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My thanks to Matthijs, who has taken the time to translate an interview that Jan-Ake Jonsson did with Sweden’s Auto Motor and Sport.
Very interesting reading here.
Thanks Matthijs!!
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Saab boss: ”Likely that Saab leaves GM”
Representatives of the swedish goverment have said that Saab should be decoupled from GM in order to be sold and Saab’s boss Jan-Åke Jonsson confirms – the future looks really bright! Alrik Söderlind has got an interview with the Saab boss directly from the Detroit motor show.
auto motor & sport, AMS: Bob Lutz told me that GM no longer can support Saab?
Jan-Åke Jonsson, JÅJ: I am slightly surprised by Bob’s statements. Saab is an integrated part of GM and many projects that are ongoing within GM, we are a part of. The cost of many projects would increase for GM if Saab would not be part of them. If the Saab 9-4X is not built, the other vehicles in the Mexico factory will become more expensive. But Saab must be it’s own unit within GM and the talks between Saab, the Swedish government and GM are proceeding really well.
AMS: Does this mean that Saab will grow in Sweden, in order to become self-sustainable?
JÅJ: The talks are constructive and I believe that the whole will be very good for Saab in the future. We will be more independent.
AMS: When will this all happen?
JÅJ: GM must present a plan for the US government by the end of the first quarter. Then the role of Saab must be defined.
AMS: What does this mean?
JÅJ: All we do for GM in terms of development work etc. we will invoice GM and vice versa. Saab will be it’s own unit with it’s own economy. We will write agreements around this. In this way it will become easier to show Saab’s true results.
AMS: The future?
JÅJ: We have a good buisiness plan with many new products coming.
AMS: What future scenarios are there? Continue being a part of GM, continue independently, be bought by another company?
JÅJ: “Ja.”
AMS: What about the show?
JÅJ: Much talk about business and not so much about cars. The great challenge will be to get the customers back.
AMS: But there are no new cars here?
JÅJ: Oh, yes, Saab 9-5 Griffin is new here in the U.S. And it is not a concept car, it’s for sale.
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I’m not sure that’s what he meant with the last question, Jan-Ake…..
It seems the details of the possible configuration of Saab and General Motors are being worked out. It also seems that Jan-Ake was quite surprised with the degree to which Bob Lutz was willing to cut loose when it came to questions about Saab.
Bring them back to Trollhattan!!
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17 responses so far ↓
1 ctm
// Jan 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm
It’s not about Lutz getting rid of Saab, it’s about Saab getting rid of Lutz…
2 Markac
// Jan 13, 2009 at 7:18 pm
If the 9-4x was to become a Buick as has been suggested by several sources, that would more than take up the slack left by Saab. I wonder if the key would be left in the console? Just kidding! Perhaps they can re-locate Lutz to Chief of Operations in Mexico. Who would miss him?
3 Martin
// Jan 13, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I like the fact that GM and Saab will now invoice each other for development work. If I was in charge of Saab I would send them a huge bill for Turbo charging experience and XWD. The amount would be alarmingly similar to that of the tooling required to build the 9-5.
4 Robin M
// Jan 13, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I feel sorry for JÅJ. So positive with not a lot to play with. I’m with you JÅJ.
5 Iggy970
// Jan 13, 2009 at 8:21 pm
On the Swedish Dagens Industri web site there is an article which describes everything we have already discussed, but also there is interesting information: The potential buyer, which has approached GM as an Asian car manufacturer. Now I am wondering which one could be interested in SAAB, is it some of the Chinese (hope not) or some other to us more known, like Huyndai/Kia or some Japanese.
6 ctm
// Jan 13, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Markac,
Buick surely needs something. I just looked over their sales figures for the US market. They have gone from 432,000 cars in 2002 to 137,000 in 2008. ..
7 Dippen
// Jan 13, 2009 at 9:07 pm
interesting article indeed.
Robin M > yeap same feeling here. I guess we all are now waiting for the Geneva show. Then it is payback time!
8 Mats
// Jan 13, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Cant someone stand up and yell to GM: “It’s not Saab’s fault they are where they are today, becuase they’ve only done what GM told and funded them to do.” Who decided to stop the 9-3 coupé and froze development on the 9-3x not one time but two! Who blundered millions of Euros into development of a platform with Fiat that then had to pay Fiat another huge sum of cash to get out of that corporation and in the process delayed the next 9-5 a few years. This could go on and on and there’s still only one answer… GM, not Saab.
9 Eduard(Edusaab)
// Jan 13, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I think that all of that “autonomy” and the way is GM is doing all of this its an undercover stategy os slowly sale Saab, if during this moments of minimum indepency of Saab, something happens, then its the Saab fault, GM isn’t going to put any dollar on it.
I could imagine the invoices, how over valued could be?? and with the echange rates in the middle. Let’s see how they value those transfer prices.
be careful JAJ, this is going to be the last battle, the one that decide the war!!
10 SaabKen
// Jan 14, 2009 at 1:14 am
Welcome “back” to the State of Independence, SAAB !!!
11 zippy
// Jan 14, 2009 at 1:54 am
I feel a heckuva lot better about Saab than I did this time yesterday.
SaabKen, I liked “Find Your Own Road” but I do feel Saab needs a tagline that emphasises the addiction we Saab owners have to turbocharging. Something that will get press attention, something controversial.
12 Nate 9-3
// Jan 14, 2009 at 4:26 am
I think “State of Independence” would be a great tagline!
I think that this show has proven two things:
SAAB is better off on it’s own and Bob Lutz is Nutz.
13 Nate 9-3
// Jan 14, 2009 at 4:28 am
BTW –
Has anyone else noticed that whenever Bob Nutz talks about SAAB cars he always brings up his wife and the wives of other executives? Is he implying that SAAB drivers have to be a “girlie-man” to drive the car?
Maybe I am giving him too much credit or looking too much into it. It’s just that I don’t hear him mention anyone’s wife when he talks about the Corvette.
Well Mr. Nutz, however you perceive me to be, I really like the way I am. Sorry!
14 zippy
// Jan 14, 2009 at 4:58 am
Nate, we all know Corvettes are driven by guys who are somewhat, how should I say this, ahh yes…inadequate.
Who cares what the senile old fool says anyway?
15 gpg
// Jan 14, 2009 at 5:47 am
The problem with Saab, is the people who buy them find them to be the best car that they have ever had and tend to keep them for an extremely long time. This does not fit within the framework of GM where their best cars are obsolete within three years, while the Saab can continue to be used as the thoughtful owner keeps it in workable condition. My 10 year old 9-3 Viggen will run circles around 90% of the cars on the road. My wife’s 2008 9-5 SC is one of the best Saab’s that she has had since the 1987 9000 turbo.
Would anyone know the number of Saabs that are still being used worldwide as a percentage of the number that were originally produced?
16 SaabKen
// Jan 14, 2009 at 6:00 am
Zippy,
New taglines ? How about:
“Find Your Own Bailout”
“Born From Bankruptcy”
“Release Me” (song made famous by Engelbert Humperdinck and Elvis)
“Hej Da, GM”
Or …..
“Eff You, Bob !!”
17 Joachim
// Jan 14, 2009 at 6:52 am
@ Mats: Perfect statement. you are right!!!