My thanks to Alexandros for sending through this Googletrans from Autogazette.de
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Interview with Spyker boss Victor Muller: Saab will be profitable again in 2012
The Swedish car brand Saab will be profitable again in 2012. In an interview with Auto Gazette speaks with Spyker CEO Victor Muller about the sales targets, new models and the booming Chinese market.
The fact that Saab is significantly behind sales expectations this year, on its way to profitability of the brand, is of no concern for Muller. “Although we will miss our target of 50,000 cars this year, we are more fully [engaged] in our business plan [now].” As the 51 year-old Muller said, he expects this year sales of at least 30,000 units, ideally perhaps 35,000 cars. Muller expects a boost for the brand in the coming year due to the introduction of two new models: the 9-5 SportCombi and crossover 9-4x.
“Enjoys it, that Saab is a part of Spyker»
Auto Gazette: Mr. Muller, do you regret that Spyker Cars took over the Saab brand in February this year?
Victor Muller: No, why should I? I enjoy every day that this traditional brand is now part of Spyker Cars.
Auto Gazette: To what extent can a brand owner enjoy that the sales expectations are so misguided as Saab? Originally you wanted to sell 60,000 cars this year, now it will probably only 27,000.
Muller: How did you get that number? Our business plan called for a global sale volume of 50,000 units in 2010. These numbers we could not achieve because GM stopped production in early January and we therefore could not solve problems with our suppliers to the extent as we had planned.
Auto Gazette: What numbers do you expect for 2010? In September it was around 18,000 sales.
Muller: We are expecting at least 30,000 units, ideally perhaps even 35,000 cars.
Auto Gazette: With this quantity Saab is far from reasonable profitability. How long will the financial reserves last, in order to keep Saab alive?
Muller: Do not worry. There are sufficient funds available to lead Saab again to profitability.
Auto Gazette: When will Saab be back in the black?
Muller: [The goal is] unchanged that from the year 2012 we will sell every year 120,000 units. Although we will miss our target of 50,000 cars in this year, we are more fully [engaged] in our business plan. Also, many things are already from next year for Saab much better.
Auto Gazette: Because then the new 9-5 Sport Combi, and the Crossover 9-4x will be two new products to market …
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