Is this the first crack in the glass?
Ford have announced, after denying that they were interested in it for a good 18 months now, that they’re going to do a review of the future of Volvo Cars.
Read that as: Volvo is on the block and Ford are open to offers.
Ford are widely considered to be the best positioned of the Detroit Three and their CEO, Alan Mullaly has played things very cool in the last month or so.
They don’t need a bailout, per se, but they’ll sit in and plead their case just like the others. They have good products that are new to market. They have the bigger of the two Swedish automakers and they’re going to hit the market first to get the best buyer.
All smart moves and timed just right to present to the US congress.
——
As reported the other day, Volvo Trucks aren’t interested in buying out Volvo Cars. They will stick their hand up for some joint research, etc, in order to ease the burden, but they don’t want to take it over.
Volvo, for their part, aren’t surprised by all this sale talk.
Beleaguered Swedish carmaker Volvo, a unit of struggling Ford, says it is not surprised at news that the US auto giant is mulling selling it in the face of an industry-wide crisis.
“We understand they have to evaluate a number of different options. What will happen exactly, we don’t know,” Volvo Cars spokeswoman Maria Bohlin told AFP, adding that Ford had not informed the unit that it could soon be up for sale.
“There has been speculation about this for a long time but we don’t know. We have to wait and see what happens,” Bohlin said.
——
If you’re interested in theorising as to who might buy Saab, you can cross Scania off your list. Ryan at Saab History did some good legwork last week and got the word from Scania that they have no interest in letting Saab back into bed.
——
Right now, I’m feeling pretty relaxed about Saab’s future.
Why?
Because Robert Farago has placed them on an “official death watch”. Seeing his death-watches seem to take around 3 or 4 years to get even close to fruition, and only then in exceptional market circumstances, I’d say we’ll see Saab with a full fleet within no time 
–
The relationship between Ford and Volvo has been strained for years now, with different business cultures clashing. Even people inside Volvo wanted another owner than Ford. Interesting to see how will play out. Finding a buyer at this moment in time is not gonna be easy.
The difference between Saab and Volvo was those I pointed out in a comment. Saab is so much smaller compared to the whole of GM (and anything else out there) that it’s easier to buy and integrate. Even if there is stuff going on, they only have two outdated models in production. It would be easy to buy the brand and put the badge on a new lineup. Volvo already has a complete lineup, and a heck of bigger workforce to handle as well.
That also means that there are very few things to gain by selling Saab. Volvo seems to be valued at 20 billion SEK, about 2.5 billion USD. Imagine Saabs market value… But since they are begging politicians for money, it’s not about logic anymore. I guess the only hope is that the Swedish government do what JAJ hinted about in the interview last week: step in and guarantee Saab’s R&D and operations with a loan while the US government do the same for GM NA and Germany do the same for Opel.
Oh, and Scania is controlled by Porsche/VW now. No way Saab will enter a group that already has too many brands all together.
Another problem for GM as I see it is, that if they let go of Saab they are out of the European premium segment for good. It’s goodbye. Caddy or Buick? Not a chance. And the European market has so many possibilities. It’s much more diversified than the US one, with countries here actually showing increased sale this year. It is a market they need to be at in all segments to survive as a big player.
This all is frightening. Volvo has got a good line of cars.Theyve been able to market the s*** out of their cars being safe. And they´re not to blame. They are very safe according all the insurance company data that I remember. Now they just got out new XC60. What an excellent car, except the engines. But at least they got it out in time and also diesel available right from the start. They got highest EURO NCAP score for a start and they claim that it´s the safest car theyve every built. A smaller SUV, suitable for Europe and US + others.
They got V70,XC70,S80,S60,S40,V50,C30 – diesel, petrol, turbo-petrol, LPG and ethanol engines and also Haldex 4 (XWD) awd system.
What about Saab? Ridiculous 9-7x is dead, it was born dead. 9-4X is too late and it may be too big for some markets. 9-5 is too late, way too late. Theres HUGE expectations about that car. Insignia got good reviews. Where the **** is 9-5?
Outgoing 9-5 is very good car, but its very old car. Nobody will buy it. Unfortunately. Especially now in this situation. 9-3 is very good car, but every second review starts with a comment “quite old model”. 9-3 convertible is great, but its only for a very minor market.
What Im trying to say here is that the future looks very bad for Saab. Very, very bad. Unless there comes some crazy innovative company who understands scandinavian image and has some respect for the brand, I don´t see any future. If GM will keep it, they can just close it. They do not understand Saab. BLS was final proof of this.
Opel has a lot better situation. They have many models and they´re selling well. New Insignia just won COTY. Nice car with a good line up of engines. Production is running and all the development is already done. Now they can make profit. Germany wants to keep Opel, I think.
Now its up to Swedes (and possible new owners) if swedish car manufacturer will remain. I see a future for Volvo. Ford did not harm them. Actually Ford got along quite nice.
S*it.
I think SAAB could be sold by GM to make case to feds for bailout money, although what EXACTLY constitutes the marque and its assets (technology & design patents ? factories ?) I really don’t know, and that could be tricky for GM to even figure out or bother to put valuation on.
