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Saab Sweden chief Jan-Ake Jonsson is covered in a news piece at e24.se
There’s a few news snippets in there and some hope from Jan-Ake that Saab will make it to the light at the end of the tunnel.
On the current state of Saab:
Saab does not contribute to any income – Jan-Ake Jonsson confirms that Saab now has negative cash flow.
On the current state of Saab within GM’s problems:
The big question is what happens with Saab on GM forced into a reorganization under Chapter 11 “in just a week.
- I do not think it will happen, but if it does, I am positive for Saab’s part. We are a good asset for GM. We have several new models developed which will be soon launched. When will we get the positive cash flow.
On the demand-side problem facing all carmakers right now:
Jan-Ake Jonsson is critical that no action come to enhance the rapidly declining sale of vehicles.
Financial crisis is a major problem, but he has submitted a “wish list” to the government, including scrapping premium (I think that’s tax hikes on polluting vehicles – SW). But the government is lukewarm – so far. Industry Minister Maud Olofsson believes that Saab and Volvo themselves must make cars that customers want.
This sounds like the US government all over again. Pete De Lorenzo accurately calls it “finger snap” policy making. The thought that it takes a long time to develop new technologies doesn’t seem to register.
There is some news in this regard, however….
The government is launching soon as a vehicle tax, which will hit Saab hard.
But Saab is working hard to make cars efficient. Jan-Ake Jonsson confirms that there will soon be a diesel engine at 180 horsepower, which emits 139 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer and to be placed in the 9-3 model.
180hp is the same output as the TTiD engine, so I assume it must be some development in that engine to reduce the CO2 output, currently at 149 g/km in the manual and 177 g/km in the auto.
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Thanks Dippen!
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9 responses so far ↓
1 Ubermich
// Dec 15, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Someday someone is going to have to explain to me why governments are so obsessed with what we exhale (CO2) instead of Hydrocarbons, NOx, and particulate matter. I’ve tried to wrap my brain around it and it just plain doesn’t make any sense.
2 van god los
// Dec 15, 2008 at 11:05 pm
In september 2009, all new engines in Europe must comply with the EURO V standard. The current 1.9ttid only complies with EURO IV.
I guess Saab is working to get the 1.9ttid to comply with the EURO V standards. Which is a great thing now the 2.0 cdti from VM Motori opel uses now (e.g. in the insignia), is not as good as the (from origine) fiat 1.9 multijet diesels.
3 Eduard(Edusaab)
// Dec 15, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Always when it appears this issue about emissions, I say………What happen with Saab Combustion Control?? remember a reduction of 50% of CO emissions and 75% NO emissions, that puts in the same level as nowadays small cars in terms of emissions, imagine if that system continued the development during this 7 years.
What happen to that?? nobody talks about this, and in terms of emission issues, give a big kick in the ass to all its competitors. The engine had minor changes compared to others.
regards
4 tiPanda
// Dec 15, 2008 at 11:24 pm
If I were the Swedish government I wouldn’t just give money, but also want a controlling stake in SAAB. Just giving away money makes less sense than the Swedish state owning a car company. Especially is you know that SAABs parent company is in dire need of this money. So who guarantees the Swedish government (and people) that GM won’t take their money *and* close down SAAB?
5 van god los
// Dec 15, 2008 at 11:34 pm
A quick google learned me that the saab combustion control system also included direct injection turbo engines … Man, they would have been waaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ahead of the competition by now.
Hmmm, Swade, maybe that would make an interesting post : the most relevant technological developments of Saab that never made it into production.
the vce-engine, the combustion control system, the plug-in hybrid convertible, …
6 gordon
// Dec 16, 2008 at 12:00 am
and the twin-four turbo 8-cylinder motor.
7 9000
// Dec 16, 2008 at 12:25 am
The scrapping premium (= bonus) means a payment for people who scrap their old cars. In Sweden it’s 4000 kr for cars made in 1989 and earlier, as they want to get rid of cars without a catalytic converter.
8 saabyurk
// Dec 16, 2008 at 1:18 am
van god los: (Re: interesting post : the most relevant technological developments of Saab that never made it into production.)
Great idea. I’d like to see that.
9 Erunas
// Dec 16, 2008 at 3:31 am
saabyurk: Agreed, it is a post that Swade could work on for a couple of days and then post it. After posting it, mail it to people with influence and ask them why the stupidity not to continue development on these things had to struck them that day?