UPDATE: It ain't over yet. GM apparently received several inquiries about Saab over the weekend, and has apparently re-opened talks with Spyker. Watch this space for more news.
Previously reported: Potential deals to sell Saab to Swedish automaker Koenigsegg and Dutch automaker Spyker have fallen through, and General Motors has announced that Saab will go the way of Pontiac and Saturn -- the division will close. Parts will continue to be available and service will be provided through other General Motors dealerships.
This is really a shame -- after years of neglect, Saab looked like it might be starting to come into its own again. The latest version of the 9-3 -- I last tested one in 2007 -- was a wonderful car, and the new 9-5 looked promising. General Motors has sold some of the tooling and technology from the 9-3 and 9-5 to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd. (which, among other things, was an unsuccessful bidder for both Opel and Volvo) -- so who knows, we may not have seen the last of those cars.
Meanwhile, if you'd like to buy a Saab, there's still time -- according to an article in Automotive News (registration/subscription required), Saab opened December with an inventory of about 2,100 unsold cars -- a 4-month supply.
The closing of the Saab division strikes an especially sad note for many of us in the auto-writing biz. Earlier this month, Jan-Willem Vester, Saab's long-time North American PR chief, passed away at the young age of 51. Jan left Saab last April and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. We deal with a lot of great PR people, but Jan was among the best of a really good bunch -- and he was a true Saab enthusiast dating back to his boyhood in the Netherlands. Jan always seemed to have time to talk, no matter how busy things were, and on more than one occasion I called to get a quick answer to an obscure question and wound up in a lengthy and enjoyable conversation about the Saab brand and where it was going. Jan is survived by his wife, three children, and hundreds of journalists who were lucky enough to work with him. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is truly saddened by his loss. -- Aaron Gold
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My experience with Saab goes back to the late 50’s early 60’s with the tree cylinder, two cycle powered hatchbacks. Quirky with personality was the hallmark of the brand and GM totally destroyed that turning it into just another generic car. No surprise that it was declining and nobody really wants it. Not knowing the specifics of the proposals, GM appears to be more interested in killing the brand than salvaging anything they can get out of it. Made in Trollhatten by trolls, RIP.
Damn shame. The saab 900 turbo was such a cool car in the 80’s. Still think the new ones are nice but I hated the GM dash. Made it hard to drop the cash for one.
As of this weekend the negotiations are back on.
Maybe Ikea will buy them and make them a kit car company?
Really a shame since Saab was so cool in the 80s. GM owning Saab just seemed wrong from the start. Now I hear Ford is trying to sell Volvo which I think is a terrible plan. Volvo really seemed to help Ford build better cars. Saab became just another GM platform company.
Possibly the only negative thing anybody can accurately say here about G.M. in regards to Saab is they did to little to late.
The 9-3 does kick ass both in sedan and wagon form. The current 9-3s are the best cars Saab has ever made. It shows in customer satisfaction and in reliability reviews not to mention the raw data from performance tests. I don’t quit understand why only 80’s vintage models ever get a positive mention on this blog. 2006 was Saab’s best selling year ever. If they don’t make it back off life support I’m definetly going to miss them.
They offer something a little less douche baggery than Audi, BMW, or Mercedes yet a little less mainstream than any of the Asian or American brands.
I’m not holding my breath but I do have my fingures crossed.
It would be great if the Saab brand could survive. They’ve always had seemed to have a great niche and anyone who I talked to about the Saab they owned had nothing but great things to say. Good luck guys.
Sorry to see people losing jobs. Sorry to see a loss of competition, choice and automotive history. I was never a fan of Saab, but I’m sorry to see it pass into oblivion.
Learned to drive on a ‘86 900s. It was a solid little car. I think Saab/GM could followed the path of Porsche by keeping the 900 model and making minor tweaks over the years. A nice little 4 hatchback is the kind of the car that can survive the ups and downs of the auto market. I liked what they started doing the last few years but they should have kept that old hatchback too. I think they turned away too many of the Saab faithful without making good enough products to lure people away from other makes.
Just read that FORD will be selling VOLVO to GEELY of China
Sold!!! to Spyker.