A blog fueled by enthusiasm about Saab, the greatest car company between the North and the South Pole. And their cars, which probably is the only cars that would start on a cold and crispy South Pole morning.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
2013 Saab 93
Pictures from Swedish Auto Motor & Sport: Presenting the 2013 Saab 93 that never came to be. These are pictures from the designer, Jason Castriota, of how the car was going to look like.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everybody!
It's been ages since my last post. The spirit I felt for the future for Saab disappeared when Saab became an electric car venture. I feel happy for the people who got new jobs at the new Saab and I hope many of the old Saab workers will be back at Saab some day in the near future. And I still hope that someday someone will build the Pheonix based Saab 9-3 that I was dreaming of driving this winter. A car with electric four wheel drive, gasoline turbo engine, excellent driving characteristcs for both summer and winter and state of the art safety. But I will not follow every step of everything connected to NEVS and Saab cars. I do not have the time, the energy or the enthusiasm to do so.
This does however not mean that I do not care for Saab cars anymore. I still got my Saab 9-5 and I love it just as much as before. It is still the best winter car I have ever owned or driven. For use on sunny summer days I will keep my Saab Sonett V4. It is a fantastic car. A car built by the true Saab spirit.
For Christmas this year I got a great Saab present. A small bag with the great Saab aeroplane emblem! I will proudly use this bag knowing that the emblem is the symbol of great car history.
Finally I want to apologize to those who have written to me the past months. I am sorry that I have not responded. I have no excuse.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
GM dismisses Spyker's lawsuit over Saab
Early in August Spyker Cars NV, the former owner of Saab Automobile, filed a lawsuit claiming GM deliberately drove Saab into bankruptcy. Last night GM filed its respons to the court dismissing Spykers claim.
"The nub of plaintiffs' complaint is that GM declined to approve the transaction plaintiffs proposed to enter into with Youngman. But the relevant contracts did not permit Saab to consummate the proposed transaction without GM's approval," GM says in its respons.
In its lawsuit Spyker claims that GM had no right to say that it would not support the deal between Saab and the Chinese suitors as the technology which was to be shared between the partners where developed by Saab and was not GM's technology.
"Putting aside whether this argument is factually wrong, it misses the point. GM had the right to terminate its technology license and supply agreements with Saab if there was a change in control of Saab with GM's prior consent," GM says in its respons.
"This right was clear and absolute, and did not depend on how GM's technology purportedly was being handled," GM said.
"The nub of plaintiffs' complaint is that GM declined to approve the transaction plaintiffs proposed to enter into with Youngman. But the relevant contracts did not permit Saab to consummate the proposed transaction without GM's approval," GM says in its respons.
In its lawsuit Spyker claims that GM had no right to say that it would not support the deal between Saab and the Chinese suitors as the technology which was to be shared between the partners where developed by Saab and was not GM's technology.
"Putting aside whether this argument is factually wrong, it misses the point. GM had the right to terminate its technology license and supply agreements with Saab if there was a change in control of Saab with GM's prior consent," GM says in its respons.
"This right was clear and absolute, and did not depend on how GM's technology purportedly was being handled," GM said.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Saab Powertrain chief to NEVS
Here is a piece of news that gives me some faith. Former head of Saab Automobile Powertrain AB, Kjell AC Bergström has joined the managment at NEVS. Bergström is the man who where supposed to retire a few years ago, but decided to keep working for Saab and see the Phoenix arcitecture develop into cars. Now he has joined NEVS as head technical development. So maybe there is a future for Saab after all?
Monday, September 3, 2012
NEVS finalize aquisition of Saab and right to use SAAB brand name
National ELectric Vehicle Sweden has today announced that the deal to buy the assets of Saab Automobile has been finalized. The company has also come to an agreement with the defense and security company Saab AB which gives NEVS the right to use the Saab brand name on future vehicles.
