I just thought I’d share this little snippet with you. Thee’s nothing here that we haven’t heard via news reports already, but it’s quite refreshing to hear such support for Saab spelled out so plainly.
No promises. Just support.
From the Detroit Free Press:
Saab Automobile, the 61-year-old Swedish carmaker owned by General Motors Corp., will survive an industry slump if it sells attractive models, Sweden’s government said, defying GM’s view that Saab is artificially kept alive.
Saab, based in Trollhattan, Sweden, needs “good model programs,” Joeran Haegglund, state secretary in the Swedish industry ministry, told journalists from Detroit, where he spent the last days in talks with auto executives. Saab also needs to gain more independence from GM to be granted Swedish government guarantees for loans, Haegglund said.
“At the moment I don’t have any other belief” other than that Saab will still exist in Sweden in a few years, Haegglund said. “Compared to the situation last year, the vehicle industry will be smaller, but more economic and more successful.”
I feel like someone with responsibility is finally speaking our language.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 RMinNJ
// Jan 15, 2009 at 12:53 am
After reading about the foolish Bob Lutz here I got to hear him on NPR (national public radio) from the detroit auto show. What a foolish and embarassing man:
NPR: How is it running on goverment money?
Lutz: Well I can’t stay in fancy hotels and fly on a corporate jet….
NPR had many comments/letters this week on how mad his comments made people…Ranging from “no wonder they are in trouble” to “I’ll never buy a car from him”.
GM should be ashamed for using him for any public relations task. If he represents GM management than its a wonder Saab survived this long. God help them.
2 Tompa
// Jan 15, 2009 at 1:28 am
Everything is going to be ok in the end.
3 MarkS
// Jan 15, 2009 at 7:02 am
I’m starting to have more hope!!!
BYE-BYE GM!!!!!!!!
(Insert raspberry)
4 Karen
// Jan 15, 2009 at 10:12 am
@MarkS: ditto.
Swedish national pride vs. GM = autonomous Saab, with that 3-door hatchback. Like your wife, I have only had 3-door hatchbacks and cannot imagine any other Saab.
@RMinNJ: dealers like you keep Saab alive in the US in spite of the Lutz mindset. We need you!
5 tom
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:08 am
i think we all know why Gm is in the dire straights it is in these days.
Bye bye Lutz and Wagner
retire all ready
or cut saab loose
you out of touch auto trolls….
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