by till72
December 13, 2011 in News
ttela.se reports that Saab has paid the taxes and fees, which is another step that needed to be done before the court decisison and is proof that things are moving.
Saab has now gotten rid of their debt applicable taxes and fees.
- They have paid their VAT now, says Margareta Ahrbergen, duty officer at the National Tax Board, said.
by till72
December 13, 2011 in News
Yesterday we faced a real rollercoaster: from the report that Saab would file for bankrupcy to the notice that Youngman would send money to pay taxes and wages. I can assure you that Victor is devoting every minute of his time to work things out. It is not done yet, the most crucial thing right now is that the money Youngman promised to send arrives at Saabs accounts. But since Rache Pang was that close to the events I think she has understood that Thursday is a serious deadline.
ttela.se give us a short update on how things look now:
Saab CEO and Chairman Victor Muller was yesterday in Stockholm where he met with National Debt Office.
- They sit in meetings now, said Unni Jerndal, CIO at National Debt Office at half past six yesterday evening.
And at least work with the National Debt Office shall according to sources at TTELA have gone well. But a crucial question seems to be on Chinese Youngman deliver on their promises or not. TTELA wrote about the negotiations last week, which found a possible ownership solution that also included a large bank in China. Among other things, it is about placing the technology and the development of a separate company that is half-owned by Youngman. This arrangement would have a better chance of getting a hearing from the various parties to approve a deal. The aim is still to solve for the EIB loan in the long run.
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by JasonPowell
December 8, 2011 in Editorial, Off-Topic
We’ve had some nice stories today about Tim’s visit to the factory and about some options that Saab is exploring. To me, where we are now is a place where it is of the utmost importance to get something done now. Now that I’ve stated the obvious, what does Saab mean to you and why do you want to see it survive? I’m not a fan of the I hate GM stuff that I’ve seen as I see it serving no purpose at all, what I am a fan of is the customer and employee stories of why Saab? Some of you have had a lot of years with Saab, what keeps you coming back? I’ll start with what sticks out in my mind.
by Rune
November 3, 2011 in Uncategorized
TTela today features an interview with Anna Petre.
Two years ago, GM were skeptical towards Chinese ownership. Now there is going to be a negotiation that can go either way. I believe GM has good intentions for us, says Anna Petre.
Most urgent are guarantees for how the technology in the 9-3, 9-5 and 9-4x will be treated. GM owns the rights to those three models.
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by Rune
October 28, 2011 in News
P4 Väst managed to get some comments from Victor Muller.
by Jeff
by Jeff
April 5, 2011 in Editorial
In an interview at the auto show in Nacka, Victor Muller admitted there Saab made mistakes dealing with the press last week. “We failed last week, clearly. We have spent one year trying to build up trust and the confidence in the business. It will take time to repair this, but we’ll repair it.” Since last Wednesday, there have been serious concerns raised in comments here by the production stop– does Saab have enough money to last the year? Will sales rebound? How can we trust management now? Potential customers are left wondering if Saab is a viable company anymore. Any dealer can tell you one of the most common questions asked to them is whether the company will be around next year, making a sale all that much harder. While the SaabsUnited community knows that Saab has a sound business plan and willing partners ready to step up to the plate to provide bridge funding, the average consumer usually collects the worst snippets and pieces them together to create their own picture. Last week certainly didn’t help to change that view.
by Jeff
March 29, 2011 in Editorial, News
While we’ve been talking a lot about Jan Åke’s retirement, Vladimir’s intent to invest in the company, and how certain members of the Swedish press feels that Victor is the antichrist, we may have lost sight of what really matters– the cars. Consummate professionals that they are, Victor and Jan Åke continue to talk to the responsible members of the press about the business plan. They confirm things we already know, but also leak new details about the ePower lineup, partnerships, and drivetrains. Also I take a stab at playing angel’s advocate to Robert Collin and Co.’s devil’s advocate and speculate on another outcome that isn’t often discussed here– the ramifications of Saab’s success on production and partnerships (something I hope we’ll be able to do a lot more of soon).
As you can also see, I’m incoporating an introductory graphic as a quick visual representation of what’s covered so you can get an idea what you’re in for…
by Rune
March 28, 2011 in Editorial
JÅJ’s recent announcement has naturally caused quite a stir in our community. My soapbox is small, but I will deploy it nonetheless.