The press release:
The press release:
National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB has finalized acquisition of the Saab Automobile bankruptcy estates
Sep 03, 2012 10:00 CEST
National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS) today announced that the company has finalized its acquisition of the main assets of Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB, effective August 31, 2012. The prerequisites for implementing the NEVS business plan are now in place. The acquisition includes IP rights for the Saab 9-3, IP rights for the Phoenix platform, tools, the manufacturing plant and test and laboratory facilities. The acquisition also comprises all outstanding shares in the property company which owned the Saab facilities in Trollhättan, Sweden. The transaction was conducted as a cash purchase. The purchase amount will not be disclosed.
”The Receivers are very pleased that the transaction involving NEVS and the bankruptcy estates, which all involved parties have intensely worked for over an extended period, is now complete,” said Anne-Marie Pouteaux, Partner, Wistrand, Hans L. Bergqvist, Partner, Delphi, Receivers in bankruptcy for the Saab Automobile estate and Kent Hägglund, DLA Nordic, Co-receiver in bankruptcy for the Saab trademark and trade name rights.
“The efforts to implement our business plan can now be multiplied, focused on the development of a world-class electric vehicle in Trollhättan,” said Karl-Erling Trogen, Chairman, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB. ”In approximately 18 months, we plan to introduce our first electric vehicle based on Saab 9-3 technologies and a new technology electric powertrain. I would like to express our gratitude and thanks to the receivers for their cooperation during this very complex process.”
“Engineering and development of our first electric vehicle has been underway for an extended period in China and Japan, and now, with the manufacturing facilities in our possession, we are able to continue development work on site at Trollhättan,” said Kai Johan Jiang, CEO, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB.
NEVS is wholly owned by National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd., whose founder and principal owner is Kai Johan Jiang.
NEVS has signed a licensing agreement with Saab AB regarding the rights to use the Saab brand name for its future vehicles. The vehicle manufacturing company is named National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, “NEVS”. The vehicles and related products and services will be named SAAB. The present logotype will not be used.
Recruitment to the management team and key positions at NEVS is in progress. As of today, about 75 people have received employment offers.
”The Receivers are very pleased that the transaction involving NEVS and the bankruptcy estates, which all involved parties have intensely worked for over an extended period, is now complete,” said Anne-Marie Pouteaux, Partner, Wistrand, Hans L. Bergqvist, Partner, Delphi, Receivers in bankruptcy for the Saab Automobile estate and Kent Hägglund, DLA Nordic, Co-receiver in bankruptcy for the Saab trademark and trade name rights.
“The efforts to implement our business plan can now be multiplied, focused on the development of a world-class electric vehicle in Trollhättan,” said Karl-Erling Trogen, Chairman, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB. ”In approximately 18 months, we plan to introduce our first electric vehicle based on Saab 9-3 technologies and a new technology electric powertrain. I would like to express our gratitude and thanks to the receivers for their cooperation during this very complex process.”
“Engineering and development of our first electric vehicle has been underway for an extended period in China and Japan, and now, with the manufacturing facilities in our possession, we are able to continue development work on site at Trollhättan,” said Kai Johan Jiang, CEO, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB.
NEVS is wholly owned by National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd., whose founder and principal owner is Kai Johan Jiang.
NEVS has signed a licensing agreement with Saab AB regarding the rights to use the Saab brand name for its future vehicles. The vehicle manufacturing company is named National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, “NEVS”. The vehicles and related products and services will be named SAAB. The present logotype will not be used.
Recruitment to the management team and key positions at NEVS is in progress. As of today, about 75 people have received employment offers.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Bankruptcy administrators demand NEVS pays for Saab by Friday or no deal
Yesterday Swedish Radio P4 Väst reported that the company which has agreed to buy the assets of Saab Automobile, Netional Electric Vehicle Sweden, so far has only made a down payment of SEK 150 million of the agreed purchase price og approx. SEK 1.8 billion. According to P4 Väst, NEVS has had trouble getting the funding for the remaining amount.
Today Dagens Industri reports that the bankruptcy administrators have given NEVS an ultimatum: Pay by Friday of the deal is off.
NEVS does however say to P4 Väst that the company has access to the needed funds.
