Comments on: Press release: Update On Proposed Sale Of Saab Automobile And Saab GB http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/ Lorum Ipsum tagline Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4939 Anonymous Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:07:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4939 Let's hope your barking up the right tree here Brian. If GM don't allow some kind of deal, which I think would be a bit bizarre, then this derivative of the Epsilon platform or the Phoenix platform will have to be the starting point. I do think though that a deal will be thrashed out with GM, my only worry is what influence is this going to have on the short and long term design of future Saabs? Let’s hope your barking up the right tree here Brian. If GM don’t allow some kind of deal, which I think would be a bit bizarre, then this derivative of the Epsilon platform or the Phoenix platform will have to be the starting point. I do think though that a deal will be thrashed out with GM, my only worry is what influence is this going to have on the short and long term design of future Saabs?

]]> By: Brian Thiriet Wilmer http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4938 Brian Thiriet Wilmer Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:10:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4938 I have to disagree: http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/11/auto-express-tweets-new-9-3-image.html "The new 9-3 is expected to launch towards the end of next year and will come with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, as well as a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes. At least one of the planned engines – a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol – will come from BMW. The newcomer is based on an all-new chassis, which was developed independently of Saab’s previous owner General Motors. Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive hybrid versions will be available" I believe this "new chassis" actually does come from the Epsilon l platform. So it must have been modified so heavily saab can claim it as their own I do agree that GM is just being neutral unless their best interests are in jeopardy. I have to disagree:
http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/11/auto-express-tweets-new-9-3-image.html

“The new 9-3 is expected to launch towards the end of next year and
will come with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, as well as a
choice of manual and automatic gearboxes. At least one of the planned
engines – a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol – will come from BMW.

The newcomer is based on an all-new chassis, which was developed
independently of Saab’s previous owner General Motors. Both
front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive hybrid versions will be available”

I believe this “new chassis” actually does come from the Epsilon l platform. So it must have been modified so heavily saab can claim it as their own

I do agree that GM is just being neutral unless their best interests are in jeopardy.

]]> By: Angelo Vecchio http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4897 Angelo Vecchio Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:29:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4897 Frankly:  If they start from scratch with a cheap Chinese small car badged as a Saab and start to rebuild slowly----I'll be happy, as long as there is still a Saab to rebuild. Frankly:  If they start from scratch with a cheap Chinese small car badged as a Saab and start to rebuild slowly—-I’ll be happy, as long as there is still a Saab to rebuild.

]]> By: Angelo Vecchio http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4896 Angelo Vecchio Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:28:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4896 That's a question I've been thinking about since BEFORE this news even broke last week.  I couldn't believe Muller was talking optimistically about the deal----and then reading in the next paragraph that GM had a say in any deal going through.  I kept thinking, am I missing something? That’s a question I’ve been thinking about since BEFORE this news even broke last week.  I couldn’t believe Muller was talking optimistically about the deal—-and then reading in the next paragraph that GM had a say in any deal going through.  I kept thinking, am I missing something?

]]> By: Angelo Vecchio http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4895 Angelo Vecchio Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:25:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4895 James:  I'd rather be ugly and alive than intelligent and dead.  General Motors needs to be dealt with harshly if they succeed in blocking this deal.  No more Mr. Nice Guy here.  James:  I’d rather be ugly and alive than intelligent and dead.  General Motors needs to be dealt with harshly if they succeed in blocking this deal.  No more Mr. Nice Guy here. 

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4870 Anonymous Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:48:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4870 I think this is not the time to get over emotional on this. I am a bit surprised that Pang Da, Youngman and Lofeld were not anticipating this. A change of control clause should be reviewed carefully before agreeing a transfer like this. Victor Muller was anticipating this and stated that explicitly when interviewed by Autoweek.nl. I think the original deal whereby the Chinese would be partners would probably not trigger a reaction like this from GM. Question how NDRC would react? To be continued.... I think this is not the time to get over emotional on this. I am a bit surprised that Pang Da, Youngman and Lofeld were not anticipating this. A change of control clause should be reviewed carefully before agreeing a transfer like this. Victor Muller was anticipating this and stated that explicitly when interviewed by Autoweek.nl. I think the original deal whereby the Chinese would be partners would probably not trigger a reaction like this from GM. Question how NDRC would react? To be continued….

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4866 Anonymous Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:57:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4866 This is what I had advocated as well.  I thought Saab could probably survive on the strength of the NG Phoenix 9-3 alone, dump the slow selling (and I'm guessing money losing) 9-5 and barely existant 9-4X, and spend the next 3-4 years developing 9-4x and 9-5 replacements off the Phoenix.  Get rid of the yolk of the GM era and start fresh... Well, it now turns out as is being discussed on Saabsunited.com that the NG clean-break 9-3 is hardly such.  In fact, the NG 9-3 may be 50% GM tech.  Ooops.   That changes everything...  And that's the problem with your and my vision.  That "rebirth" you're talking about is half-fueled by GM legacy IP.  And that's what might kill this... And BTW, as pro-Saab and anti-GM as I am right now, I have to admit this makes sense from a GM perspective, especially as their China operations have been keeping the company in business for the past decade or so... This is what I had advocated as well.  I thought Saab could probably survive on the strength of the NG Phoenix 9-3 alone, dump the slow selling (and I’m guessing money losing) 9-5 and barely existant 9-4X, and spend the next 3-4 years developing 9-4x and 9-5 replacements off the Phoenix.  Get rid of the yolk of the GM era and start fresh…

Well, it now turns out as is being discussed on Saabsunited.com that the NG clean-break 9-3 is hardly such.  In fact, the NG 9-3 may be 50% GM tech.  Ooops.   That changes everything… 

And that’s the problem with your and my vision.  That “rebirth” you’re talking about is half-fueled by GM legacy IP.  And that’s what might kill this…

And BTW, as pro-Saab and anti-GM as I am right now, I have to admit this makes sense from a GM perspective, especially as their China operations have been keeping the company in business for the past decade or so…

]]> By: James McGuire http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4864 James McGuire Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:20:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4864 No matter what happens, we all love and support Saab. I do not think now is the time for blame game. We should focus to keep promoting our love for Saab and not turn this negative and ugly against GM. That behavior only ruins our image of being "intelligent" No matter what happens, we all love and support Saab. I do not think now is the time for blame game. We should focus to keep promoting our love for Saab and not turn this negative and ugly against GM. That behavior only ruins our image of being “intelligent”

]]> By: MarkC http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4862 MarkC Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4862 I think Saab will need to phase out as much GM IP as it can over the next 3-5 years.  This will shorten the life of some models, but is probably unavoidable. I think Saab will need to phase out as much GM IP as it can over the next 3-5 years.  This will shorten the life of some models, but is probably unavoidable.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/press-release-update-on-proposed-sale-of-saab-automobile-and-saab-gb/#comment-4861 Anonymous Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:18:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3744#comment-4861 Thank jeebus the drama for once is plain Drama and not the Fat Lady about to open her mouth Drama. Buckle up all, this will (hopefully) be interesting :-) Thank jeebus the drama for once is plain Drama and not the Fat Lady about to open her mouth Drama. Buckle up all, this will (hopefully) be interesting :-)

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