NEVS – Page 11 – SAABSUNITED

Muller Wanted The Griffin Gone

October 5, 2012 by JasonPowell

Just doing some reading this morning and came across a little piece on Just Auto by our friend Simon Warburton. In the article he is talking to former head of Saab, Victor Muller about the griffin logo.

“I wanted to abolish the Griffin logo – I wanted to go back to the aeroplane logo,” Muller told just-auto. It [Griffin] was a logo of Scania and Saab AB – it did not say anything.

Now I know that not all will support his belief in it not saying anything, but there is truth in what he is saying. The griffin has been a part of Scania and Saab AB and Saab Automobiles needed to find their own mark which wasn’t hard as it already existed in the old aeroplane logo that we saw on the back of the Phoenix concept car.

“It [aircraft symbol] was beautiful – it was going to replace the Griffin everywhere.”

I would have supported this change in logo as it shows the heritage to Saabs and the connection to the history of Saab Automobiles. He says that it was going to replace the Griffin everywhere but I thought there was an issue in using this logo as well, maybe I’m wrong and maybe that is just what he wanted to do.

NEVS has stated time and again that the Griffin logo was not a concern of theirs. They were more concerned in getting to use the Saab name to market their cars, which they got. As far as a new logo for NEVS goes, they say the following.

“The important thing for us is to have the Saab name,” a NEVS spokesman recently told just-auto from Sweden. “The Griffin logo is not that important…because we want to build our own identity. “We won’t use the Griffin logo at all – the logo has to be something we develop.”

It will be very interesting to see what they will come up with for a replacement to the Griffin logo and I am excited to see this evolve into something new. It excites me when I read things like “We want to build our own identity” as it shows a commitment to not just rely on a name or reputation that has not been earned. It would appear that NEVS have an understanding that everything going forward will have to be earned and not just assumed or taken and with the former Saab hires that we have heard of, I think they are on the right path. I received an email from one this morning stating that they were going to do their best to ensure that Saab and the Saab spirit are alive and that’s what I like to hear.

P4 West On Octoberfest

September 21, 2012 by JasonPowell

Look what I found while searching on NEVS just now. It’s none other then our own Tim Rokka talking about Octoberfest and NEVS first appearance to the fans of Saab.

When I do the Google translate it sounds like quite the headline, NEVS hits Saab fans. Lets hope it’s a little more civilized although sometimes Google translate makes for some very entertaining reading.

NEVS states to P4 West the importance of good relations with the fans and they most definitely realize the importance in this. We quite often hear complaints about how quiet they have been but in this case, they have accepted the invite to take part in the festivities at the museum for Octoberfest and to put a face to the company which in itself is a nice step forward to starting a more personal relationship with the fans.

It’s great that they want to be with and talk directly with their current and future fans. It gives the course a form of credibility to the company. People want to know things and people want to see them. You need to have a face to what one hears, says Tim Rokka, who is one of the organizers.

A lot has been written and speculated about NEVS/Saab and the future we will all hold together with a lot of un answered questions. For the first public appearance of the company to be held with the fans speaks volumes to me about a company that realizes the importance of their fan base. I know there are still a ton of unanswered questions when it comes to the future products of the new Saab and I honestly don’t know how many of these questions will be answered at such an event but we can feel good that the company to represent our brand wants to connect with us the fans.

Thanks Tim again for within your busy schedule of flying, attending a meeting at the museum and regular responsibilities (all in the last couple of days) for always making yourself available when people like Victor Jensen come calling and representing Saab and getting the word out when things like this are going on.

NEVS Talking To Unions

July 12, 2012 by JasonPowell

I have no idea how I missed this one yesterday, but while checking on all things SAAB/NEVS this morning I came across another great piece by Just Auto. Simon Warburton has a great article there about NEVS talking to unions ahead of a 9-3 recruitment drive.

That’s right, NEVS says they are talking to unions concerning its 2013 9-3 production that will be its first electric vehicle.

This would seem to be very smart on their part to seek out the unions in advance as these same unions had been burned through the administration and bankruptcy. Don’t forget, the ink hasn’t dried on the Saab deal and the deal is expected to be completed next month. I have to say that NEVS is taking things very serious and as much as to all of us, it may seem that nothing is happening, this proves to be far from the truth.

NEVS New HR Manager

July 11, 2012July 11, 2012 by JasonPowell

Today there is some news from within NEVS that they have hired their HR manager. TTELA have an article today in which we are introduced to Birgitta Jäghem Löfving a 52 year old lady with automotive ties and is currently looking for new leadership of the Saab factory.