Saab in a bit of trouble

Janesy B · 4 Apr 2009 at 19:36

Saab's headed to court on Monday, where the ailing automaker hopes to get further permission to continue trying to find new ownership or investors. General Motors will be booting the brand from its corporate nest by 2010, and the Swedish courts will decide if the brand Born from Jets will die from apathy.

Saab wants to launch four new models (like the 9-3X seen above) by 2011 to bolster sales to an ambitious 150,000 – quite a bit more than its perpetually down numbers of late – and officials will let potential investors have a peek at the plans. There are reported to be nearly 20 interested parties looking into what Saab has to offer after the company filed for protection in February. Saab's looking to extend its protection, and believes it will be allowed to do so based on the strength of its plan. The court will allow Saab to extend its protection up to three times, until February of 2010, provided the business plan is deemed workable.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/03/saab-headed-to-court-with-creditors-on-monday-reportedly-has-20/

I hadn't realise GM wanted to kick Saab off of it's books. Although I'm not a massive Saab fan, it will be sad to see a company with Saab's heritage go under.

Greenlizard0 · 4 Apr 2009 at 19:38

Sorry.

Janesy B · 4 Apr 2009 at 19:41

Greenlizard0 said:
Sorry.

It's okay, I had to check too

Kitchster_uk · 4 Apr 2009 at 19:52

Saab have failed to produce an acceptable car since GM took over. Bye bye, Rover MkII tbh

v0n · 4 Apr 2009 at 20:34

Yeah, love or hate the dashboard, in the last decade Saab was just producing bad Vectras at Volvo prices. Nearly two years ago I popped in to the deals just to see if I could possibly "consider it as an option" and the thing was just dire, even plastics were the worst finger nail scratchable hard panels since Lada Samara and the price on the thing must have been in australian dollars as I can't imagine anyone actually handing over such sum in pounds for something this Korean.

That said, it only proves GM can bring any marque to their knees. Saab should have never been brought in to be another Chevy, it should have remained separate, unique semi premium brand. Or at least stay in "oh, how weird" sector - like when they rebadged Subaru Impreza with Saab nose as 9-2X...

Janesy B · 4 Apr 2009 at 21:07

When I 1st saw a pic of the 9-2X I thought it was a photoshop!

v0n · 4 Apr 2009 at 21:18

Give it proper Saab seats, some engine from Legacy that does more than 30mpg and doesn't have to be serviced twice a day and I'd buy one.

Lashout_UK · 4 Apr 2009 at 21:23

I haven't seen a Saab I liked since the 9000.

ajgoodfellow · 4 Apr 2009 at 22:33

It's not new news unfortunately (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7899244.stm, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7901027.stm) but it's still very sad

I still like Saabs but GM has done them no favours. They desperately need new metal and to better organise their range - the 9-3 and 9-5 ranges overlap and are ill-defined

They have some great ideas though like their new XWD drive

I can't see them lasting much longer - they can still be viable though and they have new cars in development (and some awesome concepts). What would be great IMO is if they merge back with Saab Aviation and go back to how the Saabs of old were

K.C. Leblanc · 5 Apr 2009 at 01:34

Yep it's a real shame, but in many people's eyes they died the day the old 900 got binned for a re bodied Cavalier.

I love the story of the Swedish motor industry, during WW2 Sweden wanted to be able to produce it's own hardware. One company got nominated to make aircraft, and the other made tanks. Untill about 15 years this could really be seen in the design of their cars.

Scania · 5 Apr 2009 at 12:41

K.C. Leblanc said:
Yep it's a real shame, but in many people's eyes they died the day the old 900 got binned for a re bodied Cavalier.

I love the story of the Swedish motor industry, during WW2 Sweden wanted to be able to produce it's own hardware. One company got nominated to make aircraft, and the other made tanks. Untill about 15 years this could really be seen in the design of their cars.

I agree.

SAAB were doing fine when they as a group were as they appear in this image -

they built, very well, everything from Trucks to Cars & Coaches with the odd jet fighter thrown in for good measure!

Alas, after the split of the group, the Truck and Aircraft divisions have gone on to bigger & better things (Scania now being part of VW / Porsche) the cars are merely following Rovers example it appears.

A few years back you could jump out of a Saab into a Scania and recognise switchgear, trim parts & the like, not to mention a built from Granite feel to the thing, these days, they are a Brand living on past glory.

A shame.

Long may the trucks continue however!