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Spyker: Saab Will Be Niche Player With Three To Four Models

 
23 13,665 views Feb 1, 2010
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2010 Saab 9-5

The long-winded story of Saab's sale finally came to a close last month, with the brand born from jets adding a propeller to the mix in the form of Dutch sports car company Spyker, which reached a deal to purchase the struggling Swedish automaker from GM.

Once the dust settles, one of the first tasks for Saab’s new owner will be to reposition the brand towards a performance-oriented niche car company with an industry-leading environmental strategy. It will do so by implementing a business plan developed by Saab’s own management team over the past ten months.

Saab is to become a standalone car company with three to four model lines: 9-3 (sedan, hatchback, sports estate, X and convertible) and 9-5 (sedan, sports estate and X) and the 9-4X for both the U.S. and European markets. This latter model shares its platform with the Cadillac SRX and is already in production at a GM plant in Mexico in preparation for its sales launch next year.

Saab’s other models will be built at the company’s main plant in Trollhattan, Sweden and together with the Mexican production output should eventually return to recent pre-crisis levels of about 100,000 to 125,000 vehicles per year.

The new model roll-out will start with the launch of the 2010 Saab 9-5 early this summer, the new 9-4X crossover in early 2011 and a completely redesigned 9-3 in 2012.

Important news also confirmed today is that the entry-level Saab 9-1, a compact hatchback to rival the likes of the Mini Cooper and upcoming Audi A1, is still under consideration but not included in the current business plan.

Future development of Saab’s vehicles will take place at the company’s Technical Development Center (also in Trollhattan), which has full capability in developing complete vehicles and will continue to do so. Also remaining in full operation is Saab’s network of about 1,100 dealers worldwide, though there will be a new sales and distribution approach implemented this year.

As a final note, Spyker and Saab, two brands deeply rooted in aeronautical and automotive history, will benefit from sharing certain assets and technology services. This will include the sharing of engineering know how and technologies, sharing of activities in marketing and sales, and the sharing of certain parts and components in order to obtain access to supplier and partner resources. Importantly, both companies will remain independent despite being merged as the soon-to-be established Saab Spyker Automobiles NV.

[Saab Spyker]


HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 Saab 9-5




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Comments (23)

  1. By adamk Posted: 12/30/2009 5:29am PST

    Wow, GM is certainly full of surprises these days. From their point of view, I guess it makes sense to postpone the arbitrary deadline to allow at least one plausible suitor to get their fiscal act in order. And launching the 2010 9-5, an all-new new flagship whose R&D is presumably already paid for should help polish the brand and garner a higher price. But who will buy a $40K luxury car from a brand GM is still very vocally planning to "wind down" if a sale can't be arranged? Moreover, it seems that these remain the only two options. If GM were going to change their mind and keep Saab as they ultimately did with Opel, then presumably the Caddy SRX-based Saab 9-4X would also be back in line for production. No word on that, I presume?
     
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  2. By Agent Posted: 12/30/2009 6:29am PST

    No SAAB, well I never liked SAAB in the first place, but I would hate to see it slowly dissappear into a dark void of doom and failure. SAAB was never bad of a failure. I hope the next owner of SAAB will bring SAAB back to it's original glory.
     
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  3. By Agent Posted: 12/30/2009 6:32am PST

    ---Correction---
    I meant, "SAAB was never bad or a failure."
    NOT- "SAAB was never bad *OF* a failure."
    One small letter can make a big difference.
     
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  4. By peter Posted: 12/30/2009 7:44am PST

    wow there seems to be a bidding war for saab. Spyker and Merbanco are mentioned as 2 potential buyers,
    Unlike Saturn, Saab has people wanting to buy it. What's the hold up? Sell it already.
     
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  5. By jgoldb Posted: 12/30/2009 9:09am PST

    General motors WANTS to get the 9-5 into production. Press test-drives, with reports of how well the vehicle drives, could only increase the bidding price for SAAB.
     
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  6. By bepsf Posted: 12/30/2009 12:16pm PST

    I agree with the others - Saab is more valuable as a going concern with a new car in production and workers in the factories than shut down, even if they do make a loss on every car made.
    And if they don't sell in the near term, GM still can at least earn something back on the 9-5 development investment.
     
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  7. By btlh2oguy Posted: 12/30/2009 12:58pm PST

    GM is flying by the seat of their pants as usual. Whatever the magic eight ball says is what they do for the moment.
    The Volt is coming to a market that doesn't have the infrastructure to support it. geniuses
     
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  8. fb_33701777 avatar Will Cheval Jr. Posted: 12/30/2009 5:22pm PST

    The only reason GM wants to bankrupt Saab instead of selling it is because it knows that Saab, as a brand, has a large growth potential and can really shine if it's taken care of!
     
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  9. By  valentines day Posted: 12/30/2009 7:24pm PST

    It has enough style and design cues to be a Saab, but the front grille bothers me. This is really going to put distance between the 9-5 and 9-3, which is something that definitely needs to happen. As it is right now, besides some back seat leg room, there is practically no difference between the 2.
     
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  10. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 12/31/2009 8:40am PST

    So what happened to Spyker's renewed bid that "fixed all the issues" between them and GM? Was it shot down, or did I just dream the whole thing?
    Though I feel there is a limited market for SAAB, I would like to see the new 9-5 produced, it is a handsome car, IMO, and just might be able to turn around their fortunes. Good on GM for not just closing them down.
     
