Reuters reports (english translation) that Saab have called in all workers for an information meeting tomorrow 7am sharp.
TTela has provided a a nice summary (english translation). There is apparently a ‘plan B’ in the works. There is speculation they may be talking with a potential Chinese partner.
We are all playing the waiting game now. Hopefully this will be resolved shortly. There are many possibilities available with a little bit of ‘outside the box’ thinking. Now is a bad time to push party politics.
Thanks Caab93Aero and Audun.
The good thing about all this stress is that I can’t eat and lose weight. Therefore these times are a diet in disguise.
I guess its bad news…f*ck…:(
I’m sure it will be good news. Antonov is in Sweden and it’s probably a good time for him to introduce himself properly at the plant.
Everything will be fine. Have a drink and relax!
will do.
I cannot help wondering the cost of all of this uncertainty. Assuming (and hoping) that everything works out, this whole process cannot be good for Saab’s reputation. I, for one, was ready to purchase a 9-4x this year. And after seeing it in person my feelings were confirmed–it’s a gorgeous car. Very unique and well designed (much better than the SRX, imho). I now have to put emotions aside. I have decided to wait until next year to see the state of the company. You may criticize me for this, but no one wants to purchase a car at its… Read more »
I’d think the exact opposite. You say it your self: “it’s a gorgeous car” – so why would you settle for less? To know you’re driving the best car for you is about more than money, anyway that is how I would think.
I’ll buy a new 9-3 (if possible) weather Saab is glowing or slowly dying one day after the car is released.
While it certainly does not help Saab’s reputation, if they get the funding they need, it is not impossible to rebound with good products. (People do love a good story of the little guy succeeding.) Here in the US GM’s reputation was in very bad shape after needing the government loans (bailout) and having to close or sell several brands. It was unsure if GM could survive. Now, they are paying back the loans and selling a lot of cars. True, their reputation is still behind Ford, but it is possible to come back from the brink of disaster if… Read more »
I bought a 9-5 Aero yesterday. Not out of charity, but because it is great value (I saved $20,000 on the BMW I compared it with, and which was very boring design), has character, class leading interior space and will give me a great ride for the next 4/5 years. If the value might go down (which I doubt), I really don’t care because it keeps on doing what I bought it for: drive me and my family around. Just like every car in this class (including the Germans) the resale value in 5 years will be terrible, buying cars… Read more »
Congratulations!
The 9-5 Aero will continue to be a truly great car, regardless of what happens in the news.
🙂
Same reason I got one in October. The car is stunning and quite rare. I’m in Wash DC and in 7 months I’ve only seen one other in the “wild”.
Gut feeling tells me that the meeting is to advise employees to empty out their desks and clean out their lockers…. :-/
You announce good news via the wires. You announce bad news behind closed doors, out of respect towards your loyal workers, and then tap the wires.
Well, at the VERY worst we can hope for an MG Rover scenario. MG needed 5 years to burn to the ground, so since Saab might have a crash landing sooner, perhaps they might restart sooner as well.
But I wouldn’t throw the towel yet. Saab has died so many times already, do remember we’ve been mourning the imminent closure of the company only so recently, just to see the assembly line restart in a matter of weeks.
Exactly, even if the worst happens (bankruptcy), someone (perhaps Antonov or BAIC) can buy the bankrupt’s estate and restart the company. However, I remain confident that Saab will make it this time too. As you say, they have died so many times before. I remember seeing a magazine front page from the 1960’s where it said “Will Saab survive the crisis?”. Saab is a cat with nine lives, and I believe they have “only” used four or five heretofore. I forbid myself to think anything else than that Saab will survive, like it always does.
Keep Calm and Carry On, everybody.
Long time reader of this site for quite some time back from the TS days but only just registered! I actually find reading the comments for each post very interesting, especially with all of the speculation. Anyway… Saab has to survive ‘one way’ or ‘another’, I guess since we are on to Plan B its now ‘another’! I hope the workers in THN will be sent back to work tomorrow, in a good way of course. For all the naysayers to Chinese investment just think where all your digital products are produced. C’mon Saab you can do it! I for… Read more »
I don’t know what to think about the meeting tomorrox morning in the factory without any announce tonight…
Hope for good. !!!! I want my 9-5 estate in september !
