Finally!
I’ve been tooting Hirsch’s horn on this website since my first encounter with Jeff B’s Hirsch 9-5 in Melbourne, way back in 2005. From that day to this, we haven’t received any good news on Hirsch expanding to new markets……until now.
Around 12 months ago I attended the Australian launch for the 2008 Saab 9-3 and one of my key points to clear up was whether or not Saab Oz were looking at introducing Hirsch products here in Australia. At that time, I was told that the compliance, warehousing and marketing costs would be too big for a small market like ours.
Thanks goodness for time and a little bit of daring and common sense: it appears that that decision has now changed.
I have received information indicating that Saab Australia GM Premium Brands will be offering Hirsch performance parts in the Australian market starting in the second quarter of 2009.
I can’t tell you how pleased I am at this news. I haven’t heard whether it’s just a selection of Hirsch’s range or the full catalog, but hopefully it’s the latter.
Yes, Hirsch stuff is expensive and yes, the market will be fairly small here in Oz. But it’s a move that adds no small amount of panache to the brand and positions the brand image well and truly in the direction that it needs to be heading prior to the release of the new 9-5.
The performance packages and tunes that Hirsch offer are the only ones that will preserve your original Saab warranty. The mere fact that they’ll be available will create interest amongst late model Saab buyers. The cosmetic equipment, especially the leather dash for the Saab 9-3, should also create no small amount of interest.
I’d like to thank and congratulate Saab Australia GM Premium Brands for what is a courageous and right decision.
Hopefully the powers-that-be in other markets that don’t currently have access to Hirsch will follow suit soon.
Woohoo!!!!!
-
GM Premium Brands? I’m not sure if GM can use the plural in Australia yet. Apart from from Saab there’s only HSV. I don’t they qualify and Cadillac hasn’t arrived yet. Have you been looking in the crystal ball again Swade?
I just got a letter from Saab Australia & New Zealand so I think they still exist.
IIRC, the name GM Premium Brands saw first use late last year, Mark. The structure was formed to accommodate the arrival of Hummer, and with the knowledge that Cadillac would follow soon after. Saab, Caddy and Hummer are all too small to have individual marketing, promotions and back-office staff (even if Saab would benefit from it greatly), hence the division being formed.
I continue to use Saab Oz out of habit on blog posts, but the official name is GM Premium Brands.
I just read the Cadillac press release. Now Saab has to share floor space with Cadillac and Hummer. I can understand Cadillac (although I don’t agree), but why bother with Hummer? It’s up for sale anyway.
I guess it’s just another kick in the guts for Saab. Well I hope that they buld a new showroom in Adelaide. The present one has barely enough room ror one car. If it has to share with Cadillac and Hummer, I can see all the Saab’s being parked around the back!
Great news! Pricing will be terrifying though but the only way you can get it.
Markac, Saab and Hummer have been sharing floorspace, sign space, staff and salesmens’ loyalties for over a year now. If you check out sites for several Saab dealers you will find they have already added Caddy pages and stuff. It’s a reality.
The idea is that the particpating dealers are to open a completely separate showroom for the three brands. The philosophy is that with greater ‘premium’ product to sell that the dealers can offer a less compromised ‘premium’ experience rather than putting a Saab beanie over their Holden/HSV cap. New City Saab/Hummer/Caddy in Richmond, Mlebourne is supposed to be a bit of an example. They took over a prime furniture display centre on a main shopping strip. Haven’t seen it in reality but check out ’362 swan street richmond’ in google streetview.
Well, I am thrilled on these kinds of news and well overdue. No doubt that with these options Saab will have to be lifted by about 3-5 notches up. As for the price, this will be still considerably cheaper than some A+B+M options in their own premium categories (aka AMG, M or S/RS). There is a clear sector in the market that will not consider hoping on to WRXs, Evos, Silvia’s etc etc and be framed as street hoons or yobbos as many high heeled individuals like the turbo cars culture with finesse and quality. Only Saab will be able to fulfill this with Hirsch. I have written way too much about my opinion on having the Hirsch products in this country, if there was a quota on this subject I would have exceeded this long time ago. But, I do hope that by the middle of 09 Saab Oz/GM Premium Brands/Praveen Batish & Co would have seriously fixed by then the dealer distribution mess and shortfalls. The potential of selling Hirsched optioned Saabs through Holden cult outfits will be of more detriment than not doing this at all. The Turbo X sales says it all !!!
“many high heeled individuals like the turbo cars culture with finesse and quality”
Although I do find it a bit hard to really drive the car to it’s limit while wearing heels. That’s why I leave that to the missus.
Well, the way some A+B+M owners (male and female) look at the rest of the world seems as if they all wear stilettos even when they are asleep. Weather they can drive or not with these is irrelevant !!! I agree to change it then to: “many high ends of town individuals…..”
turbin: I think they mean well heeled. That would still count me out anyway!
BTW the Adelaide showroom wouldn’t be able to fit a single Hummer. It is a tiny showroom right across the road from the Holden dealer.
Unfortunately Saab’s showrooms in Adelaide have been on a steady decline the past 5 or 6 years. Saab went from sharing floorspace with Porsche and Mercedes at Chateau Moteur to sharing space with Subaru at Adelaide Saab, and more recently a tiny place (Metro Saab) across the road from Metro Holden. I expect the next place to be a kiosk next to the Cadillac and Hummer showroom.
Sadly I’m not joking.
or even temporary space in the corridors of some Westfield Shopping Malls !!!
About damm time.
This has been a long time coming.
Alas, until we have Australian brochures, specs etc etc i will believe it
Kudos to Saab Australia (GM Premium) for having the nadd’s to do it.
a.
Now, were how do i order my Hirsch 18′s?
a.
From Elkparts as we are risking another let down. I don’t want to sound negative or dismissive but not until they are here we haven’t got anything yet as we’ve heard this all before.
I can’t believe they made it to Australia before they made it to the US.
Actually, I can believe it.
I will believe it when I see it… not holding out to much hope that it will come to fruition knowing what has gone on in the past at Saab Oz.
One can hope tho I guess
sab
This is potentially great news but lets see how it translates into action. Saabs presence at street level is the greatest concern and this needs to improve if Hirsch is to have a good base to start from. Thanks for at least giving it a shot Saab but focus on the details or it will just be a sideshow at a funeral.
Congrats to the Aussies!
I think the whole market size being too small is just an excuse because here in Singapore, the Saab dealer will order any Hirsch part for Saab owners even though they don’t normally keep any in stock and we have a much smaller market than Australia.
Great news, maybe they are trying to keep up with the oppostion as Volvo are bringing Heico to Australia also.
LUCKY!!! I’m moving down under! Any country with hirsch, FPV, and a Ute with a 427 is a great place to be!!
WOW – Australia before the US. Come on GM, no love for us? Looking at the sales numbers the US of course sells more cars so why not bring it here? I am tired of waiting for a leather dash/interior kit, nice wheels, etc… to go in my combi!
Maybe they could sell a few performance sedans if they had a factory based tuner option? I mean you can get aftermarket stuff from dealers for Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, BMW, everyone BUT Saab. Wake up GM – you have to many good products and ideas for products that are getting pushed aside and neglected. You should know Americans tend to not be patient.