Another interesting opin from auto journal-dom:
http://industry.bnet.com/auto/1000419/if-ford-drops-volvo-will-gm-drop-saab/
From my point of view Subaru (Toyota) might be a good owner. Think of Saab as a premium Subaru. Though their models are completely different and do not share same philosophy, maybe future models might be different? They both are small car manufacturers and getting together might make them strong? Just my own fantasies. Mainly because I now drive Subaru.
To add insult to injury, it seems that Saab may loose it’s Griffin logo too. Ryan at Saab History has discovered that GM only had the rights to the Griffin for twenty years which is up after next year.
Seems that Scania were never happy with Saab using it’s logo. I wonder how that relates to Saab Aerospace? They are still using the griffin too.
Yep, the 9-4x concept vehicle was the first hint that that would come. At that time, I did an interview with Gunilla Gustavs from Saab and she said that the branding would change in future models. She indicated that the Griffin would still appear on the hood, but the rear and steering wheel badges would change. She made no mention of a legal issue at that time, but that’s PR for ya.
It made for an interesting poll. – SW
I’m quite sick of hearing how the 9-3 is “quite old” all the time. It’s been on the market for 5 years, and will probably be replaced around 2010-11. The previous generation 5 series (E39) was sold for over 8 years (1996-2004) and I don’t remember reading how old it was every other review in 2001.
The Audi B6-B7 was on the same platfrom – with a facelift – from 2001 until the MY09 model came out. Similarly, no complaints of how old the car is nor any accusations of it being “a badge-engineered Skoda”, even though the Superb rode on the same platform, along with the VW Passat.
Kroum.
I did read reviews that noted teh E39′s aging design and platform. But don’t matter …. why ? Because they’re the high & mighty BMW …. the holy grail marque (and payroll) for many automotive journalists [rolls eyes]
To add insult to injury, it seems that Saab may loose it’s Griffin logo too. Ryan at Saab History has discovered that GM only had the rights to the Griffin for twenty years which is up after next year.
Seems that Scania were never happy with Saab using it’s logo. I wonder how that relates to Saab Aerospace? They are still using the griffin too.
Well crap. The Griffin is, IMO, the coolest logo in all of automotive.
So, how about reviving the old twin-prop airplane logo, modernized with the current ‘SAAB’ wordmark?
Swade, I just read your comments re: branding and griffin badge, and then it hit me that the badge only appears ONCE on each of the 9-XBH and 9-4X:
http://autoshow.roadfly.com/wp-content/gallery/saab-9-x-biohybrid-concept/saab-9-x-biohybrid.jpg
http://caraphoto.caradisiac.com/s/a/salon-geneve-2008/9-4X-BIO-POWER-CONCEPT/HR_74618.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ka3xwJlk2wI/R5fZk6tllmI/AAAAAAAAFtU/D7hazNb45ZU/DSC02034.JPG
http://caraphoto.caradisiac.com/s/a/salon-geneve-2008/9-4X-BIO-POWER-CONCEPT/HR_74617.jpg
http://www.automotorsport.se/bigpix/2008/Saab_9-X_BioHybride_show_rear1.jpg
Highway Star: The Twin Prop could be good, but Saab USA could hardly use that with “Born from Jets”!
I am concerned. Only have 2 Saab dealers left in my area. If Saab is sold, will these dealers still retain Saab in their fold? Who is going to service and repair the car? If Saab is closed, that’s it.
I do have a few independent mechanic’s who claim they know Saabs, I am not sure. I have had great service and luck with Saab Technicians. Do I get out now, go to Audi or BMW? or do I just play the wait and see game? I need my Saab to get work (like every one else) Can’t play games with my car. My current Saab dealer does NOT OFFER LOANERS. Pain the the ass for me, but I deal with it because the people are good. With my wife’s XC-90 I get a NEW CAR as a loaner every time.
I never had to consider getting out of a car that I love. Wow!
mike C: There’s nothing wrong with a good independant mechanic. I use a Saab specialist who did his original training with a Saab dealer and worked for them for quite a few years before starting his own business. He drives a 9-5 and owns several other Saabs including Saab loan cars. He’s quite a bit cheaper than a dealer too.
I dont care to think about what may happen in a few days time!
I shall hereby prove that GM will not sell or close Saab:
Ford has done very little over the past several years that can be compared directly to what GM has done.
In fact, almost everything GM has done, Ford has done the opposite.
Therefor:
IF Ford is putting Volvo up for bid
Then GM will keep Saab.
However, since Ford allowed Volvo to build and sell new product
Then GM will not allow Saab to build or sell new product.
Therefor, GM will keep Saab, but not allow them new product.
This is great for mechanics, who will only have to know two cars for the next several years.
@ Markac: Thank you for the feed back, it does help.
news is getting worse, now we might lose the griffin logo, literally one of the best logo on the market.
Swade I really hope you’re right about the whole “full fleet within no time” thing.
but even having a full fleet wouldn’t feel right without the beloved griffin!!
The full fleet thing was a tongue in cheek reflection on Farago’s death watch series, which is into its 200th-and-something episode. I’m sure he only meant it to go for around 50 – SW