The European Union has a rotating presidency and the coming six months will see Hungary take the reigns.
The Hungarian Saab distributor is Polar Mobil. They actually distribute Saab in nine other countries as well, but their headquarters are in Budapest.
As Hungary will be hosting European dignitaries for the next six months, Polar Mobil thought it might make a good impression if those dignitaries got to experience the spacious rear legroom of the new Saab 9-5.
Accordingly, they’ve delivered 10 vehicles to the airport at Budapest, where they will be used to ferry presidents, prime ministers, ministers and promonent polititians of the EU countries visiting Hungary between their aircraft and the VIP lounge of the airport.
It will be a short impression each time, but a very good one.
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Zsolt from Polar Mobil tells me that the cars will be sold through their dealer network once their EU duties are discharged. Of course, the dignitaries may just fall in love with them before they get there, but….. 🙂
Congratulations to Polar Mobil. It’s a great impression for Saab.
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Great idea, besides you might even see them on TV or in the press.
A very smart move. I am sure we will see some ot these Saabs in the TV. This is the kind of good marketing ideas that Saab has to implement.
Congratulations to Polar Mobil!
President, kings and prime ministers deserves a royal ride!
A very good idea! All cudos to Polar Mobil!! A perfect way to get people into the car, even if it is just for a short trip.
Congratulations.
This should have also been done for the Nato Summit, last November in Lisbon, Portugal 🙁
Great move! My only question, are they all equiped with SAT NAV?
Will Miss Olofsson be willing to use them? Or will she be asking for a replacement, let’s say a windmill !!! 😉
Mega smiley B-) !!!!!!!
+100
🙂
….muhahaha!!!!
Alternativ to the windmill: she should ride a bicycle…
And then I take it one step higher.. skip the bicycle.. and go for a monocycle (one wheel), that’s an even less impact on the environment as it doesn’t need so much resources… 😉
Great idea!
Although it’s a pity that the cars will only be used inside the airport…
This is a very good idea! Congrats to Saab. Yes they will typically just be used in the airport, but I’m sure they will get out and about periodically. This is a good example of how Saab can look elsewhere for advertising. It might be interesting to keep a log book of the people in the cars and sell it with the car when it is done being used as a shuttle. I know I would like that if I bought one of them.
Great idea, and keeping a log of ‘bums on seats’ would be of interest to the next buyer. My Chrysler 300c apparently was used to convey X-factor judges to the studio – to think that Sharon Osborne might have sat in the back of my car…..shudder…….I still leased it, but had to erase that thought!!!!!
What a nice sight !!!!!!!!
The Dutch prime minister is privately driving SAAB already, so he will feel happy 🙂
I like your idea! Smart thinking
Top idea – there have been a wide range of cars used in the ministerial pool over the years including everything from S and E class to Prius and Citroen C5. Saab would be a fellow ‘neutral’ country purchase and in the right guise, very eco-friendly and considerably less ‘flash’ than the more recent fleet of A6.
The President could also be a ‘target’ for a new car as she currently uses an S80, prob again on grounds of neutrality and discretion.
Sounds very cost effective marketing.
Douze points for Polar Mobil! Finally a brilliant marketing move for Saab!
PS. Too bad they are all gray, Glacier Silver ones would stand out much more, or actually a selection of colours. Gray might seem elegant and aptly understated, but this is about marketing.
Wunderful action from Polar Mobil! Splendid! Fantastic move!
Congratulations! 🙂
I do not recall having seen so many 9-5s in a single picture before…
Guys, any ideas how long the waiting list is for 9-5s in Sweden now? If someone orders a new car today, how many weeks..?
Great PR, guess Insignias or any below-premium cars would have cut it.
Hopefully Swedish departments will consider the 9-5 when buying cars next time, rather than the current standard – ageing S80’s.
Congratulations to the Hungarians who, quite obviously, have impeccable taste.
I get the idea Swedish politicians like their Geelys and would never buy Saabs. Their loss!! 😉
Good for Hungary who’s Air Force also has a favorable amount of Saab Gripens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7iTnrEo2U
I see 3 Aero front bumpers 🙂
Only 3?
very nice and I am sure the 9-5 will be much enjoyed by the drivers as well!
I’d like to see some Swedish politicians use these cars, not the regular A6’s, S80’s and MB E-Class’s.
Damn good move in Hungary nonetheless…
😉 😀
Good move
Kitünő ötlet, gratulálok íZolinak!
Awesome idea, a unique car to
match a unique country.
Those photos are awesome
Great move. Keep getting them out there, other country reps should follow suit.
Another interesting PR stunt:
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/in-las-vegas-hit-the-jackpot-get-a-tesla/
The Budapest Airport use Saab friction measurement car long time ago.
This was introduced by this article (Author: AxA, the founder of Saab 900 Club Hungary):
http://totalcar.hu/tesztek/haszon/palyamero
(It is the best known Hungarian car site. Seems like the pictures have not been yet in the archive, sorry!)
Great move indeed.
Not only will the dignitaries get to experience it, but the 9-5 will also get a fair bit of media attention and coverage as a by-result. 🙂
Good stuff!
Reading about th Hungarian Saab promotion I thought of the members of the Swedish Government who mostley drive other brands than Saab and Volvo as Government paid company cars.
I think thare should be a stipulation of some kind that makes the ministers to promote Swedish automotive products.
would you like to see Mercedes as most of the Government cars in Washington DC?
I dont’ think so.
Very nice and a great initiative by Polar Mobil! As already pointed out by other commenters, this will give a lot of media attention as well as a bit of Saab experience for the lucky passengers. 🙂
I do not think that Saab will gain alot of media attention for this, but it will most likely create awareness about the brand and the great standard of the cars. As the cars or only going to drive the top politicans between their aircraft and the “VIP-terminal” (or what they call it), not so much media will be there. But yes, it is a perfect PR move.
Any exposure is good PR, this is one. As many already mentioned, this is a forum 9-5:s should be seen in it´s Classy, big and gorgeous + more of them out on the streets aswell.
Our premier will get a tight peter during his visit at the summit
Fantastic! I purchased my Saab 9-3 SC at Polar. Excellent service,and excellent dealership!
Ed K.