Certain stories have surfaced in the Swedish press, and many have been discussed in comments.
This calls for a summary.
First of all, there was a TV interview (TV4) which didn’t come up with anything really new. They like to remind us that Saab has never earned any money (despite what people close to Saab may say) and people who buy Saabs are like cult-members who only buy them to support the factory. Oh, and Robert Collin again claimed JÅJ and VM had a shaky relationship based on a raised eyebrow and supposed eye roll during a dinner last Fall. Robert already predicted the 9-5 would not sell over a year ago. Now we are told it won’t sell because JÅJ is leaving Saab. And of course, it’s still too big. It strikes me as funny how my MY11 9-5 isn’t too big, but I guess I got one of the few good ones?
Also present at that fateful dinner was our own Swade. Swade writes:
Well, I was at the same dinner and I can tell you that I have no recollection at all of VM leaving significantly early at all. (…)Well, I was at the same dinner and I can tell you that I have no recollection at all of VM leaving significantly early at all. The fact that he might have wanted to get back a little earlier might have had something to do with his recovery from some surgery he had not long before.(…)So to anyone who wants to take the opportunity to give Victor a backhander, I say there are two sides to every story and you ought to make sure you get both.
The same event. Two different accounts. Who do you trust more?
As for Robert’s “cult” reference– it’s unfair and uncalled for. Personally, I bought my first Saab as late as 2008. The 9-3 SC was then the safest car in its class according to folksam.se. Granted, the following year Folksam reduced the 9-3′s rating, giving it the same score as other European brands, but it still remains one of very few models that have been tested for moose impacts. I drive a lot through moose infested areas, and I need this extra safety. I also require Saab’s excellent winter skills. Saabs usually win when magazines compare cars in the winter. The 9-5 that I bought last year is no exception. I drive 720 km every week on some of the worst winter roads imaginable. I know from experience that a Volvo V50 can’t cope properly with such conditions. Saab 9-3, 9000 and 9-5 on the other hand can. With ease. The “too big” 9-5 is extremely comfy, and it is difficult not to smile as I’m able to dig through parts of the road that seems to stump others.
In short, TV4′s coverage painted a very bleak picture of Saab. It would not surprise me if Saab eventually drowns because of the Swedish press alone. It is no longer a question about them being right or not, it is a question of why they so desperately want to bury the company with its thousands of jobs and likely the entire city of Trollhättan. Swedish people should feel upset with their one sided journalists, because otherwise… perhaps Swedish youths peeling bananas in Norway is the answer? Does that sound like a fun and interesting job? Is that really an improvement over working for the evil entrepreneur Victor Muller? At least he’s trying to create something of value.
by Carl-Henrik
March 25, 2011 in News
Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile today announced that Jan Åke Jonsson has
decided to retire from his position as President and CEO of Saab Automobile AB
(“Saab Automobile”) effective per Spyker Cars N.V.’s Annual General Shareholders
meeting to be held on 19 May, 2011.
by Carl-Henrik
March 17, 2011 in News
Our friend “Millerman” has sent over the following report from a presentation by Victor Muller in Eindhoven (NL) on March 15th about the state of Saab. Thank you MillerMan for this great story! Some good pieces of of information are included in it, including a short introduction of the upcoming Saab campaign in the US.
by Swade
March 11, 2011 in Saabology
Saab of North Olmsted has just opened their new building – the first new Saab Unlimited building to open since the company was purchased by Spyker Cars.
In honour of a deal made with Dealer Principal Bernie Moreno at the Saab Owner’s Convention last year (“you build it and I’ll come to the opening”), Victor Muller flew in to Ohio from Europe to attend the opening function.
Our mate Ted Y was there and he’s uploaded the following video from the event:
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6_myIwn5d4
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Here’s the exterior of the new building, from the dealership website:
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Ted’s thoughts from the evening:
I just attended the grand opening of Saab of North Olmsted which you posted about mid-February.
Victor Muller is a classy guy. He had to be suffering from jet lag, having just arrived from Europe, but he was very gracious and approachable. I had printed out a Saabsunited page from January 6, 2010 which had my picture at the Detroit Save Saab rally, hoping for an autograph on it. He wrote “Dear Ted, Thank you for your support when it really mattered. Victor Muller Cleveland March 10, 2011″. He posed for photos with anybody that asked (including me) and gave a very great speech.
