Chatting with Eric Geers from Saab

Chatting with Eric Geers from Saab - Part II

November 21st, 2008 · 22 Comments

Recently, I chatted with Eric Geers from Saab Sweden. Eric is the Director of Communications for Saab Automobile and splits his time between Gothenburg and Trollhattan.

In part one of this interview, we covered the general conditions at Saab at the moment, especially in light of the current situation facing parent company General Motors.

Here’s part 2:

——

Trollhattan Saab: We’ve heard that they’ve been delayed, but how close were the 9-5 and 9-4x to being finished? We’ve heard that GM set priorities whereby a car had to be 90% ready to continue on in this current climate. How close were these cars to being done on time?

Eric Geers: First of all, we never officially indicate when we’re going to launch new products, but as I said earlier, there were so many speculations that in the end, dates end up almost living their own lives. So as long as a car hasn’t yet made it to market, it’s very difficult to talk about a delay.

There are always re-timings when you are developing a product. There are always timing issues for various reasons. What we did say is that the 9-4x has been delayed a little bit but the 9-5 is currently completely on schedule.

TS: So the 9-5 is on schedule from your perspective?

EG: Yeah.

TS: And that schedule hasn’t changed in the last six weeks?

EG: …….

——

Note, the vehicle is on schedule from Eric’s point of view. Whether that schedule ever aligned with the speculations here or elsewhere in the automotive web is another matter.

It’s at this point that things got a little blurry in terms of what I can and can’t say here at TS. If I get my information from a Djup Strupe, then I feel at liberty to share. But if I get it directly from an executive and he requests that I use it for perspective only and maintain confidentiality, then I have to respect that.

Suffice to say that should GM and Saab survive the next few months and the market improves, then I firmly believe that 2009 is going to be a better year than what we thought it was a few weeks ago.

——

Trollhattan Saab: The other vehicle I wanted to ask about was the 9-3x…

Eric Geers: The 9-3x is going to be here. I just don’t know yet if we’re going to do an official press release and turn that into something…but as of next week the 9-3x is going to be out for test driving on public roads around Trollhattan so we can give you a look at this one.

TS: I don’t know if I can ask you this, but are we likely to see this before the 9-5?

EG: Yeah, that will be before the 9-5

——

This is great news, but not too surprising. The 2008 Saab 9-3 facelift was seen on public roads in Trollhattan well before the official unveiling at the Saab Festival in June last year. That the 9-3x, which is basically a 9-3 SportCombi in heavy boots, will do the same is good to hear, but not a big surprise.

It’s also encouraging that this vehicle will come about before the 9-5. There was recent news from one particular market that the 9-3x would be delayed in that market until 2010. It’s quite clear now that if that news still holds, then that’s for that specific market only and not for all markets.

——

TS: The big question, because this would be such a good seller, with the 9-3x being raised up a little, is there now room for a diesel engine (in combination with XWD)?

EG: …..(pause)….err, that’s part of the thing that’s still being discussed, powertrain. At this point I can’t give you the full update, but BioPower will be there. Diesel is still being discussed but I assume that that’s also the case, but it might not be because of the XWD issues. We also have to look at the numbers and the markets, they’re changing and the sectors are changing. In the end it becomes a business case, whether it does make sense to have it with a diesel or not.

TS: I’ve had quite a few people, especially from Europe, asking about the combination of the TTiD and XWD..

EG: Yeah. I know…..but I can’t say too much about that one. It would be great to get it in there but in the end it’s going to be the volumes that dictate whether it makes sense to do it.

——

Reading between the lines here, it sounds a little like the TTiD/XWD is physically possible, but maybe only with a bunch of expensive modifications that Saab will have to justify with projected sales numbers.

I really hope they do it, but knowing that the SportCombi is already a niche seller, and that the 9-3x will be another niche, I think it’s going to be a little tough to make a case for a niche within the niche within the niche. If you know what I mean.

