Saab News

Australia is often lauded as one of the most competitive new car markets in the world, with more than 40 brands fighting for slightly more than one million sales per year.

Volkswagen has just ripped the covers from its retro-referencing ID Buzz people mover and van.The spunky all-electric bus is a modern take on the iconic Kombi (or Transporter, or Bulli, depending on where you're from) that made its debut in 1950.Volkswage

Owners of luxury European models and are up to four times as likely to be caught breaking the law compared to Japanese or Korean makes.Analysis of SAPOL and Transport Department figures shows Mercedes drivers are by far the worst in the state, recording 0.824 fines per vehicle in 2014/15.This compares to the least-fined of the large manufacturers, Isuzu with only 0.186 fines per car.Experts at a loss to explain the bias against luxury cars, and police have denied they give the drivers special treatment.Some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid accelerationIt is the first time the figures have become available because of a Weatherill Government reform called "open data", in which government departments are forced to release large amounts of information on their websites.RAA Senior Manager Road Safety, Charles Mountain said the nature of luxury cars, rather than driver behaviour may be to blame."Modern vehicles, particularly some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid acceleration and insulate the driver to such an extent that it may mask a driver's perception of speed," he said."Irrespective of the vehicle being driven, whether it be a luxury import or a reasonably priced runabout, it is important for their safety and that of other road users that they drive to the conditions and abide by the prevailing speed limits on the roads on which they are travelling."The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offendingWhen asked a series of questions about the issue, SAPOL issued a one line response: "The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offending".While Holden drivers amassed the most fines in 2014/15 with 72,847 there are 239,804 Holdens on the road.In comparison, Mercedes drivers were hit 13,157 times for only 15,959 registered vehicles.Only two non-luxury brands were in the top ten and six in the top 20 fined-per-registered-car for 2014/15.Other than Holden, which was the eighth most fined vehicle on the road, none of the large-volume, inexpensive makes is in the top 25 of most fined vehicles.There are some exceptions however, with the low-volume Dodge and Proton makes ranking second and third, Ferrari ranking thirty fourth and Jaguar thirty eighth.One of the cheapest vehicles on the road, the Chinese Great Wall is ranked highly at sixteenth.(Make - fines per car - total fines)1 Mercedes - 0.824 - 13,157 2 Dodge - 0.377 - 3183 Proton - 0.356 - 2684 Renault - 0.350 - 11495 Saab - 0.346 - 3886 Range Rover - 0.345 - 3517 Audi - 0.326 - 20748 Holden - 0.316 - 72,8479 Mini - 0.313 - 33110 Fiat - 0.309 - 31011 Daewoo - 0.305 - 147512 Jeep - 0.313 - 227013 Lexus - 0.293 - 95114 SsangYong - 0.289 - 21415 BMW - 0.284 - 503216 Great Wall - 0.284 - 290

A new Saab has rolled off the production line for the first time since the former struggling GM brand went bankrupt.Under new owners, Hong Kong-based National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs), Saab has restarted production at its Trollhatten plant in Sweden, with the first car a new 9-3 Aero.Saab ceased production in April 2011 when its previous Dutch owner, Spyker, was struggling with financing for the brand, which had been formerly under the General Motors umbrella. In December 2011, Saab filed for bankruptcy but has since been revived by Nevs with plans to build conventional petrol vehicles while ramping up plans for electric cars.The first 9-3 Aero is a revised version of the model last sold in 2011, and is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.Deliveries of the electric car based on the 9-3 will start in the first quarter of 2014, costing 279,000 kronor ($42,500) each, with Nevs saying its partner and part owner Qingdao Auto has ordered an initial pilot fleet of 200 electric cars.However the company has big aims, including becoming "a front runner in the automotive industry, with focus on electric vehicles" and while currently seeing China as the main market for those vehicles, is hoping the Saab brand to global sales.Though that will likely mean targeting European markets first, there is still a chance we could see Saabs return to Australian showrooms. 

