Koenigsegg bidding to buy Saab

[TVC]

I don't really think Koenigsegg buying SAAB (if they are able to) will have a huge affect on them. If anything it will have a bigger affect on Koenigsegg because they will (possibly) have a stable source of income.

 

[Philly]

I say give 'em Volvo too. Let there be a Swedish automotive powerhouse.

I think it would be pretty cool for there to be a strong set of genuinely Swedish cars.

I don't really think Koenigsegg buying SAAB (if they are able to) will have a huge affect on them. If anything it will have a bigger affect on Koenigsegg because they will (possibly) have a stable source of income.

Unfortunately, that is currently a stable source of negative income...

 

[Eric.]

That's ok, I don't like Paulie anyway.

I'm just happy that I pretty much own a Koenigsegg. Now all that needs to happen is the next 9-3 has 1200hp and earns the Fastest Production Car title and I can watch my resale value rise.

If only it worked like that.

 

[TVC]

Unfortunately, that is currently a stable source of negative income...

That is what I was thinking when I typing that but I guess they just have to think in the long run.

 

[Eric.]

You have to figure out how much of that was due to mismanagement or anything like that though, its not necessarily that the cars just don't sell enough to turn a profit, though with such a small brand its very possible.

 

[Philly]

As a part of GM, I'm sure that mismanagement was a big part of Saab's problem. But at the same time, sales charts indicate that the company does have terrible products that nobody wants to buy. So it is both problems for them. However, they aren't in too deep a hole, so a new owner and some decent cars to sell should help them out a lot.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, I think mismanagement really comes out of the inability for GM (not Saab) to decide what they wanted to do with the brand. On the one hand, they wanted it to compete with BMW and Mercedes, but on the other, Saab never really left that quirky plateau where it and Volvo had been dominant for decades. Really, in my opinion, it has been more of a problem of what the competition had decided to do. Volkswagen and Acura both moved onto Saab/Volvo territory in the past few years, where previously the only competition had been Audi, and it had been a poor attempt at that. The shifting of brand direction(s) crowded the segment, and with no major innovations on behalf of the Swedes, they began to lose out.

Really, their products are wonderful, and have increased in quality substantially over the past few years. But, they are priced out of competition, and they continue to cater to a very narrow market.

 

[Jim Prower]

Apparently, Washington, IL.

(I STILL don't get why there's so many Saabs 'round here. Maybe it's because the closest Acura and VW dealers are 30 minutes of city driving away.)

 

[Philly]

Are there many new Saabs? We have a bajillion Saabs floating around in Seattle (although I guess we have a pretty even sprinkling of everything), yet I could count the number of new 9-5s I've seen on one hand.

 

[Robin]

I could think of a bigger clash of brands , it will certainly be interesting if this deal goes through.

 

[TVC]

As a part of GM, I'm sure that mismanagement was a big part of Saab's problem. But at the same time, sales charts indicate that the company does have terrible products that nobody wants to buy. So it is both problems for them. However, they aren't in too deep a hole, so a new owner and some decent cars to sell should help them out a lot.

I think GM did a terrible job at advertising SAAB. They did run commercials but they were just telling you SAAB is a company not why you should buy one. If they lower the prices a little they could easily compete with Acura. If they increase the performance a little they could compete with BMW. SAAB didn't really seem to be competing with any company even though they claimed they were.

 

[Joey D]

And according to Swedish TV it's official.

BREAKING: Swedish TV reports Koenigsegg buying Saab

We don't have much to go on yet, but Swedish television is reportedly claiming that Koenigsegg, makers of ultra high-performance exotic supercars, and a group of Norwegian investors have signed a letter of intent with Saab to take over the brand from General Motors. Final negotiations will reportedly take place in the coming months.

Along with Saturn and Hummer, Saab was put up for sale by GM before the automaker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Many companies and investor groups from all over the world, including China, were reportedly interested in the Swedish brand, and despite how crazy it sounds, Koenigsegg was thrown into the list of finalists late last month. What we thought was crazy has reportedly come to pass.

Do you think Koenigsegg and Saab, two automotive brands that share a home country and sell completely different kinds of cars, will work well together?

 

[YSSMAN]

Hooray!

This should be interesting, at the very least. My guess is that much like Opel, and every other thing GM has been selling off, they'll give majority control to Koenigsegg, but hold on to 20-30% of the company in order to do product development and technology sharing.

 

[Strittan]

Just saw this on the news here in Sweden. 👍

Would be great for the swedish car industry if this happens I guess!

 

[High-Test]

YES!

This is most groovy. Now, Sweden can has Volvo plzs?

 

[Philly]

I can't wait to see what this partnership can come up with. I can't wait to have the option to buy a through and through Swedish car!

 

[Joey D]

I can't wait to see what this partnership can come up with.

It better be a 9-3 with awesome doors.

 

[JCE]

yes!

this is most groovy. Now, sweden can has volvo plzs?

+1 schweet!!

 

[Eric.]

It better be a 9-3 with awesome doors.

And a twin supercharged 4.6L Ford-derived V8 slung sideways over the front wheels? 900 Turbo successor right there!

 

[Joey D]

And a twin supercharged 4.6L Ford-derived V8 slung sideways over the front wheels? 900 Turbo successor right there!

I'd buy it! Sure it would torque steer all over the place but it would be awesome in every way...right up until the point where it killed me.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

I really think this might be good for SAAB. They´ve recently tried to compete against the likes of Volvo for customers, but segment is really full of brands (Peugeot, Renault, Citroën, Opel, VW), so hopefully Koenigsegg will deliver a much needed healthy injection of sportyness to SAAB.
SAAB doesn´t actually sell alot of cars, and they need to adjust their cars to their salesnumbers IMO, IE more sportscar oriented.

 

[ND4SPD]

Woo!That's great news!

 

[Casio]

Guess that means my bid was rejected....Ohhh well.

 

[Omnis]

Guess that means my bid was rejected....Ohhh well.

There there, you can still have a little saab if it makes you feel better.

So did Koenigsegg just buy them or are they going to merge? Koenigsaab powers, activate!

 

[Strittan]

Well it's not decided if it's going to happen yet, is it?

EDIT: Quick search on google, and it seems they're very close to a deal however! Great! :tup:

This surely opens the doors for Volvo to be swedish again as well. Yay! We're back!

 

[JCE]

I would hope and pray Volvo gets bought by Koenigsegg.

 

[Philly]

so hopefully Koenigsegg will deliver a much needed healthy injection of sportyness to SAAB.

Saab isn't lacking sportiness. They're lacking awesome. If anybody can put the awesome back in Saab, it's going to be more Swedish people.

 

[Leonidae]

Saab isn't lacking sportiness. They're lacking awesome. If anybody can put the awesome back in Saab, it's going to be more Swedish people.

indeed. They need to keep developing that all wheel drive, twinturbo V6 powered beast by making it lighter, RWD biased and give it enough power to keep up with the rest of the market segment.

 

[Strittan]

indeed. They need to keep developing that all wheel drive, twinturbo V6 powered beast by making it lighter, RWD biased and give it enough power to keep up with the rest of the market segment.

A Saab to be RWD? That will never happen, Saab has been FWD since the company was founded.

 

[Leonidae]

I said "RWD-biased", meaning that their AWD system should be similar to BMW's and Audis instead of being similar as VW's..