——

TS: Assuming that there would be a delay in the new 9-5, I was wondering how you anticipate plugging any gap that may arise between the old one and the new one. Do you have enough of the old one left to see you through if necessary?

EG: I wouldn’t worry about that one too much…

TS: Well, the main concern was with the engines. Do you have enough of them? You sold the engine plant a while ago, right?

EG: Yeah, but that’s a matter of planning and banking and so on.

TS: So you’ve got plenty of those engines hanging around then?

EG: Yeah, that’s all under control.

TS: You want to send one down to me?

EG: (laughs) Yeah, we can ship you a couple. It might take a couple of months, but they’ll be there….

TS: I’ve got nothing to put it in, I might have to shoehorn it into my 900

EG: Sounds good….

——

That’s all for the second installment and we’re about two thirds of the way through the call.

Still more to come.

–

Tags: Saab 9-3x · Saab 9-5 · Saab News

22 responses so far ↓

1 turbin // Nov 21, 2008 at 11:10 am

Great stuff Swade, bringing home the bacon* once again.

*insert favoured metaphor here
2 Robin M // Nov 21, 2008 at 11:21 am

great read once again Swade.
I think I will read into it what i want too.
3 mo // Nov 21, 2008 at 11:28 am

looks like hes cautiously optimistic.
4 Kroum // Nov 21, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Looks like he is being a realist - I would not call this necessarily optimistic. I’ll bring up that point again: reading the GM press release from a couple of weeks ago did not necessarily make me think that the 9-5 was that delayed. More like a MY10 vehicle, which is probably what’s going to happen at the end.

Excellent work, Swade! That’s the stuff that keeps us all coming here.
5 Bruce // Nov 21, 2008 at 12:42 pm

You’re a good interviewer Swade. I think your interviewees feel comfortable in your company. GM and SAAB brass are taking you and TS (and us!) seriously by giving you their time. I’m looking forward to part 3 of this conversation.

B
6 zippy // Nov 21, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Swade, ask him nicely if he can send you a few shots of the new 9-5.

As usual, you are ‘Mr Saab’ and we all appreciate the hard work you put into what is my favorite site on the net!
7 NJ_Nick // Nov 21, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Great job Swade!!

I’d ask him if we are still going to see pictures of the new 9-5 in December…I mean, since it seems like the 9-5 is on schedule.
8 Swade // Nov 21, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Nick, I didn’t hear anything specific about that, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. The way I heard things, they’re going to keep their cards very close to their chests on this.

Am pleased you’re all enjoying it. Eric was great to speak with and he’s been there for years so has a real appreciation and love for the brand.
9 2-don // Nov 21, 2008 at 3:25 pm

Just curious… Anything about a 9-1?
10 SaabKen // Nov 21, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Hip, hip, hooray !

Swade, you’re a natural !

I’m soooooo relieved to hear the 9-3X isn’t cancelled nor delayed (relatively speaking). Better (very) late than never, I s’ppose.
11 Mats // Nov 21, 2008 at 4:56 pm

Hmmm, maybe I should start keeping the camera with me in the car at all times….

and just a thought: If GM makes is through the coming months (which I sincerely hope) the market still wont be back to what it was a few months ago for at least 18-24 months more. People have been spending cash that they dont have (their houses has been increasing in value, they’ve taken out what cash they can from that and used it for Ipods, Flatscreeen tv’s and cars) The market will continue down during 2009 as all the layoffs around the world take effect, a turnaround might not be in view untill the second half of 2010….
12 Mr Sweden // Nov 21, 2008 at 7:42 pm

OK!
Nice to hear that a lot of all the speculations is totaly out of order!

Its clear that they need new cars to make a proffit and that they realised that.
What would have been nice to know is how long the delay on the 9-4x is. You can only guess but that the speculations in recent times is wrong seems clear. I mean a little bit is not a hole year until 2010!!!! Its probably a quarter? Or?

Give us a hint Mr Swade if you have that information in confidentiality, please!
13 van god los // Nov 21, 2008 at 8:14 pm

@Swade : R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (think Aretha Franklin)

Great job !!!
14 Tompa // Nov 21, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Great stuff Swade! I wonder what that secret is.. Hmm.

