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Youngman Prepared To Invest $1.8 Billion In New Saab Models

 
2 1,880 views Feb 20, 2012

2011 Saab PhoeniX Concept

2011 Saab PhoeniX Concept

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The fate of Swedish automaker Saab is now in the hands of the receivers appointed to oversee the company’s post-bankruptcy asset sell-off. While there are bids in house to buy the former automaker in its entirety, parting Saab’s assets out may prove to be far more lucrative.

One of the companies bidding on Saab as a whole is China’s Youngman, who placed a formal bid of some $298 million (not the $446 million previously reported) for the automaker on February 14. Fox Business reports that Youngman is also willing to invest as much as $1.8 billion to develop new Saab models, ensuring that the brand has life beyond its current GM-developed products.

GM blocked earlier attempts by Youngman to acquire Saab, as the Detroit-based automaker had concerns over technology used in existing Saab models. GM is already partnered with Chinese automakers such as SAIC, so sharing technology with Youngman would affect its competitive advantage in the Chinese market.

To circumvent this, Youngman has proposed a plan where it will begin manufacturing pre-GM Saab 9-3s until it can develop the Saab Phoenix platform, a process that could take up to two years. Youngman has stated that it will retain production Trollhattan, Sweden, at least for the immediate future.

If Youngman’s offer for the bankrupt automaker is ultimately rejected, the company stands to lose the $62 million it’s already invested in the struggling automaker. Whatever the decision of the receivers turns out to be, Youngman’s ties to Saab will likely prove costly.



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Comments (2)

  1. Enzo avatar Enzo Rollis Posted: 2/20/2012 2:40pm PST

    that is a good looking concept car. but to actually get Saab to gain profit the entire company will need to be reform plus redesign of the cars. not a fan of the chines buying idea.
     
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  2. fb_100002333516703 avatar Michael Cox Posted: 2/23/2012 6:17am PST

    Do WE ALL really want to see another CAR COMPANY go under, YET AGAIN?? HELL NO!! WE have lost so many car companies/BRANDS, to date, IT IS pathetic & sad!! FORD didN'T really have to kill off MERCURY!! G.M. didN'T really have to kill off OLDSMOBILE & PONTIAC!! {AND, "OTHERS"!!}. HEY, "DETROIT" CAR "MAKERS"!! {AND, "WORLD" CAR "MAKERS"}, QUIT KILLING YOURSELVES OFF!! STOP THE DAMN MADNESS!! OR, WE will be back to HORSE & BUGGIES, BICYCLES AND MORE WORN-OUT FOOT-WEAR!! CEASE & DESIST!!
     
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