Some slightly better (and worse) news for Saab

I’m sorry to be acting like the harbinger of doom today. It’s just the way the news seems to be flowing.

But hey, Saab sales in Russia were up 90% in Q3 of this year!!! That’s got to be a good thing? And there’s more good news, too…..

Saab satisfaction in Germany

A recent poll of car buyers in the German market by automobile club, ADAC, surveyed their levels of customer satisfaction and especially satisfaction with the car itself and experiences with the garage service (quality of the work, costs, friendliness of the employees and consulting competence).

I’m not sure exactly what the numbers mean, but I’ve been told the lower the number, the better. Here are the results (we non-Euro types should put a decimal where the comma is):

Subaru 1,23
Jaguar 1,26
Porsche 1,29
Honda 1,34
Dacia 1,35
Toyota 1,35
Mazda 1,38
Saab 1,41
Mitsubishi 1,41
Daihatsu 1,41
Suzuki 1,45
Volvo 1,45
Skoda 1,47
Alfa Romeo 1,48
BMW 1,49
Audi 1,5
Hyundai 1,52
Chrysler 1,6
Nissan 1,63
Mercedes 1,63
Seat 1,68
Citroën 1,68
Kia 1,71
Opel 1,72
Ford 1,72
VW 1,76
Smart 1,81
Fiat 1,83
Land Rover 1,86
Peugeot 1,89

That’s pretty good placement, knocking over many of the revered Germans themselves!

Thanks Alexandros and Marc!!

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Third Quarter Sales Data 2008

GM’s global 3Q sales data is in and indeed, Saab were up 90% in the third quarter in the Russian market. But that’s just about where the good news ends.

Saab global sales were down in the third quarter by 29.3% (20,938 this year vs 29,633 last year). For the full year so far, Saab’s global sales are down by 21.1% (75,453 this year vs 95,620 last year). Bets on reaching 100,000 in 2008?

Saab’s sales in Latin America and the Middle East were UP by 5.6% in Q3, but are down by 0.6% for the year to date (349 cars this year vs 351 last year).

Saab’s sales in Europe (incl UK) were down 25.9% in Q3 (14,292 vs 19,296) and are down by 16.7% year to date (53,805 vs 64,604)

Saab’s sales in Asia Pacific were down 34.4% in Q3 and are down 18% year to date.

Saab’s sales in North America were down 36.3% in Q3 (5,912 vs 9,284) and are down 31.9% year to date (18,837 vs 27,661)

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5 thoughts on “Some slightly better (and worse) news for Saab”

I’m sure the remedy for this problem will be to sell the same old cars which haven’t been selling for longer…

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Old it may be, but the existing 9-5 is one of the best kept secrets in the market. It drives great, is comfortable, safe, reliable and has loads of character compared to most cars out there. The problem is its price point. And when was it last advertised? Does anyone even know about it except Saab people? Pity.

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The latest print ads Saab has been running in the large market Sunday papers such as this past Sundays N.Y.Times and Philadelphia Inquirer show from left to right a Saab 9-3 sedan,a Saab 9-3 convertible and the 9-7X complete with “starting as low as….” pricing info.Nary a mention of the
9-5 Sedan or Wagon.It’s as if they don’t exist.WTF are we as Saab dealers supposed to sell for the next 12-18 months! and the discontinuation of subsidized in-house leasing is an absolute death blow.BMW,Volvo,Audi,Acura and MB are running reasonable advertised leases every Sunday in the afore mentioned Newspapers!

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