I don’t have a link for the original source right now, but ctm has translated and sent through a story that appeared in one of the Swedish newspapers this week.
Carl-Peter Forster, head of GM Europe and of Saab globally, was speaking at a conference in Stockholm. Here’s the highlights as reported and translated:
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The auto industry is facing a revolution. The car as we know it today will completely change during the next decades. In all this, Saab will play an important role as a part of General Motors.
“The new technologies that are going to dominate the next hundred years will be decided in the next 10-20 years,” says Carl-Peter Forster, President GM Europe.
The auto industry is facing an enormous structural transformation.
“We don’t think there will be only one alternative. It’s a positive thing that different technologies will compete against each other. If you are a big player like GM, you have to diversify. You have to be working with several different technologies.”
In the near future, GM believes in ethanol as a fuel.
“We believe in ethanol as a solution while looking for other alternatives. Producing ethanol using sugarcane is not the best solution, but using cellulose waste is very interesting. It is possible to produce ethanol from every type of cellulose, there is a lot of research on this.”
Looking further toward the future, electricity is the most likely solution.
“The reason is that it’s possible to produce clean electricity in many countries. Also, electric cars have the best energy efficiency. There have been problems with the batteries, but that is about to be solved.”
In the coming structural transformation, Saab Automobile will continue to play an important role for GM.
“Saab is a premium brand, known for its environmentally friendly technology. Furthermore, Saab attracts people with the highest income and the highest education. It’s a group of people you absolutely want to have as customers. We have also started to look again at old Saab technology with small turbocharged engines.”
GM will put even more emphasis on Saab heritage in the marketing of the brand.
“We will focus on the Scandinavian heritage, but also on safety and the technological break-throughs that Saab has made. The brand will also be spiced up with more direct references to the airplane industry.”
Production of cars will continue at the Trollhättan plant.
“We will keep the current volume, but with fewer people. That’s just the reality today.”
For GM Europe, it’s going extremely well. Last year was a record year with sales of over 2 million cars. Eastern Europe and Russia is especially successful markets.
“Today, we see no limit on how many cars we can sell in Russia. Chevrolet is doing very well there.”
Spice it up with Jet influence. Barf.
I am beginning to think that Saab needs to completely ditch the past and start all over again much like Jaguar is doing. Jaguar’s XF is bringing a surge in sales to the company as it is nothing like the car it replaces. The interior is of the highest quality and it doesnt even remotely resemble Jags of the past. Now all someone needs to do come up with something really stunning!
I have to disagree here, Zip. Jags had plush luxurious interiors way before Audi even sold cars in the U.S., let alone have any idea what a good interior looks and feels like. The slide in quality et al. during the past decade surely can’t wipe out the company’s entire history prior.
On a related note, there are many a great thing in Saab’s past, and I don’t see how ditching the rich heritage will do the brand any good. Being more selective and focused on precisely what parts of its heritage are worth resuscitating is a completely different story, yes. But at this point, the heritage and glory days of old are all Saab has left to its merit. And this should be used as a stepping stone to the future.
On reading this, Mr Forster is clearly part of the problem, not part of the solution. He obviously doesnt event think there is a problem.
Of course context changes things a bit but…..even if you were speaking to the AGM for the Swedish Scatology Society this content indicates that there is no change underway at Saab. CPF is dreaming if he thinks that this is how a premium marque looks. Didn’t he used to be at BMW?
This is total crap and shows why Saab is utterly rudderless. Good luck selling all those Chevys in Russia.
Kroum, the thing is that Joe Public isnt really that interested in Saab heritage as very, very few people know anything about the company in the first instance. The 9-4X was a disappointment to me as I was expecting something ‘way out there’ much like an Acura RDX, the new Volvo XC60 or even Caddies version of the 9-4X. I think the 9-1 concept will be make or break for me, as much as I love Saab if they dont come up with something innovative and totally cool I doubt the company will be around in a few years time. EURO2.2billion is supposed to design and build four new cars so I am seriously not expecting to see anything earth shattering. Therefore, there wont be much point my investing hard earned cash in one. And that hurts like hell to say that, believe me!
Zip, I understand where you’re coming from. I also have my doubts every now and then, for Saab has truly fallen behind on many important avenues: performance (just a shadow of its former Monte Carlo-winning self); interior quality (except for the best seats in the industry and excellent ergonomics, there is little left from the old Saabs which were plush and luxurious in their own sporty way); quirkiness (the 9-4X is everything but different from the rest of the pack), etc., etc.
I do not attribute all these problems to the brand’s heritage – poor management is the key answer for me. You look at Volvo interiors, for instance, miles ahead in terms of quality from Saab, and it’s not like the Swedish cousin is owned by Porsche.
What I see as problematic is Saab management and engineers purposely going against GM just for sheer feeling of independence. This has cost Saab more than anything since the General took complete control of the brand. At the end of the day, GM is a publicly traded for profit corporation, it has a vested interest in all its divisions, Saab including, to be successful and profitable. 2.2 billion euros may not seem like a lot of money, but considering Saab has not turned profit for decades, they better make the best and most efficient use of it, because it is highly unlikely anyone at GM is going to give them another chance.
GM does sell the most cars in Russia, majority of them being korean cars with chevy cross on the grilles. in 2007 GM totaled around 185.000 cars, with YonY increase of 70%. The market rose by 63%. Saab sold about 750 vehicles, a surge of 100% (150 of 9-5s and the rest – 9-3). The new 9-3 is very popular now, and more people are ordering them so this yr is going to be even more successfull. Btw, all 30 TurboXs are already prepaid, the price set at around $60k+a little extra.
I’m with Zippy on the importance of the 9-1.
Let’s look at recent history:
To me, the 9-3SS was okay, would have liked the more traditional upright windshield (which makes sense to me) and the hatch (which makes sense to me) to be available. I’m ambivalent.
The 9-2X was a great basis for a Saab but they put no effort into making it a Saab. Props for the idea, but disappointing.
On the 9-7X, they put the effort into the interior, but started from a terrible basis for a Saab. Disappointing.
Now we’ve seen the 9-4X and it could be an Isuzu for all I can tell. Disappointing.
So to me the 9-1 is make or break. If it’s not a real Saab, I’m out of here. The historical Saab design is what I liked and if that’s not there then forget it.