The 9-3X is realy welcome. Hopefully GM will NOT make a Caddy BLS 4×4 out of it.. Thats money down the drain just like the BLS it self.
15 Ron57RC // Nov 21, 2008 at 11:47 pm

Swade, I’m continuing with the up-beat feeling I have about SAAB since reading the second installment of your conversation with Eric Geers. Mr. Geers is not making any great revalations, but seems to be realistic about the situation. Your follow up comment upon his longevity with the company and his appreciation and love for the brand are good to hear; he seems to be a real down to earth guy.
Looking forward to the next piece on this conversation. Keep up the good work.
16 MarkoA // Nov 22, 2008 at 12:36 am

Great!! Thank you Swade and Eric Geers. Really Appreciated.

9-3X is coming, that´s clear for now. This is really great news. About the diesel, I assume that we can understand this as “no” for now. There simply enough marketto justify all the necessary modifications for it and I can understand this. The next gen 9-3 should have raised “X” version right from the start, or at least year or so from the reveal.

Still no verified specs of 9-3X - ie. how much it will be raised, eLSD availability, any “new for Saab” features like possibility to lock XWD in certain conditions or hill-hold assist or the like. These should be quite easy to produce with Haldex systems. Main competitors do not offer such, so there might be a way to shine a bit.
17 MarkoA // Nov 22, 2008 at 12:54 am

Btw, right now I´d like to speculate about cancelling the SVC engine and all those possibitilies it might have had to offer. At the moment it seems even more important that they should´ve kept projects like this alive and running. WHo knows what the situation might be now if Saab offered SVC few year ago in 9-5.

Think about it .. new 9-3 Sport Combi 1.6T (SVC) XWD 225hp/320Nm with combined consumption of 7.5l/100km.And of course Turbo X 2.0T (SVC) 280hp/400Nm - 9.3l/100km combined.

Just my 2c
18 Richard // Nov 22, 2008 at 1:36 am

Fantastic interview Swade! You have a fine knack for asking the hard questions without making the interviewee seem too guarded. I think we are ALL very much looking forward to seeing some new metal on the showroom floors perhaps sometime late 2009 (as I read between the lines).

Can’t wait to see part three. And I’m hoping you were able to get something on the possibility of a 9-1, although I’m guessing we’ll have to read a LOT between the lines on any response Eric had.

Good stuff man. Trollhattan Saab is THE place for the first and best scoop. Cheers.
19 Dippen // Nov 22, 2008 at 3:17 am

Swade,good work indeed!:)

your interview has been covered by AMS also:)
20 ctm // Nov 22, 2008 at 5:25 am

Yeah, and by teknikensvarld.se
21 Mailr // Nov 23, 2008 at 9:39 am

I went back and looked at the front of the Insignia with 9-5 interior, http://www.automotorsport.se/bigpix/2008/Saab95Insignia_vsida_front.jpg , and realized, when looking carefully at the lower parts of the front, that it is definitely not the Insignia front. The bottom looks just like I would expect a Saab front to look, and there also seems to be sime kind of crude seem two inches below the headlights. The hood also seems not to fit properly with the front, and the top inch of the front center has a strange sunken look, and there is a seem between the headlights and the grille at the same position as the seem between the hood and the front on the 9-5 Dame Edna design (the uneven reflection in the black paint (or is it tape?) gives it away). So my guess is that it is a adopted Saab front and an a Insignia hood there. I guess that car is a lot more 9-5 than I previously thought.

Now, compare to the sketches and it starts to make sense:
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/images/sketch1.jpg
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/img_0796.jpg

Or I may just be barking up the wrong tree…
22 bas // Nov 25, 2008 at 8:39 pm

Great interwiuvs..

I would like you to ask Eric about DirectFuel injektions and SCC (Saab Combustion Controll) and DSG.
Saab was the latest starter of semi-automatic manuell gearboxes.