Now that Saab has obtained funds through a new partnership with Chinese automaker Hawtai Motors, the company is able to make strategic moves to strengthen the brand around the world – beginning with yesterday’s announcement of the new Chief Operating Officer and President for the North American market.
Saab resumed production at their Trollhattan facility yesterday after an April plagued with downtime due to the inability to pay suppliers and today, Spyker announced that Chinese automaker Hawtai Motor Group had invested 150 million Euros (roughly $222 million USD) – allowing Saab to pay its suppliers and send workers back into the production facilities.
Saab has seen its Trollhattan, Sweden production facility shuttered for most of April due to inability to pay suppliers for the components needed to produce vehicles and with the parent company Spyker desperate for funding, the company is looking to Russian investor Vladimir Antonov along with a variety of Chinese automakers to save the Saab brand.
Those who live in the Big Apple have a unique opportunity to see Saab’s concept car, the PhoeniX, and meet the designer, Jason Castriota, himself, tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chelsea Piers 23rd St. and Hudson River in New York. Castriota is a native son of the Empire State.
Yesterday we brought you the news that Saab had once again suspended production due to non-payment issues with some of their suppliers and today, a Swedish suppliers organization stated that the automaker owes tens of millions in Swedish currency.
Saab production at their Trollhättan plant has been stopped for the second time in two weeks due to an apparent non-payment issue with unnamed suppliers who are, in turn, refusing to deliver items needed for production.
The rabid success of Google’s Android operating system in phones and tablets has caused a great many rumors about an Android-based automotive infotainment system and thanks to a short video from Saab, we have a good look at the first factory-equipped mobile Android operating system – Saab’s IQon.
Even though Saab has introduced a few new vehicles since being purchased by Spyker, all of the production models we have seen since the merger were designed mostly by GM but with the opening of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, we have our first look at the first vehicle fully designed by the Spyker-controlled Saab – the Saab Phoenix Concept.
Dutch supercar builder Spyker surprised the world last year when they purchased Swedish luxury brand Saab from General Motors but today, they made an even more surprising announcement as they have sold the Spyker Cars brand to CPP Global Holdings Ltd. – the British company who has been producing a large portion of the chassis and body panels for Spyker since they re-opened in 2000.
The new Saab 9-4x was unveiled at the 2010 LA Auto Show and today, the new Spyker-controlled Saab announced that the first production-form 9-4x has rolled off the Mexican assembly line.
The next generation of the Saab 9-5 SportWagon is set to make its grand debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show but the Swedish luxury brand has offered up an early look at the new Saab 9-5 SportWagon along with some vague details.
Using the time-honored phrase of “leaving to pursue further career opportunities,” Saab has announced that Michael “Mike” Colleran is out as president of Saab USA just as the company is gearing up its resurgence in the United States.
