New Saab dealer in the Principality of Liechtenstein

There is a new Saab dealer in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Although it is the smallest country by population where Saab has a dealer, it is one of the richest countries in the world per capita. Located in country’s largest city, Schaan, a town of less than 6,000 people, the family owned car business changed ownership this year.

In January, Altherr Schaan began operation when it bought Max Beck, a family owned garage that was founded in 1957 and was later run by a second generation of the family. Vaterland, a major newspaper in Liechtenstein, reported the sale but the transaction price was not publicized. The garage employs 23 people.

Besides being an authorized Saab service dealer, Max Beck was an authorized Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Land Rover dealer as well as a dealer for Mitsubishi and Scania trucks. Altherr is continuing with all of these car and truck lines. In neighboring Switzerland, there are 34 Saab dealers that sell new cars, including one in St. Gallen, 45 km (29 mi.) away.



Altherr offers Saab Total Care, where a 3 years extended warranty and maintenance up to 10 years can be selected by the customer. Although designated by Saab as a service only dealer, it does offer a limited selection of new and used cars. Currently, Altherr’s inventory, viewable online, shows one new Saab 9-5 2.0T Aero XWD for sale along with three Land Rovers and one Mercedes.

Liechtenstein is a German speaking country located in between Switzerland and Austria. Many Germans set up stiftungs or family foundations with lawyers in Liechtenstein allowing better secrecy of family assets as well as additional legal protection. Near Schaan is the village of Schellenberg where, immediately after World War II, a detachment of approximately 500 Russian soldiers sought asylum in Liechtenstein.

The Prince refused to turn over the soldiers, unlike the British whom other Russians sought asylum, thus sparing their lives. Caring for the soldiers was not a small task for the country, which was facing hard financial times and a food shortage, but an opposing Russian force eventually withdrew from the border and the defecting soldiers were eventually able to emigrate to Argentina.

It is nice to see that there is sufficient Saab business within a small country of 35,000 people to support a Saab dealer. Best of luck to Altherr Schaan.

Altherr’s website can be found at this link. Altherr AG > Home

Edit 03 January 2012: added new pictures