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GM sees no buyers for Saab
General Motors' precarious cash position and a dire automotive market means that some blood-letting will occur to some of GM's brands. The General has mentioned that Saab and HUMMER are up for strategic review, which Maximum Bob Lutz told Automotive News was "code for we realize they're not working and something needs to be done." Many are expecting GM to sell Saab, but unfortunately you need a seller and a buyer to strike an accord. And sources are telling AN that the General doesn't have the latter. Tight credit markets could be part of the problem, and any would-be buyers that have ample cash on hand are likely to be hesitant to part with it. That's especially true when considering the fact that Saab's sales declined at nearly twice the US industry decline in 2008, with only 21,000 units sold. The Swedish government may make it a little easier to keep Saab after it offered up $3.1 billion in loans to aid its industry (including Volvo). GM likely needs as much short-term cash as possible right about now, but the fact remains that the Swedish brand hasn't brought much success in the past 20 years, and the near-term prospects don't look very good, either.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
esteva03 4:24PM (1/09/2009)
SAAB sucks. my 2 cents.
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Shiftright 4:49PM (1/09/2009)
That's a limited and uninformed opinion, but it is true that they are a shadow of their former selves since GM bought and ruined them. They had no clue as to what to do with them. Before the General tried to badge engineer them into another mediocre GM brand, they were an engineering driven and very innovative company. The current 93x is actually quite good, and lest you forget, they brought turbos to the masses, along with highly sophisticated Trionic engine management systems and various pioneering safety features. It will be sad to see another once individual car maker disappear. Thanks GM...
esteva03 7:17PM (1/09/2009)
i completely agree with you but in fewer and less intelligent words. SAAB hasn't been a european luxury reliable "experimental" brand since GM took them. the turbos was ahead of time and "ahead of times" is a risk, something gm castrated (if you kno what i mean). i think the best thing that could happen is for someone from the old continent that understands the brand and what it allows a manufacturer to do.
firstplace 10:12PM (1/09/2009)
ditto
Yago Bal 11:45PM (1/09/2009)
Saab sucks for developing the plug-in hybrid technology for GM? Or the future ethanol engines for the group? For the future application of the new haldex 4wd systems for the entire group? Or for the safety knowledge? Or is it for developing the new small turbo engines for the group?
Saab sucks for selling in low numbers, but it's significance for GM is about something else.
GM sucks for draining all that expertise from Saab without giving anything back...
And... :) you suck for commenting without knowing the first thing about what you're talking about.
Chase 4:46PM (1/09/2009)
SAAB's drivetrains are pretty bad ass (the turbo X comes to mind), but their interiors are seriously in need of improvement. I was looking forward to the future Delta II based 9-3 (that's the Cruze's platform), but I could see how there is little case for them.
SAAB, Volvo, and VW occupy similar brand identity (sub-luxury european) and VW royally trounces the area. Of course, VW is globally prolific and thus has a lot of cash to throw around, where Volvo and Saab don't.
I'd consider a Saab if they were more competitive with VW, but that would require a huge investment from GM. That said, its a brand that needs to be put on ice for some happier days.
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Soccer Mom 4:57PM (1/09/2009)
Surprise!
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Kattleox 5:01PM (1/09/2009)
Perhaps it is because they have been neutered and haven't been interesting since the 900S. Or because every time they come out with an interesting concept, GM cans it before it gets a chance. Maybe that is why.
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Jacques Auef 5:09PM (1/09/2009)
Saab sells less than 2500 cars a month if that. Why would anyone want to waste their money on this brand unless they really thought they could resurrect it. Maybe if someone can get it ridiculously cheap but otherwise GM broke it and they own it.
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gpg 5:14PM (1/09/2009)
Saabs are a great vehicle. There latest concepts have won numerous awards in Europe and N.A. The 9-X Biohybrid would have made a great addition to the 9-3 and 9-5. A new 9-5 has been sorely needed for the last 3 years as the present 9-5 was first produced in 1999.
GM's decision to expand Cadillac into Europe has been a financial disaster. It is to bad that the money spent on that idea, should have been made on Saab to expand their lineup and improve their capabilities. It will be a sad day in our household if Saab goes by the wayside because of GM's blunders.
Saab has allways been a top notch innovative brand, with leading technology in turbo charged 4-cyl engines and safety features.
