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"Saab - Swedish for deep deep trouble" (long) Posted by Paul [Email]  (#792) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Paul) on Thu, 1 May 2003 19:00:31
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I am so upset by an article in CAR magazine which is saying that Saab is in "big trouble and to ensure its survival needs a string of new and convincing products - and soon." We all know this anyway but the bad new follows!! The article goes on to say that GBP300million(approx USD500million) was pumped into the company in 2002 and "if there's no turnaround by the end of 2004, its likely to merge, sell or liquidate its Scandinavian satellite." Bob Lutz has said he would like to continue "treating Saab like a protected species that builds very cute and very Swedish cars, but unfortunately they cant build enough of them." A gloomy Saab insider says "If we dont get our act together in key markets like the UK, France and Germany, and if we dont push our break-even point down from 140000 to 120000 then you can watch this brand fall apart."
This leads me to the 9-2 which Subaru is not too happy about sharing its technology with what it sees as a competitor and Saab not happy about having to use the longitiudally-mounted boxer engine. It doesnt bode well for Saab making "convincing products" if the new 9-2 will be built -or should I say slapped together- by disgruntled Subaru employees and that the 9-7 is to be a "Chevrolet Trailblazer in Saab drag" -not my words-. If you ask me the Saabrolet 9-7 will kill the companys image BIG TIME and the company will sadly never recover. Judging by this I am quite shocked that GM didnt invest more money in Saab five years ago and develop a new small-car based on the excellent Opel Astra and done something with the 9X and the 9-3X sooner rather than later, if in fact they ever intended to do anything with them. To make things worse the new 9-5 will not appear until 2006, that is if the company survives. :(
posted by 24.69.255...
, Thu, 1 May 2003 19:00:31 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 1 May 2003 19:55:55, Fri, 2 May 2003 11:05:20
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