"We have the needed funds to go through with the business plan and close the deal," said NEVS spokesman Matthias Bergman to P4 Väst.
"It is a complex deal and we are working hard to close it as soon as possible. The funding is not one of the unresolved issues," he continued.
The question remains: Is NEVS a credible buyer of Saab?
Today Dagens Industri reports that the bankruptcy administrators have given NEVS an ultimatum: Pay by Friday of the deal is off.
NEVS does however say to P4 Väst that the company has access to the needed funds.
"We have the needed funds to go through with the business plan and close the deal," said NEVS spokesman Matthias Bergman to P4 Väst.
"It is a complex deal and we are working hard to close it as soon as possible. The funding is not one of the unresolved issues," he continued.
The question remains: Is NEVS a credible buyer of Saab?
Monday, August 27, 2012
Spyker partners up with Youngman to make luxury Saab based vehicles
My first thought was that this had to be an old press release from 2011 that somehow had found its way back into the headline of Automotive News Europe, but believe it or not, Spyker and Youngman have actually agreed to form yet another partnership. This time to cooperate in using the license to the Saab Pheonix architecture, which Youngman bought in September 2011, to develop and produce a number of luxury vehicles.
According to TTELA, CEO of Spyker and former CEO of Saab Automobile, Victor Muller, says that the cars will draw inspiration from the Saab design and the man in charge of the design will be no other than Jason Castriota, former design chief of Saab.
"There will definitly be a lot of Saab in the cars, but they will be more premium. We will continue where we left off," Victor Muller says.
Youngman will invest several million Euros and the first car can be ready to launch at the end of 2015.
Everybody who have followed the Saab saga the past years will see the similarities with several other framework deals that have been signed between Spyker and other companies, deals that somehow all ended up with nothing. Do we believe in this last deal?
The Spyker press release:
According to TTELA, CEO of Spyker and former CEO of Saab Automobile, Victor Muller, says that the cars will draw inspiration from the Saab design and the man in charge of the design will be no other than Jason Castriota, former design chief of Saab.
"There will definitly be a lot of Saab in the cars, but they will be more premium. We will continue where we left off," Victor Muller says.
Youngman will invest several million Euros and the first car can be ready to launch at the end of 2015.
Everybody who have followed the Saab saga the past years will see the similarities with several other framework deals that have been signed between Spyker and other companies, deals that somehow all ended up with nothing. Do we believe in this last deal?
The Spyker press release:
Press release
SPYKER AND YOUNGMAN SIGN FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR 29.9 PERCENT STAKE, JOINT VENTURE FOR SPYKER D8 SSUV AND JOINT VENTURE FOR NEW PRODUCT RANGE BASED ON PHOENIX PLATFORM
Zeewolde, the Netherlands, 27 August 2012 -- Spyker N.V. ("Spyker") announces that it signed a Framework Agreement with the Chinese car manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman Passenger Car Group Co, Ltd ("Youngman") today.
Today's Framework Agreement entails the following :
* Subject to satisfactory completion by Youngman of a due diligence on Spyker and the satisfaction of relevant conditions to be set forth in the definitive transaction documentation, Youngman will invest Euro 10,000,000 in Spyker of which approximately Euro 6,700,000 as subscription for such number of Class A shares in Spyker as will constitute 29.9% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Spyker on a fully diluted basis for a price of Euro 0.05 per share, and the remaining approximately Euro 3,300,000 shall be provided to Spyker in the form of a shareholder loan. Youngman undertakes to not exceed the 29.9 percent threshold and therefore has no ambition to make a mandatory offer on all outstanding shares in Spyker.
* Youngman shall pay the first tranche of the share subscription in an amount of Euro 2,300,000 to Spyker within 7 days as of today.
* Youngman shall pay the remaining Euro 7,700,000 no later than 45 days after the execution of the definitive transaction documentation.
