| Author | Message | ||
     Spatten1 |
GM is killing Saab after their deal fell apart in due diligence. Very impressive. As much as I love Buells, this is destruction of an even more storied and larger brand. WTF is wrong with American automotive manufacturers? | ||
| Balloyd66 |
Corporate greed! | ||
| Forerunner |
'Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.' My vote is for mismanagement. Nels | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Saab isn't made in America. Besides, no one else wanted to purchase Saab so it can't be all that valuable. AMF !! | ||
| Balloyd66 |
The "want" to make an honest buck is good. Greed leads to shortcuts and mismanagement and the shafting of the hard working man. | ||
| Benm2 |
Not true. Konessig (sp?) wanted to buy them, but the dealmaking was taking too long. IMHO - I'm guessing GM wouldn't deal down to where they wanted. Dropping some Saab's should be easy business, they were rebadged GM or Subaru products. If there were any still made in the parent country, I suspect that some sort of deal may still be struck where those assets (including brand name) can be bought back by someone. Saab was a small, strange car company with a reliable following. Given the chance, I think they might enjoy a return to that stance free of foolish nonsense like the 9.2x. | ||
| Forerunner |
One man's 'want' is another man's 'greed.' Who makes that decision? Bad management is allowing the want/greed to damage the business such that it cannot be profitable in the future and must be closed. You make a lot more when the business is still around generating profits than when it goes under. Nels | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I read somewhere that other than the employees directly impacted the Sweeds are fairly ambivalent about the whole thing. It seem to me like it would have been a national pride thing for the Sweeds to have "their" car company remain alive. IIRC it also said something about the public being tired of subsidizing the company with tax money. In highschool the 900 Turbo always was on my list of cars I'd love to have but were way out of a highschool kids price range, right there with the 911 Targa, and Corvette. (Message edited by sayitaintso on December 18, 2009) | ||
| 4cammer |
Some SAAB's are (were) made in the US. And some were also made in Japan. At least GM called them SAAB's. They are not. | ||
| Jaimec |
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE5BG06R200912 18?type=marketsNews | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
We deserve everything that is coming our way. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Hey, At least GM tried to sell SAAB. And when the deal couldn't be completed, they made moves to sell off the technology. At least they're not sitting on it like a certain MoFoCo. (Message edited by tpoppa on December 18, 2009) | ||
| Spatten1 |
The funny part to me is that a Chinese company is paying for the IP. | ||
| Benm2 |
Did you see the story yesterday about Microsoft & Juku, where Microsoft admitted that almost all of the code had been stolen? I bet that led to some interesting discussions between Microsoft US management & their Chinese counterparts. As an engineer, I find particular humor in the phrase "Chinese Patent" | ||
| Spatten1 |
Ben, that's funny stuff. I'm going to strap on my Bolex in honor of that story. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
The funny part to me is that a Chinese company is paying for the IP. I guess there really is a first for EVERYTHING | ||
| Reepicheep |
Sayit... you can buy a nice high milage (but good shape) 1999-2002 9-3 SE Hot (which is like the 900 turbo but nicely improved) for a good price these days... $7000 or less. Makes a nice economical and fun little commuter. Stuff will break, but it's not bad to work on... | ||
| Forerunner |
Always thought the 9-3x was a neat car. Take a Subaru Impreza WRX and 'Saabarize' it. Makes it a Saabura or Subaraab or Subaab... Nels | ||
| Swordsman |
Huh. Maybe this is the beginning of China "going straight" when it comes to business? I don't think their auto industry will ever get real traction outside their own country until they stop blatantly stealing other designs. ~SM | ||
| Froggy |
If they can make them street legal and barley pass safety and emissions requirements, expect to see them on our shores. People said the same thing about the Germans several decades ago, the Japanese about 25 years ago, the Koreans about 10 years ago. Look where they all are now. To be honest, It couldn't surprise me if $5k glorified enclosed golf carts like the Tata Nano but being made in China end up being sold at Walmart. | ||
| 99savage |
Too lazy to do the research on this myself. SAAB used to make some fighter planes. Are/were they out of that business completely or is the aircraft segment going out w/ the auto? | ||
| Froggy |
GM bought half of SAAB automotive division in 1990, and the remainder in 2000. (Hmm sounds familiar  ) SAAB AB is the defense/aerospace group, and it still exists and is 100% separate from the automaker. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I guess I understand why the Saab purists objected to the 9-2x... but if you wanted a Suburu, the 9-2x had some nice bits from the WRX and was a lot cheaper. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I don't think their auto industry will ever get real traction outside their own country until they stop blatantly stealing other designs. You must be joking. There will be lines miles long at WalMart waiting to purchase a 10k family sedan. You had better teach your kids Chinese. I remember back in the 80's when Hyundai had their quality control issues - you know, engines seizing...stuff like that. I thought for sure they would go the way of the dinosaur. Look where they are today. (Message edited by Ferris_von_bueller on December 20, 2009) | ||
| Road_thing |
Where's Rocketman? I'd like to hear his take on this... rt | ||
| 4cammer |
Ferris, back when I was selling cars trying to make ends meet, the owner of our Mazda/VW/Saab store decided to open one of the first Hyundai dealerships in the Chicago 'burbs. I remember other dealers snide comments and such at the annual car shows. Not any longer. Now Honda & Toyota are looking over their shoulders. They even have the Germans a bit concerned. |
