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Saab Steering Into Black
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Posted by Ian Glenday [Email] (#95) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ian Glenday) on Mon, 31 Oct 2005 15:55:31 Share Post by Email
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Saab Steering Into Black

By Herb Shuldiner

WardsAuto.com, Oct 14 2005

Saab will market new models in the foreseeable future.

NEW YORK ñ For what is believed to be only the second time since General Motors Corp. acquired Saab Automobile, the Swedish brand will be profitable this year, says Jay G. Spenchian, general manager of Saab Cars U.S.A. Inc.

"If the numbers move in the right direction in the fourth quarter, our forecast is for Saab to make money worldwide this year," he says.

Spenchian also says despite repeated calls from financial analysts that GM jettison the Swedish marque to save money, he has been assured by Fritz Henderson, president-GM Europe, that Saab is an important part of the company and its product portfolio will be expanded.

The Saab chief says worldwide sales will total 140,000 units this year, including 42,000 in the U.S. That represents a 12% increase, including fleet sales, over 2004, and a 14% hike in retail sales.

He foresees the day when Saab doubles its current sales volume, but declines to specify when that would happen.

Meanwhile, Spenchian says he did not learn about GM's divestiture of its Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. stock until shortly before the news was made public Oct. 5. (See related story: Toyota Buys Stake in Fuji as GM Dissolves Relationship)

The move killed plans for the 9-6X cross/utility vehicle, based on the Subaru B9 Tribeca. The 9-6X already had been delayed six to eight months, to early 2007, to make it look more like a Saab. (See related story: GM Delays Saab 9-6X)

"It was too close to the current Subaru Tribeca in looks," Spenchian says.

However, Saab still is determined to market a 7-passenger CUV.

"I can't tell you when it is coming," Spenchian says. But he maintains that plans for a vehicle in this segment still are proceeding. He does not specify the architecture that would be used.


Saab 9-2X: Spenchian also says the Subaru-supplied 9-2X (based on the WRX) will be dropped in fall 2007 and cannot say if there will be a replacement. "We're looking at all the options now, and we'll see what makes sense," he says.

The future of the 9-7X, based on the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, has not been determined either, Spenchian says, as GM has not committed to continuing the model, or replacing it with a 7-passenger CUV.

The Saab chief expresses confidence the brand will market new models in the foreseeable future. Previews of these new vehicles will begin at the Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows in January. A Saab concept, to be unveiled in Geneva in March, will signal the auto maker's future design direction, he says.

Spenchian also is confident GM views Swedish DNA as essential for Saab, even though future models and engines will be derived from non-exclusive architecture.

Common platforms will be utilized, Spenchian says, but the Saab design center to be built in Trollhatten, Sweden, will ensure that distinctive brand traits are preserved.

This includes turbocharged engines. "That's a Saab equity," he says.

_______________________________________ Ian 1959 93b 1967 96V4 1968 99 1974 99L 1988 900S 1988 900 1994 900S 1996 900S 1999 9-5SE, 2.3lpt 1995 9000 CSE 2006 9-3SC, 2.0T


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