With NEVS’ acquisition of Saab and some of the bankrupt automaker’s remaining assets complete, the consortium, made up of Chinese and Japanese interests, is now focused on the launch of its first model. The plan is to start production at Saab’s main facility in Trollhättan, Sweden and then eventually ramp up production in China as well.Speaking with Automotive News, NEVS spokesman Mikael Oestlund said the company had hired about 300 staff at the Trollhättan plant and that production could be restarted this year.Oestlund went on to reveal that the first car will be similar to the last 9-3, which Saab stopped building in 2011 just prior to its bankruptcy. He said it will feature a turbocharged engine and should be available with an electric drivetrain next year (NEVS had originally planned to turn Saab into an electric car brand). The batteries for the electric version are to be sourced from NEVS sister company Beijing National Battery Technology.If successful, NEVS will eventually launch a new generation of Saab cars based on the Phoenix platform that was under development at the time of Saab's bankruptcy and destined for the next-generation 9-3 and other future Saabs. The platform is mostly unique, though around 20 percent consists of components sourced from former Saab parent General Motors Company and will need to be replaced.The plan is to keep Saab a global brand, with a return to the Australian market hypothetically possible, depending on right-hand drive plans. Stay tuned for an update.www.motorauthority.com 

Spyker, the Dutch sports car manufacturer that once owned Saab, has released the first teaser image of a new sports car concept the company plans to unveil at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show on March 5. The teaser image reveals the profile of the new concept, which will be called the B6 and appears to have a deliciously retro shape to it. It’s likely to be a two-seater coupe with an engine, possibly a six-cylinder unit, mounted in a mid-engine position and powering the rear wheels. As previously reported, Spyker is considering launching a new sports car to take on entry-level versions of the Porsche 911 and Audi R8, thus leaving its C8 Aileron free to challenge higher-end sports cars like Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C. No other details about the B6 have been revealed, though Spyker CEO Victor Muller has previously revealed that his company is now ready to start building cars itself. Previously, Spyker was outsourcing production to British Coachbuilder CPP. www.motorauthority.com    

The brand now turns into an all-electric car company with its focus on the Chinese market. The Swede was sold overnight for an undisclosed sum. Buyers are a consortium of Chinese and Japanese environmental technology companies. It will retain its Saab nameplate - but lose its circular logo - and come under the ownership of National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS) that is 51 per cent owned by Hong Kong alternative energy group National Modern Energy Holdings and 49 per cent by Sun Investment LLC of Japan. NEVS made a massive investment in Saab, buying out the company that owns the production facility in Trollhattan, purchasing the Phoenix platform that is designed to replace the 9-5, the intellectual property rights to the 9-3, the tools, manufacturing plant and test and laboratory facilities. Saab Automobile Parts AB, as well as intellectual property rights for the Saab 9-5, ow ned by General Motors, are not included in the purchase agreement. Receivers for the bankrupt Saab say the deal was cash. NEVS chairman Karl-Erling Trogen says: "In approximately 18 months, we plan to introduce our first electric vehicle based on Saab 9-3 technologies and a new technology electric powertrain." The company has quietly engineered and developed the first of its electric vehicle in China and Japan. The first model to be developed will be based on the current Saab 9-3, which will be modified for electric drive using advanced EV technology from Japan. It is expected to be launched in early 2014. NEVS CEO Kai Johan Jiang says the work will now continue at Trollhattan. Mr Jiang is also the owner and founder of National Modern Energy Holdings. The company says that marketing and sales of its first car will be global, with an initial focus on China, projected to be the largest and most important EV market. "China is investing heavily in developing the EV market, which is a key driver for the ongoing technology shift to reduce dependence on fossil fuels," says Mr Jiang. "The Chinese can increasingly afford cars. However, the global oil supply would not suffice if they all buy petroleum-fueled vehicles. "Chinese customers demand a premium electric vehicle, which we will be able to offer by acquiring Saab Automobile in Trollhattan." NEVS says its recruitment of the management team and key positions is in progress. As of last night, about 75 people have received emp loyment offers.  

