Local opinion on the Saab 9-3 announcement
I’d like to thank Rob S for sending this article through to me today. I actually got this one as a headline in my RSS reader, but figured I had the announcement of the next generation Saab 9-3 being made in Trollhattan pretty well covered already.
I was wrong.
This story is from an English-language newspaper in Sweden called The Local:
Trollhättan plant nabs Saab 9-3
The next generation of Saab 9-3 cars is to be built in Trollhättan in western Sweden.
The 9-3 constitutes two thirds of Saabs total production, and the news was very much welcomed by Saab’s 2000 employees.
Saab’s directors were informed on Thursday of the decision by their mother company General Motors Europe’s MD Carl-Peter Forster.
“Of course we are extremely happy, not least for all those who have worked so hard in the factory to make sure we have an effective factory that delivers high quality”, Eric Geers, head of information for Saab Automobile told TT.
Geers wouldn’t reveal when the new Saab 9-3 will be unveiled. However, he did reveal that the Trollhättan factory currently manufactures 100,000 cars, of which most, around 90,000 are Saab 9-3s.
Geers told TT that it was great that the 9-3 would continue to be manufactured in Trollhätten.
“The automobile industry is tough right now, lots of things are happening. That is why it is good we got the news that the 9-3 is to be built here.”
It has been three years since rumours first started that production could move to a rival production plant in Germany.
The relief felt by staff at the Trollhättan plant was palpable. “Naturally we are extremely happy with the decision”, said Paul Åkerlund, chairman for the trade union IF Metall in Trollhättan.
What’s so good about this?
It’s the sense of relief that the story conveys. You can read it in Eric Geers’ words and especially in Paul Åkerlund’s words. The people involved really do want Saab to stay in Sweden. Yeah, their jobs are involved, but Trollhattan was confirmed for Delta production anyway and they would have built the Astra if this decision weren’t made.
I’d really like to believe that some of the relief you can sense here is because these people live in a small town in western Sweden, they’ve been building Saabs for years and whilst they could just as easily build cars with other badges on them, their hearts really do belong to the Saab brand.
Maybe I’m just too sentimantal, but I got a real sense of tradition out of this and I can’t help believe that finally, the suits at GM are starting to understand Saab a little better.
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Great to hear!
I agree with the summation. Sounds like all parties are glad that automobile production in Trollhattan will be Saab centered. Good news for sure.
Praise Jesus.
Believe me, as a local resident it’s very good to hear that the 9-3 will stay here. I dont work at Saab or even drive a Saab but like anyone around I do care about what happens to Saab. It’s not just the people employed directly at Saab that would get a hard time if the plant closed. It’s all the supporting businesses, resturants, hotells, etc…
I was wary of buying a newer Saab since GM owns it, but this gives me a lot more reassurance.
It’s a symbol of national pride restored. Despite that both Saab and Volvo are now “foreign-owned”, at least the bread & butter model of Saab will remain to be bolted together by folks who come from the same “motherland”.
Halleluah for Saab. Thank you GM/GME.
Thank you, GM!!
Great news - this means Saab can maintain it’s swedishness as a matter of fact, too - and not just on paper.
And thank you Swade - you are still the best newsagent for Saab!
Great news for a midsummer holiday. Små grodorna to all of you…
Skål!
Like an actor at an Oscar award,
Thank you OPEC for oil-price increase, thank you Al Gore for global warming awareness, thank you Saab Designers, for giving GM smaller sexier and fuel efficient cars. Thank you Saab community for loving the brand back to life. Thank you to the non-superficial brand conscious global consumers, making their next car purchase, an authentic understated powerful saab, with not only history but future. And finally thank you Saab for everything it is, for saving Trollhattan, the town of my childhood! The Saab community has won its sweetest battle!
Wow……what a relief!!!!!!!!! Mark the calendar - GM makes an intelligent decision!
YEAH! Trolls will continue to build SAAB’s in Trollhattan!!! I am glad I can confidently replace my SAAB in a few years with another and not feel slighted! Great news.
And even more good news. They might do Pikes Peak or a Talledega run (but can’t afford the WRC):
From Motor Trend:
“If anything, Shannon mentioned that the extent of Saab’s motorsport involvement could possibly include another Pikes Peak race or Talladega Speedway run, not World Rally Championship.”
This is terrific news! I think this will make it easier for GM to sell Saab if it is still a “swedish” company……
This news has prompted me to change my Gravatar to: “Made in Trollhattan by Trolls” (but it’s not showing up yet).