2011 Saab 9-5
The reason no deal could be finalized was because of GM’s refusal to allow any sale due to fears that technology licenses it owns and are required for several Saab models including the 9-5 sedan and 9-4X crossover would get into the hands of its competitors.
GM was the former parent of Saab and still has a number of preferential shares that allowed it to block the sale.
Now, several months on from the original bankruptcy announcement, Swedish union IF Metall has sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting his help in saving Saab and the livelihoods of more than 4,500 of the automaker’s former employees.
The letter, which is in Swedish and posted on SverigesRadio, suggests that Obama ask GM to allow some of the more basic technology licenses to be provided to a new buyer of Saab. The union also explains in the letter that Saab will never be a threat to GM as it has always been a niche brand and is likely to remain that way.
According to LeftLaneNews, a spokesman for the union said the letter was also a means of showing the Swedish government that it was possible to contact the U.S. president.
Neither the White House nor GM have commented on IF Metall’s letter.
Saab is currently in the hands of administrators who are seeking buyers for the automaker’s remaining assets. No announcement of any asset sales has been made thus far.