I may have mentioned a recurring nightmare in which my second car -- gone these many decades after it tried once too often to kill me -- rematerialises.With the dry-mouthed unblinking anxiety that your sub-conscience is wanting to inflict on you, I'm stuck with this crapper as it rusts around me, understeers off sheer drops and generally sucks like an Australian-made car of the 1970s.It's very much like one of these zombie/undead/exploitation schlockers that comprise every second flick released -- except a 1971 Kingswood is far more horrifying than a brain snacking denizen of the undead. Apropos of which, Saab re-appeared in the news this week.The undead and unburied brand may yet be revived in a deal between that unlikely car maker Spyker and Chinese tractor maker Youngman. Possibly only Ernest Hemmingway, who was reported to have been killed twice before he ate the definitive buckshot, had as many obituaries.His death was mourned throughout the world. As for Saab -- really, who cares? While it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a Sino-Swedish prestige marquee of distinction might emerge from this Eurasian union (Lamborghini started out making tractors too), would this be a good thing?Let's face it, Saabs were never all that. They had their "quirks" as unvaryingly were described the oddly placed ignition key, turbos that took days to react and convertible roofs that required building permission to erect.If ever there was definition of “different don't mean better” it was the wares of Trollhatten. Even with the last and I suppose "current" 9-5 there was no sense of this “alternative to the Germans” (as Wheels tend to say) refuting that maxim. The dead ought to have the decency to stay that way. 

Its Netherlands-based parent company Spyker today announced a joint venture with China's Youngman Automobile to build Saab-based cars and an SUV in China. Spyker says it will form two joint ventures with Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Company (Youngman) to build vehicles. Youngman will take a 29.9 per cent share in Spyker. Saab Australia spokesperson Gill Martin says “nothing official” has come out of the Swedish offices of Saab.  “We have nothing to say until we get a statement from Saab,” she says. Readers with some interest in the crumbling Saab will remember Youngman as being one of the original Chinese companies that Spyker turned to for finance when it was trying to revive Saab after its exit from General Motors. But GM thwarted any Chinese involvement, fearing its technology would be used by Youngman. That led to the Youngman deal collapsing and, in December 2011, Saab being declared bankrupt. Now, Spyker and Youngman plan to develop cars based on the Saab Phoenix platform - which was shown as a concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show - which is licensed to Youngman. This platform is not related to any GM technology. The new deal aims to see Youngman hold 80 per cent of company owning the Phoenix platform, with the remainder owned by Spyker. The pair will also develop an SUV based on the six-year-old D8 Peking-to-Paris concept, shown at the 2006 Geneva show. The D8 is to launch at the end of 2014 with a price tag of $250,000. In a statement overnight, Spyker said Youngman would invest 25 million Euros ($30 million) in the project, granting it 75 per cent of the shares, while Spyker would contribute the technology and retain 25 per cent of the shares. In addition to the two joint ventures, Youngman will pay $8 million for a 29.9 per cent equity stake in Spyker and make a shareholder loan of $4 million to the Dutch carmaker. And to further cloudy the waters, while this is going on Spyker is embroiled in a $3 billion lawsuit against GM over the demise of Saab. And we're not finished yet. Youngman hasn't sat still, last month receiving its (Chinese) local government approval to buy German bus maker Viseon Bus. Youngman will buy 74.9 per cent of Viseon for $1.2 million. Viseon, from Pilsting in Germany, posted a loss of $2.8 million on revenue of $38 million last year. Youngman will invest $3.6 million in the German bus maker and loan $7.3 million to shareholders and the company. Youngman's primary business is the manufacture of buses. It also makes small cars.  

