Saab to die

[Farang]

Another one bites the dust. GM likely to dump Saab after it fails to find buyer.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091124/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_saab_6

 

[Splork]

It's really sad that all these great brands have to die because of greed.

 

[videogames101]

I really did like the 93. :'(

 

[Ronstang]

It's really sad that all these great brands have to die because of greed.

If they are so great then why does NO ONE want them? Whose greed are you talking about?

 

[Bignate603]

If they are so great then why does NO ONE want them? Whose greed are you talking about?

Exactly. It's not like Saab was a hot seller.

 

[Arkaign]

Wait, what? I thought Koenigsegg had cobbled together the funds to buy them? Maybe it was a joke?

 

[Ktulu]

Wait, what? I thought Koenigsegg had cobbled together the funds to buy them? Maybe it was a joke?

Did u read teh article?

Koenigsegg Group AB, a consortium formed by Swedish luxury sports car maker Koenigsegg Automotive AB, said Tuesday it pulled out of the deal in part because it was unable to agree with investors on how best to move the brand from mass-market to premium.?

 

[Arkaign]

Did u read teh article?

Hehe, no I didn't until after responding due to my overwhelming shock at this announcement. I was really excited about the Koenigsegg deal, as it seemed a great way to restore the company to a unique Swedish brand instead of a somewhat bland GM stablemate. I even had hopes that they'd make some pretty decent sports cars like the classic days with the Sonnet series.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

If they are so great then why does NO ONE want them? Whose greed are you talking about?

There's a greed when trying to aquire or sell such a brand there is an attempt to capitalize on the maximum amount of profit one can foresee the deal making. Instead of making some money, they want to make LOTS of money.
If GM is just going to let it die, wouldn't it be prudent for them to sell it for some money instead of just letting it die and having NO money???
They aren't going to make it because they are still in the same mind set as what got them in this pickle to begin with. How much can we make NOW? Not, what do we need to sell this for so we can move it out the door and not loose our shirts.

They just let Pontiac die, when it had turned around and people were picking up Pontiacs in droves.

 

[HannibalX]

They won't be missed.

 

[theblackbox]

i was at auction today and a saab rolled up, had a little body damage but otherwise clean car, and it passed first lane at 500 bucks, no interest.
i was on the same lane when it came back through, the auctioneer told me he would give it to me for 250$, i thought about it, but decided i didn't need a turbo saab, even if it was for 300 bucks after buyer fees.
on the nice side, saw a couple of aston martin vantage, a sl65 amg black, and some other nice cars getting ready for the next high line.

too bad about saab, though.

 

[jhu]

Wait, what? I thought Koenigsegg had cobbled together the funds to buy them? Maybe it was a joke?

What is this? Slashdot? Don't people read articles anymore?

 

[jhu]

There's a greed when trying to aquire or sell such a brand there is an attempt to capitalize on the maximum amount of profit one can foresee the deal making. Instead of making some money, they want to make LOTS of money.
If GM is just going to let it die, wouldn't it be prudent for them to sell it for some money instead of just letting it die and having NO money???

The problem is that if the buyer backs out, that means they don't think they can get any decent ROI (or any ROI for that matter) out of SAAB.

They aren't going to make it because they are still in the same mind set as what got them in this pickle to begin with. How much can we make NOW? Not, what do we need to sell this for so we can move it out the door and not loose our shirts.

Sometimes, things are too toxic to touch. I think SAAB falls into that category. Why else would the other SAAB have sold off their vehicle division?

They just let Pontiac die, when it had turned around and people were picking up Pontiacs in droves.

Pontiac was GM's 3rd best selling marque. That doesn't mean they were making any money on the division.

 

[Pariah]

Pontiac was GM's 3rd best selling marque. That doesn't mean they were making any money on the division.

They certainly had more interesting vehicles and a brighter looking future than Buick.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Not a problem for me. I almost bought a new 9-3 in 2000, but it was no where near the competition at the time, especially as that car was still based on the aged J platform from the 1980's.

In recent years they caught up with the current gen platforms, but the damage had been done. Saab used to create quirky, interesting cars, then they became yet another GM cloner, but with a ridiculous premium price. End it, now.

 

[Imdmn04]

They certainly had more interesting vehicles and a brighter looking future than Buick.

Only in the U.S. Market.

Buick is the #1 GM brand in China, that is why they kept the brand, because China is (if not already) GM's biggest market.

 

[MixMasterTang]

There's a greed when trying to aquire or sell such a brand there is an attempt to capitalize on the maximum amount of profit one can foresee the deal making. Instead of making some money, they want to make LOTS of money.
If GM is just going to let it die, wouldn't it be prudent for them to sell it for some money instead of just letting it die and having NO money???
They aren't going to make it because they are still in the same mind set as what got them in this pickle to begin with. How much can we make NOW? Not, what do we need to sell this for so we can move it out the door and not loose our shirts.

They just let Pontiac die, when it had turned around and people were picking up Pontiacs in droves.

They weren't trying to get an absurd amount for the sale. Now if they disband they can sell off assets of the company for money. So I don't see how any of your statements hold true at all about them making NO money and previously wanted to make 'LOTS' of money.

 

[DivideBYZero]

The IP and Saab brand will be bought by the Chinese after it has ceased building cars.

 

[desy]

Problem is the world overproduced cars on credit, now the weak are being closed out.
Chrylser almost went down in the early 80's recession and AMC/jeep did die.

Those who stuck to building cars at profit ie Subaru who even as a small player stuck to building cars their niche appreciated instead of building over capacity to serve their market.

 

[evident]

has there been anything good in saabs lineup in the last 10 years? i personally can't get over their weird looking green interiors and strange body styling.

 

[ElFenix]

Did u read teh article?

Koenigsegg Group AB, a consortium formed by Swedish luxury sports car maker Koenigsegg Automotive AB, said Tuesday it pulled out of the deal in part because it was unable to agree with investors on how best to move the brand from mass-market to premium.?

saab was mass market?

 

[Pariah]

Only in the U.S. Market.

Buick is the #1 GM brand in China, that is why they kept the brand, because China is (if not already) GM's biggest market.

I don't think that had anything to do with it. The Buick vehicles in China are not the same Buicks here in America. Just as GM owns Vauxhall in England, and Holden in Australia, they still could have axed Buick here, and continued to operate the brand in China.

 

[KIAman]

Who cares? Saab sucked donkey nutz. Good riddance.

Take a look at some of their car history and engine technology. They were just a name.

 

[yh125d]

Shame. I really liked Saab. My 00 9-5 was brilliant, if not as reliable as a honda

 

[Falloutboy]

The IP and Saab brand will be bought by the Chinese after it has ceased building cars.

brand maybe, IP no I doubt gm will leave any IP of value with the company. from the way I understand it GM keeps all the IP under the main GM company then licences it to its global companies

shame to see saab die though, new 9-5 was sex on wheels, and the 9-4 was a pretty sharp crossover (sharpest of the theta's in my opin)