+1
http://di.se/Artiklar/2011/4/26/233872/EIB-har-inget-klartecken-fran-GM/
Updated summary from DI an hour ago: Meeting about Antonov takes place now and will take several hours, GM has agreed to everything as the EIB wanted them to do and Ms. Srejber seems to understand now the importance of this case.
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing…
Let’s send e-mails to EIB.
These kind of big meetings where you call employees, no exception, usually mean a major change. This change could be that the company will declare bankrupt, that there will be major layoffs, that the company are being acquired or just a major reorganization of the company.
The two options likely for Saab is that they declare bankrupt or that there will be a new owner.
Well, I haven’t heard anything special about the ‘meeting’ tomorrow.
I think they just want to inform what is really happening right now.
We havn’t got any information more than from media, so I think they want to
tell us how the situation really are.
I’m still hopeful about the future. 🙂
Maybe Saab just want to act decent to its employees and inform them directly about the facts in the situation…
Don’t let your heads hang so easily, lads, I hear no fat lady singing yet.
It ain’t over till it’s over, and it’s not helping anyone to sit around here mourning, when the patient is still breathing.
So heads UP, Victor UP and Vladimir UP! Griffin UP! The time is NOW!
+1
http://forum.saabturboclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=304185
Maybe it is time for a new Saab Support convoy to tell the whole world to “SAVE SAAB” again!!! Spread it to the whole world!!!
Agree, but I wouldn’t call it “Save SAAB”. Saab just needs that some organizations do not try to finish the company, like we’ve seen so far.
Dan, if the proverbial sh*t hits the fan, then we will absolutely lead the charge with a new FREE SAAB! campaign. But before we go lobbying the EIB and Swedish Government again, let’s just wait until Victor and Vladimir try to sort it out. We as a community can do far more if we can go out and lobby our friends and relatives to go buy a new Saab, than lobby the EIB again. I support the enthusiasm though!
I am DanSaab and that is my idea!!
The lady isn’t even wearing her makeup yet.
Praying for SAAB. Hope that we will see the new 9-3. To get an idea what VM is up against. IF SAAB built 50,000 cars and each one cost around $25,000 in parts and labor, well thats $1.25 billion. It takes mega money to finance a car operation. So, $200M doesn’t get you too far. Which is why EIB is saying we want our money back in 90 days. They question whether SAAB will have the money. I think the only solution is selling to Chinese or Russian interests and hope they can finance a revival. Lost hope that VM… Read more »
If Saab is able to get their lineup available (9-5, 9-5SC, 9-4X and next gen 9-3) they´ll sell more than 150,000 cars a year easily.
This baby has just got on her feet for the first time and fell down right after. She´s not even walking yet. VM & VA & Saab up.
I´m still confident that there will be a solution and Saab will continue. And my biggest problem will be when I´m deciding if we want 95SC or next gen 900… 😀
I think what could help is gathering outside the Riksgalden and the Nourishment Ministry en masse, showing that the Swedish public cares about Saab. Perhaps it’s not too late for that, provided there are enough people in Sweden who actually care 🙁
Like before, the same place as it was January 2010 the Same time at 11:00 but on a saturday or some other day!!
Unfortunately I don’t think swedes care anymore 🙁
Out of curiosity, what’s going on in Swedish Saab-fan forums now? Are there any Saab fans left? Or were people buying Saabs just out of habit?
Many of us are here, just like you Saab fans in other countries.
Of course, there are truckloads of Saab fans in Sweden at places like Svenska Saabklubben and Saab Turbo Club of Sweden. Unfortunately, those are not getting attention in the media. Also there are plenty of “Average Joes” here in Sweden who have a sweet spot for Saab, but due to misinformation mainly from the media most of them do not understand the potential within Saab. Some are also thinking entirely crass that a company that allegedly “has never been profitable” has no right to exist. In their misinformation they think that their tax money is at risk (which it isn’t)… Read more »
Ohkay, so what are Saabklubben and the rest doing to help inform the others? And what has Saab done to help them in those efforts, btw?
If things go wrong tomorrow, I suggest a Facebook “action”.
If it was good enought to bring down governments….
If things go wrong tomorrow, a Facebook “action” won’t be enough.
If things go wrong, we have to bring bigger guns in, than “just” a support convoy.
If things go wrong …
Bring them on. I just want SAAB to be profitable.
Lets not lose all faith.
I hope and pray the SAAB survives.
There are rumblings that there are still ongoing discussions with the EIB, perhaps these will yield something.