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mcx 5:20PM (1/09/2009)
I'd love to see Hyundai pick Saab or Volvo up as their luxury marque. I think they have the resources to turn this brand around and make it compete again with MB, BMW, and Audi.
Saab really has a unique market niche. Most of their buyers are not interested in status, and just want a premium automobile that stands out and has great design features, much like how Hyundai buyers just want a reliable automobile with more features than the bigger guys. If they can price their cars 2-3k less than the prominent luxury marques, that may sell quite nicely.
GM really screwed Saab over by using their own parts bin and designers too much. The latest 9-5 has an awkward Malibu feel to it....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
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John M Flores 5:26PM (1/09/2009)
The product line may be neglected, but you can't underestimate the value of an established, recognizable brand, a dealer network, and design and engineering facilities. When the price is right, some ambitious future car mogul from India or China will purchase Saab for those assets.
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Cornholio 5:57PM (1/09/2009)
Saab sucks because GM purchased them and then did absolutely NOTHING with the brand that was productive. They took a unique, engineering-driven company and then proceeded to destroy everything that was unique and compelling about the brand and its products. It was a brilliantly stupid move, frankly.
It's no wonder that Saab sales are on ice - it matches the rest of GM's track record of late.
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Conundrum 6:30PM (1/09/2009)
@ Cornholio...
You mean smaller sales decline than Toyota and Honda in December?
Managing plant production during this massive economic downturn so the inventory is better than this time last year?
Producing the most competetive models they have made in ages?
Planning for the future with hybrids like the Volt, fuel cells like the Equinox, and some of the most fuel efficient vehicles in thier respective class?
OR....
Failing to produce good small cars rather than SUVs in the recent past?
Using the ploy of designed obsolescence while the Japanese were producing the best quality they could produce?
Thinking that the auto business was more about marketing than it was about building cars?
Allowing past management decisions, union agreements, etc. to push them to the brink and take OUR tax money to keep them afloat?
mikeinsocal 11:20PM (1/09/2009)
it is sad that GM ruined SAAB. they were once so great and innovative. what if Subaru/Fuji buys them? Subarus are quirky and have a die hard loyal following, much like SAAB. Besides, they already shared the Imprezza and the 9-2x, courtesy of GM. I think it would be a great match.
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Limited363 12:21PM (1/10/2009)
Both companies (Fuji/SAAB) also have a similar heritage as aircraft manufacturers.
Both companies also use turbos exstensively in their lineups.
Might have been a good fit if the economy weren't so bad.
Aaron 8:00PM (1/26/2009)
I love the 9-2x. If Fuji bought saab they could come out with a new 9-2x model!
ojopjjjp 11:32PM (1/09/2009)
If I were in the market for a car like a saab I'd buy one in a second. There unique, not everyone has one - that's a good thing. There upcoming cars look amazing.
Why hyundai wouldn't want them is beyond me. I'd buy them, tweak the genesis and you've got an instand luxury brand - credible one, not this ripped off cheap imitation rolex one they are going with now.
Same for hummer. Sell them beside kias. Have nothing above the H3, come out with H4's and H5's. Small, cheap fun mobiles like the old wrangler used to be before they made them $21,000. You'd sell a ton of them! Think wrangler, samurai, etc. Also add a hummer pickup - a real one, not a $35,000 H3. I am talking chevy luv sized - great mpg, durable as hell, and fully loaded for $15,000 out the door.
You'd sell a ton of them!!!
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Donald North 12:56AM (1/10/2009)
SAAB was once known for their turbo hatchbacks, being a unique combination is performance, practicality, comfort, safety, and fuel economy. Most famous was the classic 900 turbo from the 80's and early 90's. Problem is, never once did I see a SAAB ad on TV promoting these benefits. So no wonder their sales are low. IF YOU DON"T ADVERTISE THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF YOUR PRODUCT, THEN WHY SHOULD ANYONE BUY IT?
SAAB could have made a simple yet effective ad with no dialog: Show people at the loading dock of IKEA with their sedans, struggling to fit the large items in their cars. Then someone rolls up in a SAAB, opens the hatchback, folds the rear seat, and fits everything neatly and quickly, then drives away.
Instead zombies in management killed the hatch and created a sedan. Smart move Einsteins! Now you have no differentiating feature and compete directly with Audi (who has Quattro), BMW, Lexus solely on performance - a competition they can't win and the sales figures show it.
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Avinash machado 3:26AM (1/10/2009)
Maybe nationalization by the Swedish government will be the only option left.
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