wanted to produce and sell as many cars as they could manage to. I suggest that you build higher volume by offering a car people want at a lower price than they expect—or at least at a price they feel is a decent value. It seems that your point is that they are low volume and for that reason—-they have to overprice their 9-5 relative to the competition—-because the virtue you mention is low production numbers—-and frankly, most buyers DO like some exclusivity—-but are people really willing to spend $10,000 more because their car isn’t seen is often on the roads as other makes? I have my doubts. It’s just hard to imagine that the quality would be as low as you claim (burlap sack upholstery) to sell a 9-5 in the mid-30s with some profit. They have to find a way to grow production numbers and sales to survive—-and I maintain that trying to sell 50K cars without a bottom rung on the ladder—-after being on the verge of going out of business for over 2 years—-isn’t going to cut it. And I do completely understand your point of view, but if decontenting the existing models isn’t something that can work, what WILL work, relatively quickly?
3cyl said on December 15, 2011
It will probably take pockets deep enough to allow SAAB to sell cars at a loss to rebuild volume while at the same time funding the cost of expanding the model range to include a small car that will slot in under the 9-3. Most people probabaly won’t spend what they rightly or wrongly perceive is an extra $10k for a SAAB. My point was that if they don’t, SAAB san’t generate a profit. SAAB has to build cars that can be priced to make a profit and that are worth that price from the buyers perspective. The only thing we diasgree on is the viability of a $35k 9-5 in accomplishing that goal.
RS said on December 15, 2011
Quote: “-High quality upholstery fabric isn’t that much less expensive than the leather typically used in cars, and that fabric still requires sewing and fitting”.
In that case Europeans have been ripped off for decades. If you upgrade your textile seats to leather even Bimmer is charging 2 to 4.5k euro extra. Same thing goes for everybody else.
I just happened to make inquiries about an Alcantara set for our 9-3 and it only costs about a thousand bucks.
There is no question I would want to save 2-3k on a base 9-5 if that would be an option in the US and we’re not talking about some potato sack fabric here.
38.500 – 3.000 would bring us down to the ‘magical’ 35k. They could even lower the price for anyone buying a manual gearbox by a thousand, assuming they are currently making a profit on the base Turbo4. I think there could be quite a few Saabers who’d go for an offer like that.
I myself like two words particularly: Factory orders. That’s what THN needs in order to revive the SAAB enthusiasm in the US IMHO. If you can tick what ever options you want to add and don’t have to pay one penny extra for something you don’t need, the buying experience changes radically.
I personally don’t believe Saabers in NA would have a problem waiting a few months for their custom made Griffins.
3cyl said on December 15, 2011
I hope I am wrong about the $35k 9-5. If things work out and SAAB can prosper building such a car, I guess they will.
Angelo V. said on December 15, 2011
3CYL and RS: Great discussion. I like reading this stuff from both of you—-I like the idea of trading opinions and views and I usually learn something in the process. Off topic—-I wonder if it’s viable to source engines to make the range broader—–source a non-turbo 4 or 6 with less HP to slot below the turbo 4 and source a diesel as another higher priced option?
RS said on December 15, 2011
Good point and now that you mentioned it, there in fact is a ‘true’ base 9-5 in Europe.
It’s a 1.6 Turbo4 with 180 hp and if SCNA would dare to be a bit radical, right there’s your budget NG 9-5.
Cannot believe I’ve forgot it even exists. Well, they haven’t produced any cars for a while.
3cyl said on December 15, 2011
Thanks to all for the discussion. Maybe we will have something to celebrate for the New Year.
Angelo V. said on December 16, 2011
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the 2012 and 2013 line of Saabs.
Lundin said on December 14, 2011
Good read Tim, thanks.
This is actually an area which i love and it’s not old or boring. This area is a hot research topic in many mechanical engineering departments on various universities. People working with this on Saab is, just like Tim said, very skilled in it and always gets into the research projects one way or another. They often ends up saying ” yeah i know that, that is what i do for a living..did you really had to take 2 year to investigate it and write a white paper on it =))
Under normal circumstances this work-balancing exercise is the key-elements to run efficient assembly lines.