If there are SAAB fans left in Sweden, now is the time to exert all the pressure they can on their elected officials to help SAAB.
yes ! the support has to start there !
At least Swade seems optimistic: “…I can say that all the people I work with here in Trollhattan remain extremely hopeful of a resolution quite soon.”
Here’s someone I’d listen to when things are going less than perfect.
SAAB UP!
Exactly! If tomorrow’s meeting at the Saab factory was about “announcing bankrupcy” to the employees, Swade wouldn’t have written this!
Please everyone, stop weeping like puppies!
Yes, “Please everyone, stop weeping like puppies!”
Exactly. And he posted this at just an hour ago so it seems that it was after the announcement of the big meeting.
“Keep calm and carry on” 😀
None (or at least 99,9%) of us has really no correct information how things are going. So let´s try to stay positive. It just as fair to say, I have a good feeling about this, instead of what many of us here seems to think.
Stay calm people and wait.
I already sent a message to Maud Olofsson through the government website, giving her a couple of my best arguments for why I think the Sweish government needs to make sure SAAB survives. It’s a very simple thing to do and at least it keeps oneself busy while sitting here nervously waiting…
By the way, Swade has a rather positive message up on the “Inside SAAB” website.
Since SAAB is a stock listed company and all that he can’t be very specific, but it’s anyway a comforting read on a tough day like this.
Keep positive thinking! SAAB up!
The new SU has grown to an hysteric forum where headlines like “gov. prepares for bankrupcy “or other news headlines were published without any discussion. So no wonder user get hysteric and publish one doomsday comment after another. Media , newspapers, guest readers and other outlets were looking at us. If there is only panic and hystery in our community something went wrong. SU had a major role in saving SAAB in 2009 – Now it´s more an hysteric birdcage.
just my thoughts
Birdcage (by JC) is OK
Hysteria not that much 😉
Here’s the problem Andee- if we’re blindly optimistic and try to negate every single story, we get blasted by someone saying we’re looking through rose colored glasses. If we try to stay on top of every single Reuters article, we get blasted by someone who thinks we’re being too negative and fanning the flames. What we’ve all tried to do in a coordinated way is only report on news making items that are factual, things that are material to Saab’s liquidity and getting this situation sorted. Tim posting about Maud’s preparation for a possible bankruptcy helps everyone gauge just how… Read more »
jeff – nobody here want´s you and the team to be blindly optimistic. i am pleased with the work of the SU team. all i want to say is – be careful with words in the headlines and put some adding words to articles which were covered from newspapers. some newsheadlines in swedish media and others were simply “invented and doomsdayed” SU has established in the last crisis as an well informed voice. This is known by saab fans and media all of the world.There is no other independent global saab source or voice out there. Keep this optimism in… Read more »
As someone who has often complained about the “unicorns and rainbows,” this post is as refreshing as any you’ve ever written. I think the readers here fully understand how difficult it is to walk the knife edge between cheerleading in blind faith and providing an honest warts-and-all assessment.
Bankruptcy might not be a bad state of affairs — look at GM — and could help Saab genuinely get on its feet, despite the governmental reluctance to help.
We believe in these vehicles. We believe in this company and its future, and whilst today is a nervous day, we think the future will provide plenty of nerve tingling experiences of a different kind.
– Swade
+1 that´s the SU we know and love.
You have a short memory Andee. Let’s go back to the last time there was trouble with the EIB/GM, and Swade was writing here: http://saabsunited.saabklubben.se/2009/12/spyker-waiting-on-the-eueib.html http://saabsunited.saabklubben.se/2009/12/where-to-lay-your-blame-for-the-demise-of-saab.html http://saabsunited.saabklubben.se/2009/12/gm-will-close-the-saab-brand.html It’s a dark time, Andee. It was even darker in December 2009. That doesn’t mean Saab won’t recover, and none of us are saying that will be the case. We’re simply reporting the news, instead of ignoring it. Swade reported every bit as much of the negative events that were happening, as he rightfully should– we can’t ignore the bad and hope it will go away. You all need to be aware of… Read more »
we all know this dark times – but´t don´t forget this optimism all saabistas spread in the comments at this dark hour. and media really checked SU in the first weeks of jan. before the convoys.
now situation is different – SU is well known by everyone – saab has some financial troubles which can be solved anyway – in dec 09 gm´s only words were WIND down (even worser than the situation yet)
A fighter can be knocked down but not out,get back up,recover and go on to win the fight.If the fighter gets knocked back down in the same round,much less likely.And many Prize fIghts have a three knock down rule,down three times in any one round and the fight is over.What Saab has experienced in the last two plus years is very analogous to a punch drunk fighter on his way to the canvas for the third time. The Dedicated Saab faithful,much like the the fighter that has the fight stopped invariably protests that he could keep fighting and competing!
