SaabsUnited.com

This story made the headlines in the Swedish papers earlier today (yesterday by the time the Swedes wake up).

Some of the wider-circulation newspapers made quite an issue out of it. This googletrans is from TTELA:

——

200 may go from Saab

More than 200 people may not stay at Saab in Trollhattan.

The information came on Thursday and mostly temporary employees in production.
The day before was the negative decision: more than 200 temporary employees at Saab Automobile in Trollhättan will not be extended. The information went out of business today, but all concerned will receive a personal reply. Most of those concerned have contracts that extend to 22 December, according to Hakan Schött, IF Metall Club President at the Trollhättan factory.

- First, we are in a season, as always happens this time of year, and has the teething problems we had with the 9-5 now corrected itself. We can go with the solid strength, pure and simple.

But if there is an expected off-season, it might not be a shock to those affected?

- I do not know, and it is clear that we had hoped to give an extension, or even permanent employment. But there are many factors behind the decision – in particular that we have written down the [sales] forecast, “said Hans Schott.

It was in late October that it was clear that the sale of Saab in Sweden and globally do not come up to expectations. Last spring the target was 60,000 cars to be sold during the year – a figure that proved overly optimistic. In August, the number down to 45,000, and the latest interim report pointed to modest 30000-35000 cars.

- It has taken longer to restore confidence than we previously thought. The process has been slower and that’s why we wrote down as forecast, says Håkan Schött, which says that it is far from impossible that new jobs will be created ahead early spring.

- The season traditionally starts in the spring. People simply buy more cars then.

——

Some people wrote to me about this, and wrote in comments, saying that Saab had laid off 200 people, which is not really an accurate description of what happened here.

Due to Saab having to lower their full-year sales forecast, they’ve also had to delay adding the second shift and from this report, it seems they’re likely to not renew some existing temporary employment contracts for 200 people at the plant. These contracts expire on December 22.

I’m not trying to downplay the matter as it’s obviously one that will effect those families quite seriously. But Saab have to match their staff load with anticipated production and it would be financially irresponsible of them to carry people when production doesn’t warrant it.

As mentioned in the story, sales are traditionally lower in the winter months but rise again in the spring and that’s probably the best chance for these contracts to be renewed or for new people to come on board.

There’s some good news in from TTELA this weekend, with Saab using overtime to increase their production rate – something they’ve been wanting to do for a little while now.

The Googletrans:

——

For the third week in a row Saab are running on maximum time which means that employees are working up to 2.5 hours extra in addition to standard time a week. And on Monday they increased the production rate significantly. For the first time ever, the company produced 39 cars in an hour – eleven more [per hour] than normal.

- Historically we have only made a few increases on cars at a time,” says union chairman Hakan Skött.

Good launch

An increase in orders and the launch of the new 9-5……. is behind the rate hike. Saab has recruited the necessary staff to manage production at the high level. In total, 222 new staff in addition to replacements.

- Confidence in Saab has increased. We spin the wheels and are full of confidence,” said Hakan Skött.

The production of 39 cars per hour is basically what the company can cope with given today’s staffing. In order to produce more cars they would need to move to two shifts and hire more employees.

What they can manage

But temporarily, it would increase production by using overtime and it is already scheduled for the autumn. And Hakan Skött is fairly convinced that Saab will move to two shifts in the not too distant future.

- We can certainly reach the production target for 2010 using the projected over time, but in the longer term [more] shifts will be required to produce enough cars.

When summer’s rate rise will translate to increased sales statistics, however, is unclear.

- Since we manufacture orders the customer is always waiting. But retailers report on a keen interest in the new model, announces Skött.

–

Thanks to Marco and Justyn for the tip!

Saab are beginning to ramp up production, from 28 cars an hour to 39 cars and hour, which is part of the reason they’ve been looking to re-hire around 200 employees recently.

This is all very encouraging news and a reflection on Saab getting back to work, doing what they do best.

Local newspaper, TTELA, has been down at the factory recently and published a great piece on their visit and conversations with people there.

If you’ve never visited the factory, I can really recommend it. It’s fascinating to watch the cars come down the line and the marraige of the body and chassis is fantastic to watch. I can still remember the twinkle in (former Saab PR guy) Christer Nilsson’s eyes as he led me around on a factory tour and described this part to me.

Here’s the Googletrans, which I’ve edited lightly.

Thanks to Per for the link.

——

The wheels have begun to roll back inside one of Europe’s most efficient car plants. 
 1.1 billion is the cost to make the plant ready to build new Saab 9-5 and 9-3 convertible.

- It feels great to be going again,” said Ulla Andersson, team leader in the paint correction.

Her relief is understandable. When the line went still in the Saab plant back in January, it was still uncertain whether it would ever roll once again. Production Director Gunnar Brunius remember how it felt then.

- When we went into these premises at the time, then it was fateful, I can say,” he says as he shows TTELA around every corner in the factory.