Trollhattan Saab has changed!
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I have to get more in tune with Facebook. I still find that I don’t have enough time.
That might be why there were 670+ members in a group called Buy Saab Back before I even knew it was around.
Hit the link, join up and show your support and well done to Jeroen for kicking it off. There’s a lot of names I know there, but a lot more that I don’t. Support for Saab is strong.
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The Swedish government has offered funding but in the form of soft loans, not outright purchase. “There is no drop-dead date yet,” said Lutz, “but there’s got to be one soon. We’ve got to get rid of this stuff that has no future and can’t pay for itself.”
Mmmmmmm.
“This stuff that has no future and can’t pay for itself”
Cadillac in Europe, anyone?
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I mentioned yesterday that the Tokyo motor show was in danger of being cancelled this year.
You can almost get out your eraser, rub out the pencil marks and write it in ink. The Detroit car companies have withdrawn from the Tokyo show for 2009.
Ford Motor Co. this afternoon confirmed Japanese media reports that Ford would not be participating this year.
“At this time, participating in the show just isn’t a strategic priority,” spokeswoman Jennifer Flake said. “Given everything else we have to balance in that region and in that market, that’s not where we’ve chosen to prioritize our time and our resources……”
……Exhibiting in the show, which is held every two years, cost General Motors $2 million in 2007. That’s money better spent elsewhere, said Rick Brown, president of GM Asia Pacific……
…..”Chrysler decided, under the current challenges and market situation the company faces, to pull out of TMS in 2009 in order to secure limited resources invested efficiently on activities necessary to sustain our business,” Kaori Beppu, spokesperson for Chrysler Japan, said in a written statement today.
With a few of the Japanese companies already considering withdrawal, this could be the trigger for a collective Sayoonara, Tokyo for 2009.
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Autoblog have a gallery of the Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition as shown in Detroit.
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Our favourite grumpy car columnist, the AutoExtrmist has his coverage of the Detroit show now online:
GM’s messaging was disjointed and unfocused, feeling for all the world like they were throwing up anything and everything against the wall just to see what would stick. In this case GM’s promising product story was lost in uneven and at times shrill messaging. The products deserved better. A blown opportunity.
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AutoExpress cover the latest in paint protection – nanoparticles.
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These are widely recognisable here in Australia as “postie bikes”. That is, the little bikes ridden by the postman.
I guess this one must be for when the mail is running late. Photographed yesterday by PT in Geelong, Victoria (a glorious place to be in sumer, I’d imagine)
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And finally, a little bit of humour as passed on by Mark S:
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23 responses so far ↓
1 ctm
// Jan 15, 2009 at 10:22 am
Hehe, reminds me of the American Patriot Registration over at whitehouse.org…
2 Joe Lobo
// Jan 15, 2009 at 10:27 am
The very one that has no future and will drop dead as he can not even prove he’s worth what he is being paid is Bob Lutz himself. His behaviour is not much better or less than a politician being questioned by the press. Blame it on and appear innocent. He’ll be gone much sooner than what he thinks !!!
3 zippy
// Jan 15, 2009 at 10:35 am
Maybe K-Lutz should include himself in that list of “stuff that has no future and can’t pay for itself!”. Silly old f@rt is the only thing I can see that needs putting out of its, and our, misery!
I have already joined the Facebook “Buy Saab Back” campaign.
Go Saab!!!
4 NJ_Nick
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:05 am
Drop-dead Lutz!
Seriously, if this guy wasn’t Alzheimer’s all-over he’d keep his mouth shut. Who does he think he is helping with this BS? SAAB? GM?
Retire Bob and take Ricky with you.
5 David Blumberg
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:14 am
Wow, no wonder GM is doing so well with intelligentia Lutz & Co at the top.
Saab out of GM!!!
6 MarkS
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:20 am
My God I’d like to give Mr. Lutz a dropkick in the worst way. Can’t pay for itself, huh? There’s gratitude for you. Saab’s engineering contributions to GM are worth much more than Mr. Lutz will ever admit or perhaps even comprehend. Ha! Caddy in Europe indeed!! Maybe Bob could star in a series of European TV commercials to promote Cadillac! Monkeys in TV commercials always crack me up….
7 Saabboy1
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:24 am
I can’t believe he (Lutz) would say stuff like that. Doesn’t he know there are people in this country that have dedicated there hole life profession to Saab, not to mention all the people that currently work in Saab dealerships all throughout the world, independents as well? This is case in point why America has such a poor image abroad because of arrogant Americans like this, I’m ashamed.
8 MarkS
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:34 am
Swade, don’t feel bad about the “Buy back Saab” thing….I was already on Facebook and hadn’t heard about it until now! Thanks for posting the info….I’ve just joined!
GO SAAB!!!!!!!