I also received an email from Greg F, a new Saab 9-5 owner who attended the opening.
I got to attend the Grand Opening of Saab’s new prototype storefront at Saab of North Olmsted tonight and it was awesome! They have an extremely impressive floor plan (very modern) and had all the Saabs on display, including the new 9-4x in white! They also had one area focused on a Spyker car, which I think is a great idea. I would think that these types of storefronts will really sell more Saabs and bring “new people” to the Saab line! I am extremely glad that Bernie Moreno had the vision and the money to invest in this new dealership.
I also was lucky enough to meet and talk with Victor Muller and he was really fun to talk with! I really enjoyed hearing him so enthusiastically talk about the future of Saab – makes me even more glad that I purchased a 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero!!
I think that Saab’s future is looking promising and they will come back in the USA!!!!
It’s great to hear that the opening night was a success and kudos again to Bernie Moreno and the staff at North Olmsted for having the courage and vision to build this new dealership.
by eggsngrits
March 2, 2011 in News
Victor Muller is such a capable spokesman for the brand and for the plan moving forward.
The financial and business world that Saab is on track with a plan to be a player in the long-term automotive future.
Well done!!
by Swade
February 24, 2011 in News
SPYKER CARS N.V. IN NEGOTIATIONS TO SELL THE SPYKER SPORTSCAR BUSINESS IN ORDER TO FOCUS ON SAAB AUTOMOBILE
Zeewolde, The Netherlands, 24 February 2011 – Spyker Cars N.V. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CPP Global Holdings Limited, a UK-based company owned by Vladimir Antonov, concerning a potential sale of the Spyker sportscar business.
The transaction would be structured as an asset purchase of virtually all assets related to the Spyker Business, including the Spyker trademarks and other intellectual property rights, and would be subject to several conditions precedent, including the outcome of Purchaser’s due diligence.
If completed, the proceeds of the purchase price will be used to reduce Spyker Cars N.V. indebtedness to Tenaci Capital B.V., an investment company controlled by Spyker Cars N.V. CEO, Victor Muller, thereby reducing its interest burden going forward. The indicative purchase price would consist of two elements: 15 million Euros due on closing and a maximum of 17 million Euros payable in instalments over the period 2011-2016 from the Spyker Business’ Earnings Before Taxes.
To further reduce Spyker Cars N.V.’s debt, it is envisaged that within 6 months of completion of the sale Tenaci Capital B.V. would convert its Convertible Loan for the amount of 9.5 million Euros at 3.75 Euro per share as well as convert an additional amount of 7.5 million Euros at 5.50 Euros per share subject to completion of the sale and certain conditions.
Hans Hugenholtz, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Spyker Cars N.V., said: “This transaction will allow Spyker Cars N.V. to focus on the Saab Automobile business exclusively, will eliminate the requirement for us to make further capital investment in the Spyker Business, and will reduce our debt.
“The Spyker Business will benefit from a focused and independent management team to progress the business from a commercial and technological point of view. Victor Muller will continue as CEO of the Spyker Business until a successor is appointed, at which time he will become its non-executive chairman. Mr. Muller remains fully engaged as CEO of Spyker Cars N.V. and Chairman of the Board of Saab Automobile AB.
Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars N.V. and Chairman of the Board of Saab Automobile AB, said: “Without Spyker we would not have been able to acquire Saab Automobile last year but the Spyker Business soon became a small fish in a large pond as a result. In terms of the overall results of Spyker Cars N.V., the Spyker Business had become immaterial, but to develop its business going forward, its cash needs are relatively significant. Therefore the decision to separate the Spyker Business and Saab Automobile from a capital structure point of view is a good one.”
Vladimir Antonov, chairman of Convers Group said: “Having created an automotive portfolio over the past two years consisting of premium, world-class companies and brands, we are convinced that Spyker will flourish within the CPP Group and become profitable as planned.”
by Red J
February 24, 2011 in Saabology
OK, the celebrations are not over, and new videos keep appearing.
This time Superman and Clark Kent, at least Jason Castriota call them this way, say Thank you to all of you, the Saab fans. (Victor does mention Saabsunited 
)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPIJK7_nrEw
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