I’m hardly one who wears rose-colored glasses, but I don’t think it’s time to” throw in the towel” yet. I believe that there is some serious value in what SAAB is today and what it will become (given the chance). I’d hate to see it all flushed down the toilet. I still hope that MB would buy SAAB because I don’t think that the upheaval in the automotive industry is over and MB would be “smart” to purchase SAAB and have a multi-brand offering that can compete with the other multi-brands from Germany. They have the smart car , they… Read more »
The meeting has concluded, Riksgalden “needs a few more days” to evaluate what they have learned of Antonov from Antonov directly and give recommendations to the government.
Are you also in Stockholm? 😉
I was in that meeting, in fact?
Como?
I really dont understand why everyone is so hysterical and freaking out…its nothing to even freak out about yet (or at all).. just sit back and relax. nothing “bad” is going to happen to Saab. Never for a minute have I been worried about this situation. I see it as a shuffling of cash, and the usual Swedish media bashing. Sure, the factory is shut down, but its just temporary until the cash shuffling is over. The EIB have already accepted the deal, the NDO and Swedish government, Saab has as well, and so will GM. Now we just wait… Read more »
I believe that there is no problem for Saab’s long term financing, but they need cash now to avoid bankruptcy. Saab’s biggest threat currently is bureaucracy that takes too much time to decide if Mr. Vladimir Antonov will be allowed to secure Saab’s immediate cash needs. I hope Saab can sell some intellectual property, licensing agreements or something like that to some (perhaps Asian) partner and get a cash infusion within one or two days. Then they get some breathing room to secure long term financing, which shouldn’t be a problem.
Google translation Decisions within a few days TROLLHÄTTAN The meeting of the National Debt Office and Vladimir Antonov is just finished. According to sources TTELA the meeting have been completed with positive impressions. – We have asked questions and we have received answers, “said Bo Lundgren at the Debt Office. Today’s meeting focused on the ownership process. – We have discussed the background and what ambition is about Antonov becomes the owner of Saab, said Lundgren. – Now, we have had this meeting, as we wished to place a little earlier. Next, we sit down and evaluate what we take… Read more »
Im enjoying a good old drinking binge wih freinds here in England and no worrying about anything. Im to p-ssed up to care rit now.
Griffin Up!!!!!
Hey Zippy, will you be able to watch the ‘Nucks game live over there ??
The damage done so far is way less than what happened end 2009, beginning 2010. Simply because it reached less people this time. Google Trends shows clearly the media coverage is way less, just like the search volume. Note that the rise early 2011 is the result of the Phoenix and all other positive product news. Curious to see if the sales numbers confirm the limited damage.
I agree. Those customers who already thought Saab didn’t have a chance in hell are still wasting their money on Audis, BMWs, and Mercs. The ones who are coming to buy Saabs are savvier customers who are more understanding of liquidity issues and start-ups. There will be some short term damage, but nothing a good PR campaign and dealers can’t work through.
I think that the sales for April will be just great. The production stop will not effect the aprils sales. So I think we will se good news in just a couple of days. And that alone will get customers into showrooms. And if this is solved before may the 2, then I think this blib on the otherwise rising curb will be passed into history. The May sales will on the other hand be down, and I think saab need to handle this by providing new information the media haven’t heard before. New tech or new partners would be… Read more »
Frankly, if orders are looking as they are around here, where many dealers are pretty much out of stock as in the transition period last year, Saab should start May with two shifts just to fulfill all the orders in time. There seems to be a considerable backlog already. There is still time to turn it around into positive momentum and have another new opening. Let’s hope this time it also means intensive internal housekeeping and reorganization. The past approach to sales has proven inefficient, and I still have the impression Saab is like a large company on a small… Read more »
Backlog = appr. 4.000 vehicles so far. Reported by and calculated in various sources. Three weeks or so going near full-blast should theoretically be enough to get the production back on track. Always provided that the suppliers co-operate, GM included, since building twice or thrice as many cars than usual requires twice or thrice as many externally sourced parts and components. Given that some suppliers may remain adamant about COD or even pre-payment, this may stretch Saab’s cash position beyond what is reasonably feasible. And there simply is no time to find less intransigent contractors, negociate reasonable payment terms with… Read more »
The big problem last year was that a lot off the press guy’s , and automagazines always were pessimist about Saab. There was always a link to GM . The new 95 is not good enough , and looks like a ….. and blablabla.