9 Saabboy1
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:36 am
Meanwhile, the new 9-5 sits in a secured hanger, and we might not ever see it. Feeling hopeless, thanks Lutz
10 Greg Abbott
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:53 am
Lutz is doing real damage to GM with his comments. How much do you think GM can sell Saab for, when one of its senior executives is going around saying it has no future and can’t pay for itself.
Honestly, a corporate executive badmouthing corporate assets while those same assets are for sale?
I could actually see a shareholder suit against GM out of this, for diminishing shareholder value. It certainly cuts down on the price a willing buyer might put forward.
11 joemama
// Jan 15, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Ok saw I checekd out the Griffin pictures. Now, all of you know I’m not a fan of the current 9-5, but man, what a BLAND stereo/hvac!
I mean, it honestly looks like something a freshman in college would design! Yes, it’s that plain and…words can’t even describe.
Please, please update the car already!
12 Rogan
// Jan 15, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Honestly, that griffin edition is just calling attention to the fact that Saab is being completely ignored by GM in terms of priority for new products.
13 PT
// Jan 15, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Lutz – condemned by his own words again. I agree completely Greg & Saabboy1. What a mess.
On a lighter note, that postie bike has a custom exhaust & legitimate nitrous set up. I just spotted it walking along the street. I guess they get the mail early in Geelong each morning.
14 Tedjs
// Jan 15, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Have to watch Facebook – it will suck the life right out of you given the opportunity.
15 PT
// Jan 15, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Sales 101 ( for the benefit of Lutz,R.)
GM is a car manufacturer who also sell the cars they make. Manufacturing costs money, sales makes money. You, Bob, are principally in the business of sales. I know you wanted to be an astronaut or a fireman but you’re a salesman. Don’t worry, I am too and its not all bad. We could be investment bankers afterall.
History has shown that the best way to sell things is to point out their features and translate this into a benefit for the buyer. That way the buyer may be convinced to hand over some money in exchange for the object you are selling. In this process, its advisable to focus on attributes and minimise any shortcomings or drawbacks associated with your product. Getting this arse-about is typically an error made by beginners or those who have lost their way somewhat. It is rare for someone to buy something when the seller focusses on its shortcomings. Very rare.
So there we have it, Sales 101. Focus on the positive and you may be able to exchange your goods for someones cash. Its not that complex but not everyone gets it. If this concept is sounding like hard work, perhaps the car business is not for you.
Tell Rick I said hi and don’t let the door knock you over as you leave. Plenty of time to be an austronaut yet.
16 riku1100s
// Jan 15, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Look in the mirror, Bobby, and you will see something that can’t pay for itself and has no future.
17 theugly
// Jan 15, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Lutz sentence seems to be a bit strategic. He’s the bad guy in the game. With a goody like that Saab is not for sale on the market – for sure. So swedish gov needs to get more money in Saab and buy shares back from GM.
First what i thought this very interesting sentence: What is he talking about ? GM or Saab?
But don’t kick him so hard. He’s an old man and may be he needs to be retired very soon
18 Chris Budd
// Jan 16, 2009 at 1:35 am
I am sad to see all this rediculous deflecting of real issues. GM has lost some 50 Billion Dollars in the last few years. The company probably has not made money on anything other than trucks in years and years. I doubt there is a division in the company other than trucks that can boast any profit without some creative accounting ! The rhetoric on Saab and Saturn is meant to deflect underlying poor management decisions, undernourished product development and excessive overhead from legacy costs and debt. I highly doubt little Saab being dumped will save GM, but the Lutz’s of the world would have us believe such a story.
What a bunch of suck ups to Auto ignorant congressmen and women.
19 Tim in Denver
// Jan 16, 2009 at 1:57 am
then, again, PT…
with BobKlutz spouting off, it may enable the buyer to get SAAB at a lower price than they would have paid for it otherwise.
Following that logic, the less the buyer has to put into SAAB, the more capital may be available later to maintain and develop the brand.
In Summary:
BobKlutz – KEEP TALKING!
20 Tim in Denver
// Jan 16, 2009 at 2:01 am
Swade, I have no links in my previous comment. Why is it in the moderation queue?
21 swade
// Jan 16, 2009 at 6:43 am
I wish I knew, Tim. It seems to be a bug that’s developed since the last upgrade within Wordpress.
22 Karen
// Jan 16, 2009 at 7:55 am
aargh. I registered at Facebook, and now it doesn’t believe my password so i can join the
Buy Saab Back group. But I can edit my profile. aargh. Swade – let them know there are more of us than Facebook can handle.
so, [fictional] James Bond drives up in his Saab to wait for Bob Lutz…
23 John
// Jan 17, 2009 at 3:03 am
Lutz?
Clutz!