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  11. By Agent Posted: 1/2/2010 5:49am PST

    I say SAAB is just 45%-50% of its potential. I hope the next bidder can bring its potential to 95% at least.
     
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  12. By  Joshua Merritt Posted: 1/2/2010 4:56pm PST

    Saab, Volvo, Jaguar. . . all the "interesting" niche enthusiast brands that were bought by the big 3 in the last decade all seem to have suffered a bit from under-marketing and "improvements" that only watered down the car's image. Nobody ever bought a Jaguar for reliability, but they did buy one for premium woods and leathers, non-plasticky interior trims, and all the other things Ford killed when they bought Jag.
    Same with Saab. It has the same 1980's plastic radio console that I see in GM pickup trucks these days. Give the reigns back to a small company that understands the design heritage.
    That said, I want nothing more than to see all these companies, and Saab the most, survive. I love their cars, and can't imagine the roads (nonetheless the pages of my favorite car mags) without new models to keep things interesting.
    I'll be decked out all month in my "Save the Swedes" t-shirt I designed as a fingers-crossed to Saab's finding a successful buyer, take a look at the design at http://www.clothmoth.com/products/saab
     
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  13. By  r4 dsi Posted: 1/10/2010 9:18pm PST

    Saab is really a mind blowing car I must say. Also it is more valuable as a going concern with a new car in production and workers in the factories than shut down, even if they do make a loss on every car made.
     
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  14. By svensaab Posted: 1/11/2010 2:56am PST

    why oh! why do GM always think they know best buy Saab lose a pile of money then play cat and mouse ,lets sell no lets keep lets dumb it down no lets build it up GM think the Euro's want the caddy as a premium make. THEY DONT it would make more sense in building up Saab again but as GM only know how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory maybe its better to let anyone go with it rather than this constant on off situation as they have done with all the brands they have wanted to offload.
     
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  15. By  cf card Posted: 1/27/2010 11:03pm PST

    Hi,
    I want nothing more than to see all these companies, and Saab the most, survive. I love their cars, and can't imagine the roads (nonetheless the pages of my favorite car mags) without new models to keep things interesting.
     
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  16. By NoNameDenton Posted: 2/1/2010 9:48pm PST

    I wonder how long this version of Saab will last
     
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  17. By dan aka 64chevyman Posted: 2/2/2010 2:30am PST

    Saab is a sporty brand with smooth line Euro style American ownership, thus fits buy American future. Forward thinking guys above know GM needs to retain Saab. Furthermore they need to bring back the Solstice coupe as a Volt based electric. They also need to retain Hummer and build a mini pickup with diesel and eventually bio diesel. Then transform Hummer with a line of bio diesel Semis that are backed by the US Government linked to air and light rail transport. Humm it may work kinda like Health Care reform but Transit reform with GM (Hummer) a big player, as well as GM global Corporations! That's right GM needs to diversify. Their S. Korean brand, Aussi and Opel lines expanding as well as a platform for future bio fuel based transports. Just a thought! GM must think outside of the box, before giving up 1/2 it's global presence. Ford will regret selling Volvo!
     
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  18. By bepsf Posted: 2/2/2010 8:32am PST

    "Ford will regret selling Volvo"
    I quite agree -
    It's interesting to think that in 10 years, SAAB could end up being the dominant Swedish brand and Volvo the Chinese footnote...
     
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  19. By dan aka 64chevyman Posted: 2/2/2010 8:41am PST

    Volvo gave Ford buyers and excuse to go Euro!
     
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  20. By dan aka 64chevyman Posted: 2/2/2010 8:45am PST

    GM needs to embrace it brand and develop it to meet not only today's automotive marketplace, retain some of the youth oriented market lost in Pontiac and Saturn and the with the US Government and other corporations create a global alliance! Talk about emerging markets!
     
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  21. By R2Dad Posted: 2/2/2010 9:30am PST

    Saab is a mini-GM. The current 9-5 is not substantially differentiated from the 9-3. The company has been starved of investment and the products show it. Going forward, Saab can achieve balance at these low volumes only by increasing prices. THAT is only possible with more interesting design and a more compelling value proposition. There is no way three models can support 1,100 dealers so that aspect has to be addressed as well. I hope they revive a more swedish 9-2x, looking forward to that 9-1.
     
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  22. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 2/2/2010 7:18pm PST

    I'd love to see a "9-1" as a sort of successor to the 93, 95, and 96 rally cars of the 1950s-'70s (not to be confused with "9-3" and "9-5", notice the hyphens). A light, sporty SAAB hatch would be great to see again (but no two-strokes please). Once they're back on their feet, a halo "Sonnett" sports roadster would bring dealer traffic.
    Saw a great bumper sticker on a '70s Sonnett once, "Made by Trolls in Trollhattan"!
     
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  23. By Zymurgist Posted: 2/6/2010 6:38am PST

    Saab Spyker need to introduce the 9-4X as soon as possible. 'Early 2011' means the vehicle is still at least one year away. The delay seems odd, given the fact the vehicle should be pretty much ready for launch NOW. (Perhaps they need to "de-GM" the vehicle to some extent prior to introduction.. but does that take 12 months?). I'm in the market for a new luxury compact CUV, but I'm not inclined to wait yet another year in order to buy what is essentially a re-badged Cadillac SRX. The new Saab Spyker had better get their act together and introduce new product quickly, otherwise folks such as I will begin to forget about all the recent Saab hype and buy a competitor vehicle instead. (The upcoming 9-5 is very nice, but so is the all-new 2011 BMW 5 Series car due out in June).
     
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