They don’t give us a chance, to grow up again like a little child to an adult!!!
Let’s hope for the best tomorrow.
A very big Saablover out of Belgium
If you haven’t seen it, here is the most complete history of VA on the web by the blog Life with Saab
here is the link.
http://www.lifewithsaab.com/2011/04/vladimir-antonov-not-your-ordinary.html
While anything is possible, I seriously doubt what management is going to convey to the workers tomorrow morning is the bankruptcy message. My reason is simple: I work in the R&D department, and haven’t been called to a meeting myself (and to the best of my knowledge, neither has anyone else around there). IF they intended to tell us we can pack up and go home because the company is going bankrupt, surely they’d tell us all at once. A message of that magnitude they’d obviously want to make very sure they’d given ALL of the employees before a single… Read more »
Thanks for the insider information.
BTW, Emil, can you confirm that you’re doing your work in the meantime? That would send quite a message 😉
I can confirm that Emil is absolutely correct, R&D is business as usual. Full speed ahead!!!
Nice to hear! 🙂
We are looking very much forward to the results of your fine and competent work in the new 9-3 ! 🙂
well this are the news we love and should spread out throughout the community
thanks emil and eng
griffin up !
Well, you know I’m thinking a lot about my “friends” in THN, and my backlog at work is showing it. 😉
Obviously, since my boss may be reading this, yes I’ve been doing my work 😛 Nah, seriously, it’s the workers who have been excused for the last few weeks, the rest of us have been toiling on as per usual. Which is one of the many reasons we just HAVE to survive, there are simply too many cool things in the pipeline right now for us to go bust. If the NG9-3 were to never see the light of day, that would be a serious loss to the automotive world (yes, I realise I’m tooting my [our] own horn here,… Read more »
Thanks a lot for this information! 🙂
And keep on the good Saab-spirit with the interesting innovations in the pipeline!
(And I am sure, that you are right that the new 9-3 will have a technical level off importance for the whole industry – Saab have done that before. So Your “blowing in the horn” is absolutely all right! 🙂 )
And if the NG9-3 were to never see the light of day, that would be a serious loss to all of us Saab fans who are interested in purchasing all that great new Saab goodness! 🙂
Best wishes to you and your colleagues, Emil. We all look forward to the many cool things in the pipeline!
Thank you for giving us information like this! 🙂
+ 1 =)
Emil & Engineer,
Thanks for your words. They have more of an impact than you know! I have not been commenting over the past week or so because of a negative sentiment. You have lifted my spirits.
Keep up the GREAT work!
It seems the question of SAAB, Sweden and the government, takes a trajectory to the future – will cars, as we understand them, have a future? If we Human Beings would be cold, objective and purely logical, cars in general as a concept is an unbelievable waste of resources, time and energy. We should a long time ago found some kind of public transportation system, satisfying all needs for transportation, maybe like shared computer controlled pods on wheels, feeding trains, trams and aeroplanes. Luckily, we are not “vulcans”, we are errant, flawed, subjective, vibrant, emotional and the cars represents “us”,… Read more »
this needs to be on the front page…
I agree with you. I thought about it when I read it. SU plase bring it up to the front page!
A very wise post! Thank you! 🙂
Couldn’t have said it better.
On a totally different note! I saw Antonov this past summer when he drove his Saab 99 rally car through the streets of Trollhattan. When he went through the finishing line, outside the saab museum where i stood, a lady reporter from Swedish Radio held a mike up, and started shooting off some questions. One of the question was – How is it to drive an old Saab? Antonov answered in his usual accented but steady voice – She is the same age as I, and still running good and we will have a nice day tomorrow. The lady reporter… Read more »
independent car making, independent thinking, will be taking care that we wil not be crushed by the near monopolies in the industrie leaving us more or less with to little choice and at teh same time will keep in place part of that industry in sweden.
so it looks as some of the participants are only looking how they can slightly abuse the situation and get in a better position then before.
hope all of the participants keep their cool and conclude the deals tonight.
Buy a Saab. It will make you feel better.