It is done in the final assembly factory as well as in paint and body. Most of the operations are being illustrated within the same database with pictures. The backend is populated with engineering materials and specification. THIS is one area where having close factory-development facilities really shines and shows its benefits.
Add all, not only different vehicle models (9-5,9-3,cab), but also the variants (engine Vs roof Vs EU/US,LHD/RHD,AT/MT and so one) into a mixed-assembly line and one can understand how hard is it to keep all stations well balanced throughout the entire chain….and remember there is no such luxury as an adjust/retro-fix line in the end. The car needs to be complete in EOL.
This is where skilled assembly workers, logistics, efficient planning and autimatization comes into play. Trollhättan has some great tools and features for user-friendly operations but also for quicker assembly operations such as the tilt-line where the car gets tilted 90 degrees.
This was always a problem for other brands (no-name) to understand how to take a Saab worksheet and apply that to another factory with less features. It also affects how designers eventually designs some components on the vehicle (if you have that kind of luxury to know..hence having production facilities in China and R&D somewhere else is not always the smartest idea).
I would however give Opel (Russelsheim) a + for their logistics, which is a bit better than trollhättan. But mainly because the materials are very much pre-kitted and very efficiently delivered into the assembly line, rather than trucks that delivers palettes. To get something equal would require a change in the layout.
I would also like to highlight the challenge in this scenario and THE future of the trollhättan plant. They way Saab look at assembly planning is only the beginning (my words, this is true for the entire automotive industry). A small brand like Saab needs to cope with the continuously different demands from the customers (the variants as in “mass-customisation” and the output rate) and thus adjust the factory planning on a more regular basis. Hence, doing the balancing in a more computational fashion (NOT taking away the skills of the workers). Doing just that often yields some problems but the theory is not complete and many areas are affected by doing such an operation. However i am sure that it won’t be Mercedes or BMW that eventually come up with the idea on the best balancing method but a small player just like Saab.
In my master thesis i took and export from this database (all tables, weekly builds) and imported into my self-made program and made some stress-tests on various ideas and theories. I am sure we could have made great success in doing things differently…however Saab was under the GM umbrella in that time. Needles to say the ideas is still only ideas….too bad, but no one can take away you ideas, right =)
Trust me, if you like innovations, this is an area where you can explore some really cool concepts.
scand said on December 14, 2011
Lundin; great comments Modern car manufacturing is a fascinating process. I haven’t been around saabs factory, but I have been around Audi’s Neckarsulm one, which was pretty mind boggling.
It would be a shame to see all that technology go to waste.
Lundin said on December 14, 2011
Hello scand, thank you!
. Then we can have a look on the factory and you can compare the 9-5 to the audi
OT btw i am hearing a lot of bad rumours about Hallberg-Rassy (huge lay offs recently…). So i expect in not-so-distant future a visit from you in Trollhättan
Cheers =)
Greg Bakos said on December 14, 2011
Oh no, not Halberg-Rassy! Classic, well designed, understated luxury. Now, where have I heard that before?? (Saab) Tough times. I hope Regina of Vindo (my favorite builder) is doing OK.
scand said on December 14, 2011
Regina of vindo stopped making new boats, and converted to just a boatyard about 4 months ago. Najad, who we used to own, a few years ago, went bust last summer. The poor old Orust boatbuilding region is having a really hard time at the moment.
Greg Bakos said on December 14, 2011
Darn it. I hate to hear that. That might explain why their web site has not been updated since February. I thought the wealthy were still buying boats, but Orust must deal with unfavorable exchange rates and a used boat market that is flooded with late model used boats that Europeans are trying to unload at drastic cuts. The Regina line is so beautiful, with their pilot salons and gorgeous woodwork. I hope they make it through. I’m guessing CR is struggling too then. Thanks scand. Go Saab!
scand said on December 14, 2011
Lundin, I will look forward to that! I just made an offer on something in orust, so may be over soon, if they take it.
