IMPORTANT NEWS: National Electric Vehicle Sweden has agreed to buy the assets of Saab Automobile and the sale is expected to be finalized during the summer.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Saab 9-4X - a family car

Swedish car magazine Vi Bilägare has had a talk with Mikael Jacobsson, who is product manager for the 9-4X.  Below is a translation.


Questions and answers about the new Saab 9-4X

Saab's new SUV is first and foremost a family car. That’s what Mikael Jacobsson, product manager for the 9-4X, told Vi Bilägare in an interview. At the test drive of the new 9-4X Vi Bilägare’s reporter Christian Ellmark got a chat with Mikael Jacobsson.

Who is going to buy the new Saab model?
- In Sweden we believe that the 9-4X mainly will be bought as a family car. Foremost among customers in metropolitan areas, which use a bit more money on their cars. We also believe in a high percentage of women as potential buyers.

- In general, we’re guessing that customers will be a mix of Saab's friends who want to try something new, there is a particular need for a new type of car from Saab, and a lot of SUV customers from Audi.

In the important US market then, who will buy the 9-4X?
- In the US it’s mostly highly educated families that we hope for, primarily those who drove a Saab 9-7X in the past. Many US buyers are looking at downsizing and want to get a slightly smaller car than before and we hope to offer the right car for them. In the US, the Saab brand is more premium than in Sweden and there is a great interest in this car. We have seen this at car shows around the world.

Why is there no diesel?
- The explanation I can give is that it's not technically possible right now. But of course we understand that it means a lower sales volume in Europe, where many buyers prefer diesel.

How many 9-4X do you think will be sold?
- The forecast is an annual sale of 12,500 cars, and of these, around 10,000 in the United States. In Sweden, we believe in 200-400 cars per year, although we may be able to sell more in the beginning when the model is brand new.

How long will the 9-4X live as a model?
- We expect a cycle of six years, but it all depends of course on what happens to the brand in the future.