In a news brief today, the AP reports that Dutch automaker Spyker is again submitting a last minute bid to buy storied Swedish car maker Saab. This comes after talks between Saab’s parent company GM and Spyker failed, and GM announced plans December 18 to wind down Saab.
A previous blog I wrote on the subject mentions that I wished to see a “Suitor from Scandinavia” purchase Saab and rebuild the brand focusing on reliable, solid, turbo-charged “niche” cars with little quirks that make them a distinct auto brand. A quick aside, I realize Holland—home of Spyker—isn’t technically a part of Scandinavia, but close enough.
GM has cited concerns that Spyker doesn’t know how to make the Saab brand work. AND GM DID KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT WORK!?!? The General is the reason the Swede got screwed in the first place. Surely letting Spyker try to run it couldn’t hurt. And if it fails, then at least the Saab brand went down swinging.
"Nulla tenaci invia est via" is Spyker's motto. The translation from Latin to English means "For the tenacious, no road is impassable." Combine that "Spyker Spunk" with the company's heritage in building aircraft engines (like Saab), and I think you may have a winning combination. Learn more about Spyker at its homepage.
The article mentions one other buyer possibly talking with GM. If the Spyker deal ultimately fails, then let’s hope this suitor is seen as suitable by the General. And let’s hope it’s not another Chinese automaker, either.
Can’t wait to see the developments on this one.
Showing posts with label Spyker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spyker. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
Saturday, December 19, 2009
A Loss to the Auto Industry Worth Saabing Over
Friday, December 18 General Motors reported that it is going to wind down another one of its vehicle lines: Saab. Read the full story here.
It seemed a shame to me that the General killed Saturn, a brand with reputation and potential. Even Pontiac, which stood for muscular, sporty cars seemed to have its place. Olds and Buick? I think the one-or-the-other choice (GM chose Buick for its strength in the Chinese market) was good there, as the two mid-upscale sedan brands overlapped.
But killing Saab? Saab Automobile has its roots in the Swedish company’s aviation heritage, and the aerodynamic styling on many of Saab’s quirky automobiles is testament to this. Saabs are known for little nuances like a distinctive grill, a center-console mounted ignition, and finessed turbo-charging technology.
But come 1989, GM began to meddle in the company. They bought a stake and began to inject Opel (a GM subsidiary in Germany) platforms. Then GM began to pollute Saab with their own sub-par products such as the 9-7x SUV. That platform had been loosely rebadged as a Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainer, Oldsmobile Bravada, and Isuzu Ascender. Or how about the Saab-aru—a loosely rebadged Subaru Impreza WRX wagon. Yes, I’m a die-hard Subbie fan, but the Saab-aru was another strange venture. At the time, GM had its paws on a small stake of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company). Thankfully, GM withdrew before we started getting rebadged Chevy Cobalts being sold under the Subaru moniker.
Several buyers for Saab all distanced themselves from negotiations in the end, most recently Dutch automaker Spyker Cars. I would’ve liked to see Spyker buy the Swedish brand. While I don’t know much about Spyker, it would be nice to see Saab stay in Scandinavian hands and return to profit with quirky, nifty turbocharged cars that stand for safety, reliability, and overall stability.
What I would hate to see is a Chinese buyer emerge. A Chinese suitor for Saturn changed its course, hence why the brand is being wound down. Hummer, on the other hand, is being bought by Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Corp. So let’s see, AM General builds the Hummer brand, and markets a civilian version of the U.S. Military’s main transport. GM buys it, and sells military-birthed technology to the Chinese. Wonderful. Along with U.S. Treasury debt, isn’t it obvious the Chinese are taking over? Scary actually. And all we get is crappy lead-tainted consumer goods and poisoned food.
To wrap up, GM did offer a glimmer of hope. If a suitable buyer comes forward for Saab, the brand can be saved. I sincerely hope some suitor from Scandinavia comes down and saves the storied brand.
Build unique, sturdy, safe, innovative, luxurious, performance-minded cars (like Saab was reputed for) and see if the brand can’t return to profitability. In the meantime, GM should keep its paws off of other automakers, after all, the company can’t even manage itself.
It seemed a shame to me that the General killed Saturn, a brand with reputation and potential. Even Pontiac, which stood for muscular, sporty cars seemed to have its place. Olds and Buick? I think the one-or-the-other choice (GM chose Buick for its strength in the Chinese market) was good there, as the two mid-upscale sedan brands overlapped.
But killing Saab? Saab Automobile has its roots in the Swedish company’s aviation heritage, and the aerodynamic styling on many of Saab’s quirky automobiles is testament to this. Saabs are known for little nuances like a distinctive grill, a center-console mounted ignition, and finessed turbo-charging technology.
But come 1989, GM began to meddle in the company. They bought a stake and began to inject Opel (a GM subsidiary in Germany) platforms. Then GM began to pollute Saab with their own sub-par products such as the 9-7x SUV. That platform had been loosely rebadged as a Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainer, Oldsmobile Bravada, and Isuzu Ascender. Or how about the Saab-aru—a loosely rebadged Subaru Impreza WRX wagon. Yes, I’m a die-hard Subbie fan, but the Saab-aru was another strange venture. At the time, GM had its paws on a small stake of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company). Thankfully, GM withdrew before we started getting rebadged Chevy Cobalts being sold under the Subaru moniker.
Several buyers for Saab all distanced themselves from negotiations in the end, most recently Dutch automaker Spyker Cars. I would’ve liked to see Spyker buy the Swedish brand. While I don’t know much about Spyker, it would be nice to see Saab stay in Scandinavian hands and return to profit with quirky, nifty turbocharged cars that stand for safety, reliability, and overall stability.
What I would hate to see is a Chinese buyer emerge. A Chinese suitor for Saturn changed its course, hence why the brand is being wound down. Hummer, on the other hand, is being bought by Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Corp. So let’s see, AM General builds the Hummer brand, and markets a civilian version of the U.S. Military’s main transport. GM buys it, and sells military-birthed technology to the Chinese. Wonderful. Along with U.S. Treasury debt, isn’t it obvious the Chinese are taking over? Scary actually. And all we get is crappy lead-tainted consumer goods and poisoned food.
To wrap up, GM did offer a glimmer of hope. If a suitable buyer comes forward for Saab, the brand can be saved. I sincerely hope some suitor from Scandinavia comes down and saves the storied brand.
Build unique, sturdy, safe, innovative, luxurious, performance-minded cars (like Saab was reputed for) and see if the brand can’t return to profitability. In the meantime, GM should keep its paws off of other automakers, after all, the company can’t even manage itself.
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