Australia has 816 Saab owners facing a bleak New Year as all company support and warranty has been dissolved. Saab Australia managing director confirmed that Saab's filing for bankruptcy has frozen all warranties."It's tough times," says Stephen Nicholls. "All warranties have been suspended and we (Australia) are waiting for an outcome from the new administrator of Saab in Sweden."The news is bad for Australian owners compared to those in the US. General Motors - which owned Saab from 1990 to early 2010 - has announced it will honour warranties for the cars built during its ownership.But in Australia, Saab's subsequent owner Spyker in 2010 bought back the warranty book from Holden. "All Australian cars have their warranties covered by Saab - which is a problem,'' Mr Nicholls says.Saab launched its new 9-5 in April and received its last cars from the factory in May. "There have been no new cars from the factory since then,'' Mr Nicholls says. But though bleak, Mr Nicholls says Saab Tooling and Saab Parts - two separate businesses not involved in the bankruptcy of Saab Automobiles - are both profitable and are continuing to trade.``We are still able to source parts because there's an agreement to supply components for up to 10 years,'' he says. "We can't say 100 per cent of the parts are available, but it's certainly the majority.''Mr Nicholls says that though the news from Saab is hardly festive, there was a glow of optimism surrounding the future of the quirky Swede. ``It's not over till it's over,'' he says. ``We're still optimistic on news that there could be parties willing to invest in part or all of Saab.''In Europe last night, the CEO of Saab parent company Swedish Automobile, says there were ``parties out there that have expressed an interest to pursue a possible acquisition of Saab from bankruptcy''. The CEO, Victor Muller, says: ``Although this may seem like the end, it is not necessarily so.''He said it was now up to receivers appointed to oversee the bankruptcy process to judge such offers. Saab's bankruptcy filing this week came after the company had been deserted by two Chinese companies that proposed a long-winded and complex buy-out of the homeless carmaker.The buy-out was rejected by shareholder - and former owner - General Motors who argued that all its vehicle technology and intellectual property would be transferred into Chinese hands. SAAB'S ROLLMOP:July 2010: Saab's new owner, Netherlands-based sports-car maker Spyker, says it would sell 50,000-55,000 vehicles in 2010.October 2010: Spyker revised its sales target to 30,000-35,000 vehicles.December 2010: Saab sales for the year are 31,696.February 2011: Spyker plans to sell its own sports-car division to concentrate on Saab.April 2011: Suppliers to Saab halt their shipments because of unpaid invoices. Saab suspends car production.May 2011: Spyker becomes Swedish Automobiles (Swan) and says it has funds from Chinese company Hawtai to restart production. Chinese Government blocks the deal and the deal collapses. Another Chinese carmaker, Great Wall, denies it's interested in funding Saab. Spyker signs a deal with China's Pang Da Automobile Trade Company to give Saab the financing needed to restart production and give Pang Da an equity stake in Spyker. Production restarts.June 2011: Saab stops production after only two weeks due to an insufficient supply of parts. The company says it can't pay June salaries to the entire workforce of 3800 employees due to lack of funding. The trade union, IF Metall, gives Saab seven days to pay the employees or face liquidation. On June 29, Saab employees were paid. China Youngman Automobile Group Company and Pang Da announce their intention to buy 54 per cent of Saab for $320 million and finance three new models, Saab 9-1, Saab 9-6 and Saab 9-7.July 2011: Saab announces it is unable to pay July salaries to 1600 white-collar workers. However, the entire blue-collar workforce is paid on July 25. Trade union Unionen says that if Saab did not pay the white-collar workers within two weeks, Unionen will force bankruptcy. European Investment Bank says it will reject the request from Vladimir Antonov to become part-owner of Saab. August 2011: Saab pays the salaries of white-collar workers through an equity issuance from US capital investment group Gemini Fund in exchange for five million shares in Saab. The Swedish Enforcement Administration states it has more than 90 claims of $25 million against Saab for non-payment of debts. Swan announces Saab loss is $2.5 million for the six months of 2011.September 2011: Saab petitions the Swedish court for bankruptcy protection, the second time in less than three years, to stave off creditors while Youngman and Pang Da proceed with buy out plans. The Swedish courts reject Saab's bankruptcy petition, doubting that it could secure the necessary funding. Two workers' unions submit applications requesting Saab be put into liquidation. October 2011: Youngman and Pang Da agree to a joint $140 million takeover of Saab Automobile and its UK dealer network unit from Swan.December 6, 2011: GM announces it would not continue its licenses to GM patents and technology to Saab if the company had been sold to Youngman and Pang Da stating that the new owner's use of the technology is not in the best interest of GM investors.December 11, 2011: Left with no alternatives after GM blocks any Chinese partner, Saab officially files for bankruptcy.