REPORT: BAIC/Koenigsegg may produce Saab 9-5 in China
Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. (BAIC), announced as a minority partner in Koenigsegg's deal to purchase Saab from General Motors two months ago, plans to produce the Saab 9-5 on Chinese soil next year. The involvement of BAIC in the Saab transaction helps Koenigsegg close the deal and gives the Chinese company leverage to re-badge the previous-generation Saab 9-5 as its own or to simply expand the brand's existing reach within the country.
In September, Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson told reporters he wanted to double the number of Chinese Saab dealers from 15 to 30, and that he had an interest in local Chinese production. "Beijing Auto is an opportunity for us to establish ourselves in the Chinese market with their experience," the CEO said. Under current plans, Saab imports all cars to China, where they're sold under the Shanghai General Motors network. Sales have been slow, but promoting the brand under the watchful eye of BAIC may help the brand gain traction in China's huge automotive market.
[Source: Gasgoo]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aznauto 2:38PM (11/07/2009)
China dominates every other manufacturing sector only couple years before it is premier manufacturers of cars as well.
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the4thheat 3:01PM (11/07/2009)
I hate it when they rebadge some ancient european car and then proceed to sell it for the next decade in China. Will do wonders for Saab sales of course since they sell like nothing in China right now but still, the concept is lame.
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Swede 9:17PM (11/07/2009)
If it's lame, why do VW, Toyota, Nissan, Ford and I don't know how many GM brands engage in this tactic? Not only in China, just go to any brand website in a south american country and you'll find stuff that's been out of production in Europe and the US for years.
the4thheat 9:50PM (11/07/2009)
They do it because it's cheaper to build those cars obviously. And those companies-especially VW in China-are the reason why I'm tired of it so I don't see how bringing them up make it any less lame.
It's also pretty lame when companies do it to the US market as well, i.e. USDM Ford Focus.
Praeliber 11:34PM (11/07/2009)
@the4thheat
VW does that in canada too, just look under golf city and jetta city on vw.ca . Older golf and jetta for 15000$ca dollars (base model)
Aprime 3:47PM (11/07/2009)
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/report-outgoing-saab-9-5-to-live-on-as-chinese-baic/
DERP.
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Nozferat 4:05PM (11/07/2009)
Great...more crap made in China.
Glad to see your capitalism working I hope.
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Aprime 4:07PM (11/07/2009)
Yeah, because you're not forced to buy it.
What part is it from the word 'choice' that you don't understand?
paul34 4:36PM (11/07/2009)
Yea, I guess we could abandon capitalism and go with lots of worker's benefits via unions, protectionism, et al. I mean, that worked out really well! It's not like we've ever had any sort of mega corporation fail because of such things...
Nozferat 12:44AM (11/09/2009)
APRIME:
So you're one of those people ready and willing to pay $800-1000 for a CD player then right so it's made in America? Tell me...how many items in your home did you have a choice in NOT having them made in China?
PAUL34...the same reasons why unions are failing is the same reason why the US manufacturing base and thus your stupid job is at jeopardy...due to corporate greed. I guess that's working out for all the unemployed now isn't it.
Anthony 4:18PM (11/07/2009)
Oh god it's ugly.
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Omar Haroon 5:01PM (11/07/2009)
Reminds me of a Hearse
vespid82 7:34PM (11/07/2009)
Seriously!
No Aero-X, 9-X Air or 9-X Biohybrid, no care!
cmp 5:13PM (11/07/2009)
please don't
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JonL 6:12PM (11/07/2009)
If this helps saab make some money, more power to them, atleast the rest of the world will get the new 9-5/other models made in Sweden... No matter what, its a good thing now the General isn't involved anymore, either the brand will successful again, or they will die off, either way, no more cars influenced by GM,
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Tommy 5:10PM (11/09/2009)
Don't kid yourself. Once production gets ramped-up, those ChinaSAABs will start shipping to every country, and the Swedish factories will be closed for good. They'll be built for half the money (or less)
Randy 7:36PM (11/07/2009)
hedious
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Carlos de Vasconcellos 12:18AM (11/08/2009)
You can't import TO China. You export to China. If China imports something that's fine. But SAABs now are exported to China and if China manufactures those cars in the future and decides to sell them to other countries, the US, for example, China will be exporting those cars to the US and the United States will be importing SAABs.
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F50 8:26AM (11/08/2009)
They do stuff like this all over the place, its no doubt better than the cars they would produce, its just like how some Russian car maker bought the license to build modified Dodge Stratus.
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