New global sales structure for Saab Automobile

Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile today announced the introduction of a new global sales structure aimed at enhancing support and communication with its markets around the world. The announcement comes as Saab Automobile is embarking on its biggest-ever product offensive and expansion into several new markets around the globe.

Effective from February 1, Saab Automobile’s new global sales organization is divided into four regions, each led by a regional director responsible for market development, sales and aftersales. The regions identified in the new structure are: Americas, Nordic, Europe, and Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.

The Americas region includes the United States, traditionally Saab’s largest market, and will be led by Alan Ludwell, currently responsible for importer markets at Saab Automobile. Magnus Hansson will continue as regional director for the Nordics, where Sweden is the largest market. The Europe region will be led by Jonathan Nash, who leaves his position as managing director of Saab Great Britain. Over the course of the next few months Saab Automobile aims to announce a regional director for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, where China will become the main focus.

All regional directors will be based at company headquarters in Trollhättan, Sweden, where they will report directly to Saab Automobile’s Executive Director Global Sales & Aftersales, Matthias Seidl.

Announcing the new structure, Seidl said: “This new organization gives individual markets a direct link with company headquarters through their regional organizations, creating shorter lines of communication and a more effective decision-making process. Getting this new structure in place is an important step as we focus on realizing the full sales potential of our markets and build on the recent sales momentum.

“This year will be extremely important for Saab Automobile as we continue our biggest-ever product offensive with the introduction of exciting new vehicles like the Saab 9-4X crossover and the Saab 9-5 SportCombi. The new sales structure should help us make the most of the volume opportunities these products will create for us.”