Lundin said on December 14, 2011
When i think about it. Taking over the production of the 9-5 back in 09/10 was such a intense and massive work made by the Saab production engineers that it is actually hard to describe (the courts ruling and word on “Saab previous failure during the first reconstruction period” still surrounds my head!! I remember walking in the factory and wondering how amazing it was that it eventually worked out…
reindeer said on December 14, 2011
I think you are right anout the european market. The 9-4X is perfect here and perfectly priced. I would have bought one but they didnt offer a manual drive. However the car that is for me, that I absolutely love is the 9-5 sportcombi. I had a 2000 9-5 sportcombi and now im driving a 9-3 aero sportcombi and its just nt the same. I forget that the American market will not save Saab. Its going to take all markets. But the 9-5 sportcombi will do well in Europe and USA if the confidence and prestige is felt and driven. Sales of the ng 9-5 showed that there is still a buyer base despite the times. I can imagine the launch of the 9-5 sportcombi, if priced right, in each market will bring in sales very well. I for one miss the regal drive and feel that is only in the 9-5. If the sportcombi makes it here and there is even a small chance that Saab survives I will be at my dealer’s sales office pronto- provided i get my manual
saabtec said on December 14, 2011
This is a very good article. We need more like this. I do have to say, quality has been very good during the Pre-Delivery Inspection process at the dealership for a very long time. That speaks volumes about the process and the workers on assembly. Looking forward to seeing more of what you build.
Frank Wulfers said on December 14, 2011
Very refreshing to read about cars and the factory for a change. Keep these articles coming!
WM said on December 14, 2011
Great post and really enjoyed the video too. Really want a factory tour when SAAB is back up and running. Thanks Tim!
kochje said on December 14, 2011
+1
Hans H said on December 14, 2011
Ditto !
Goose said on December 14, 2011
Great topic. More of these stories please! Very refreshing after all
reindeer said on December 14, 2011
Jason: No one said to sell the 9-5 SC at a loss. Sell it at “breakeven”, at least one version of it at the launch and get people in the door at dealers again with product and price. Price needs to be set according to each market. This is a short term solution that is based on what is on the pipeline now (an excellent 9-5 SC waiting to be unleashed) and a factory that is getting retooled and ready to start producing (as Tim is writing about here) when the powers that be say go. Longer term solution is the new 9-3 and another smaller vehicle or entry car that can sell, make profit and most importantly win new clients.
reindeer said on December 14, 2011
*clients that get into the brand (most important of all) and start to grow into the range.
cmhohioman said on December 14, 2011
Cute…little SAABers being built.
cmhohioman said on December 14, 2011
It would be interesting to compare the SAAB Automotive Plant to the Audi Automotive Plant (Ingolstadt). I love both cars.
aki said on December 14, 2011
Enjoyed it, very nice post. Keep it up. Fingers crossed that everything goes right.
MarkoA said on December 14, 2011
Very interesting, thanks TimR! Great to hear that there´s something going on at the factory. Those cars on the line look simply stunning..
Tim, you seem to have a lot of inside information. Just out of curiousity, how is the maintenance handled at the Saab factory? Is there some other company doing the maintenance, or are they Saab´s own mechanics and electricians who handle all the maintenance/tech problems? I guess there has to be few guys on the shift 24/7 to be available if something goes wrong?
Hans H said on December 14, 2011
Thanks for the good wriiting. And that nice video too.
saabaudi said on December 14, 2011
Interesting video and a good description how to learn something on changes of car production.
Nice to see that the Saab facility is still alive.
David said on December 14, 2011
What an interesting read. Well done. It brings back fantastic memories of a group of us visiting to the SAAB factory back in 2007.
Tage Erikson said on December 14, 2011
It really warms my heart to see the production line up and running, even for a short while. We Swedes should be grateful for all international support for Saab, a minor brand, but with an innovation spirit second to none.
saabluster said on December 14, 2011
Great article Tim! Always nice to get inside Saab abit;) The manufacturing process is just amazing to see.