Good point. I know that they make real models of new cars, both exterior and interior to finalize the design process. But the complete cars they test out in the wild from like one year before the planned start of production… Are they hand built or are they built the same way the final product will be, using the same tool on a small assembly line?

So there are a lot of tools that are not in place yet. I have a feeling this is the reason we haven’t seen any spy pictures of the 9-5 yet, and the use of the Insignia mule at this late stage. My guess is that some suppliers may basically demand cash to deliver, I most certainly would if I were to deliver something to a company that claims they may go broke in a matter of months. As the tools most likely aren’t delivered yet, it’s a lot easier to reroute them to Trollhättan (and maybe the only chance for GM/Saab to get hold of them).

It’s not fair to claim that GM’s money is going to the SRX instead of the 9-4x. The vast majority of the cost for creating a new car goes to tooling and R&D. Both of these are mostly shared between the SRX and the 9-4x. There are going to be slight tooling differences, but mostly for cosmetic stuff. The R&D money’s been spent by now.

As far as Sweden vs Germany for the 9-5, I think that the choice at this point is Sweden vs. nothing at all. No one is going to spend money (or guarantee loans) to build a Swedish car in Germany, so the German unions should just accept that they are not getting the 9-5 either way.

So, what might happen is that GM are more or less forced to change their plans of more or less disintegrating Saab into a label to stick onto Chevrolets or Opels as to able to put premium stickers on those cars.

IF the Swedish government is able to make a stand – and that’s what things look like now – then GM might have to give Saab more independence also in R&D, bring the 9-5 back to Trollhättan and so on. I’m not sure if that is going to happen, but if there has ever been a chance since 2000, then it is here – and now.

Yours

saabista63

And Im sure that Detroit can use that to force the swedish government to accept production to stay at the german GM factory.

I’m not sure. I don’t think the Swedish government will give in. If they say no to government aid, that means a panic sale or close-down of Saab and that will cost GM a lot. If what I think is about to happen will happen, then it is up to Saab to decide were they want to have the production. If it is cheaper and more suitable to have it in Germany, they will pay GM to have it there. Otherwise, it will be in Sweden and there is nothing the German unions can do about it.

GM
+ Make Money (By selling swedish production facilities + the rights to the Saab Brand, to G.O.C – Government Owned Company)
+ Save Money (By letting G.O.C fund the marketing of the Saab Brand)
+ Save Money (By letting G.O.C fund some engineering departments, developing joint parts for both GM & Saab) “Cash infusion”
+ Keep production units of 9-5 in gm-europes plants,
+ Keep production units of 9-4x in gm-america plants,

Swedish Government
+ Total nr of production jobs maintained in sweden (convertible, 9-3, 9-1 combined)
+ More enginering and design jobs by moving some departments from Germany.
+ Getting more swedish companies to supply parts to Saab and other GM brands.

There is though something dark on the horizone though. I expect the german government and the
cunning unions to travel to Detroit aswell. Maybe creating a bidding-war of where production of
next 9-5 will go. And Im sure that Detroit can use that to force the swedish government to accept
production to stay at the german GM factory.

One day we will se this as the day when the tide changed…
Saab getting lose from GM grip and the sales slowly grows to about 300 k vehicles a year.

and how many of those 800 million that said Bob, were spend in the Theta premium platform?? amd how much hours and Swedish knowledge were spend in that project for GM, and the Caddy momy could have its new SRX??

I will take one of those caddy, going to renaissance center and burn it in front of it.

At least todays styling with the new 9-3 is ‘cool’….to me…