Comments on: 50 ways to leave your lover

By: Jason Powell

Jason Powell — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:47:00 +0000

In fairness, I was half joking. I am really angry though in how he has thrown the brand and his previous Saab customers under the bus.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:53:00 +0000

and I would like to say that the silence that surrounded over the last 2 weeks the Swedish Government, the Debt Office, the EIB, VA, etc. makes me feel that something is brewing in the background ..

it is that a deal with several actors and pieces that need to fall into place at the same time, for example, the repayment of the EIB loan would trigger the investment by other parties …

By: Steven Wade

Steven Wade — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Great story, Derek. Thanks for posting, and I’m glad someone else has notices the very significant virtues of the Turbo4. A very elastic and classy engine.

You’re right – people are the most important thing and we’re fortunate to have loads of good people.

By: Steven Wade

Steven Wade — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:44:00 +0000

That’s sad to see, Alexandros. One can understand the business decision they have to make, but to promote it that way is saddening. Hopefully we can given them reason to send letters with a different emphasis soon.

By: Steven Wade

Steven Wade — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Hi Philip,

We agree that it’s a bad sign and keeping our distribution network intact is, of course, a high priority for us. The best thing we can do for everyone concerned is to get the deals done to get back to producing again. And yeah, it mostly comes down to the simple need for cash. There is also a need to have proper agreements in place with our suppliers and conversations have been ongoing in that regard. But even those arrangements are secondary right now because we have to pay them first.

By: Philip Etingen

Philip Etingen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:52:00 +0000

Steve, it’s really hard for me to judge: I’m neither a SAAB employee nor SAAB dealer nor even SAAB customer yet, only a potential customer. But thoroughly reading all the news about the company I keep on wondering what are in fact the conditions for production restart. ‘Need cash’ – ain’t it too generic?.. And is lack of cash the one and only obstacle indeed? I do totally rely on the professionalism of your management – but even for me, a (relatively) disinterested spectator, it’s weird to read news about ongoing negotiations and agreed deals without any understanding what they mean for a bigger picture. Premises lease-back – great! But would they trigger new SAABs crawling through conveyor?..
I’m not sure what is the way you keep your dealership engaged, but a major dealer resigning after two decades of ongoing success is actually a very bad sign. Did Mr. Holmgren do it in right way? Absolutely not. Should it be a learning for SAAB? Absolutely yes. You all (and you personally) did fantastic job to establish consistent and honest communication with the world, but currently it’s all about emotions – utmost important, yet sometimes insufficient aspect of relationships. My belief is that when it comes to your partners, they cannot rely only on intangibles for ages; they also need some confidence that those emotions are indeed supported by a reasonable business plan and its rigorous execution…

By: Iwan Müller

Iwan Müller — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:39:00 +0000

Although
I would never react like this dealer did, I can at least understand the channel
he used: Ever since JAJ left the company we dealers never got any information
on the status of the company via letter or direct call. All the information we
got were on public News- and Information-systems so he uses the same channels
as well.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:30:00 +0000

Even though you can´t say going from Saab to BMW is a way up …

By: Alexandros Papaderos

Alexandros Papaderos — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:30:00 +0000

There is an article at Financial Times Germany from a journalist named Henning Hinze titled: Carmaker on the verge of bankruptcy: Saab’s creeping death
http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/autoindustrie/:autobauer-vor-der-pleite-saabs-schleichender-tod/60094403.html?page=2

He is citing from a letter that customers receive from the only remaining Saab dealership in Munich, Germany (Autohaus am Gotheplatz). Almost 40 years this was the traditional home of Saab car sales in Munich. Now it tries to recover at least its customer base – by aggressively promoting a shift away from Saab:

“Is it not regrettable and unfortunate as it is for Saab? The messages range from, the production will start again to can not supply spare parts Saab. Now we can offer an interesting alternative, namely the other Swedish manufacturer Volvo. So you can easily observe the development of Saab and in the meantime become familiar with Volvo. We are sure that you feel comfortable in a Volvo as we are.”

The Autohaus sells beside Saab and Volvo, also Subarus.

In Germany there are only 50 dealerships left (used to be about 90).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:29:00 +0000

Well, you expected to see me here sometime and better late than never.