Sweden to Saab: Merge to Wind Power or Shut Down

I would think EV development would be a better use of automotive engineering talent.

Saab (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) was an aircraft maker that dabbled in cars.  For years, they were one and the same.  Then Saab started dabbling in computers and created Datasaab.  Datasaab was proficient at building aircraft computers and in the early 60’s, the company reorganized under the name Saab AB.  In the late 60’s, it merged with Scania and from 1968-1995 was known as Saab-Scania, and they built everything - cars, trucks, buses, and aircraft.  Basically, almost anything that could get you from point “A” to point “B”.

In 1990, GM bought 51% of Saab Automotive; in 1995, the corporation was split up into multiple independent entities.  The car division was called Saab Automobiles AB, the truck & bus division was Scania AB, and the flyboys became Saab AB.  GM eventually acquired the rest of the automotive division in 2000.

So, Saab Automotive may cease to exist and this will have no impact on Saab AB. 

As to how the Swedish Trade Ministry doesn’t know this history, well, I’m as   as you are.  But, to be honest Saab Automotive never had a chance.  The company sells less than 100,000 cars a year worldwide.  Seriously, that’s not good at all for what is essentially a mainstream automobile.  You can get away with low production numbers like that if you are building 6-figure luxury vehicles.  But when a Saab 9-3 has to compete with an Acura TL for the same buyer, and Acura has the power of Honda behind it (along with a vastly superior dealer network), well, you kind of have to have a screw loose in order to want the Saab.  Which explains me perfectly, since I did own one, once.  Right after my Peugeot.  Told you I was nuts!

The only way Saab survives as a carmaker is through a merger with someone like Fiat, or if the Swedish government nationalizes the company like France did with Renault.  Otherwise, maybe Electrolux buys them and they use the plants to make ovens and vaccuum cleaners.  I guess its easier to convert an automotive plant to make wind turbines, and they can play on the Saab aircraft heritage again because most of the world is ignorant of Saab’s history, and they do think 9-3’s are assembled next to Viggen fighter jets. 

Saab (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) was an aircraft maker that dabbled in cars.  For years, they were one and the same.  Then Saab started dabbling in computers and created Datasaab.  Datasaab was proficient at building aircraft computers and in the early 60’s, the company reorganized under the name Saab AB.  In the late 60’s, it merged with Scania and from 1968-1995 was known as Saab-Scania, and they built everything - cars, trucks, buses, and aircraft.  Basically, almost anything that could get you from point “A” to point “B”.

In 1990, GM bought 51% of Saab Automotive; in 1995, the corporation was split up into multiple independent entities.  The car division was called Saab Automobiles AB, the truck & bus division was Scania AB, and the flyboys became Saab AB.  GM eventually acquired the rest of the automotive division in 2000.

So, Saab Automotive may cease to exist and this will have no impact on Saab AB. 

As to how the Swedish Trade Ministry doesn’t know this history, well, I’m as   as you are.  But, to be honest Saab Automotive never had a chance.  The company sells less than 100,000 cars a year worldwide.  Seriously, that’s not good at all for what is essentially a mainstream automobile.  You can get away with low production numbers like that if you are building 6-figure luxury vehicles.  But when a Saab 9-3 has to compete with an Acura TL for the same buyer, and Acura has the power of Honda behind it (along with a vastly superior dealer network), well, you kind of have to have a screw loose in order to want the Saab.  Which explains me perfectly, since I did own one, once.  Right after my Peugeot.  Told you I was nuts!

The only way Saab survives as a carmaker is through a merger with someone like Fiat, or if the Swedish government nationalizes the company like France did with Renault.  Otherwise, maybe Electrolux buys them and they use the plants to make ovens and vaccuum cleaners.  I guess its easier to convert an automotive plant to make wind turbines, and they can play on the Saab aircraft heritage again because most of the world is ignorant of Saab’s history, and they do think 9-3’s are assembled next to Viggen fighter jets.