* Youngman and Spyker will jointly invest in a Joint Venture to be called Spyker P2P B.V. ("Spyker P2P") in which Youngman will make a cash contribution in the amount of Euro 25,000,000 and will hold 75% of the shares whilst Spyker will make its contribution by transferring the technology it developed for the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris, a $ 250,000 four door Super Sports Utility Vehicle ("SSUV") ,as well as the Spyker trademarks and will hold 25% of Spyker P2P's shares. Youngman's contribution shall be paid in installments in accordance with the development and manufacturing plan of the SSUV with the objective of launching that car by the end of 2014. Additional models on the SSUV technology are being contemplated.
* Youngman and Spyker will jointly incorporate a second Joint Venture to be called Spyker Phoenix B.V.("Spyker Phoenix") in which Youngman will contribute the rights to the Phoenix platform as developed by Saab Automobile AB in 2010/2011 to which Youngman acquired a license in 2011 as well as provide all required funding. Youngman will hold 80% of Spyker Phoenix' shares whilst Spyker will hold 20% of Spyker Phoenix' shares which shareholding will be exempt from dilution.
Spyker Phoenix shall develop and manufacture a new full range of premium car models based on the Phoenix platform which models will be positioned higher than the comparable Saab models were. Spyker Phoenix products may be manufactured in Europe and China as the case may be.
Youngman and Spyker agree to provide all the (manufacturing) technologies owned by each of them to Spyker Phoenix for its use free of charge.
Victor R. Muller, Spyker's CEO said:" Since the regretful demise of Saab Automobile AB in December 2011,we have been investigating the possibilities to continue our intended cooperation with Youngman to the benefit of both companies thereby utilizing the assets, both tangible as well as intangible, each of us has at its disposal. With this Framework Agreement, Youngman and Spyker lay the foundation for an intense cooperation whereby we will pursue the objectives we each had in mind when we were forging our cooperation as partners in Saab Automobile AB. We clearly share the vision on how to shape Spyker's future as partners going forward ."
Pang Qingnian, Youngman's CEO said:" We have felt all along that a cooperation with Spyker had to be pursued, even after we both unjustifiedly lost the opportunity to restructure Saab Automobile AB as a going concern and jointly develop its business, however, we secured Saab Automobile's technology. With this Agreement, many of our original intentions with the "Saab" brand will still take shape and we are excited to help Spyker further develop its vehicle model range with the SSUV and vehicles based on Saab Automobile's Phoenix platform technology both in China as well as in the rest of the world."
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Scania can not deny NEVS the use of Gripen
According to TTELA, which cites Svenska Dagbladet, truck developer and manufacturer Scania AB can not deny Saab Automobile the use of the Gripen (Griffin) emblem.
Svenska Dagbladet has spoken to Henrik Klackenberg from Sweden's National Archives. According Klackenberg, the Gripen emblem does not belong to Scania but has been in the possession of Malmö Municipality the last 500 years. As early as 1437, Malmö had a red griffin as a city emblem.
In other words, it is not up to Scania to decide whether Saab Automobile can use the Gripen, it is up to Malmö Municipality or possibly the county of Skåne.
"As long as it does not imply patent or trademark infringement, we have no objections. They can use it freely", said Helene Persson at Malmö Municipality.
Svenska Dagbladet has spoken to Henrik Klackenberg from Sweden's National Archives. According Klackenberg, the Gripen emblem does not belong to Scania but has been in the possession of Malmö Municipality the last 500 years. As early as 1437, Malmö had a red griffin as a city emblem.
In other words, it is not up to Scania to decide whether Saab Automobile can use the Gripen, it is up to Malmö Municipality or possibly the county of Skåne.
"As long as it does not imply patent or trademark infringement, we have no objections. They can use it freely", said Helene Persson at Malmö Municipality.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
No more Gripen for Saab
As reported earlier, National Electric Vehcile Sweden, which is the buyer of Saab Automobile, has been negotiating with the security and defence company Saab AB and the truck manufacturer Scania AB in order to be allowed to use the SAAB brand name and the Gripen (Griffin) logo on future Saab cars. But now Scania has decided that NEVS and Saab Automobile will not be allowed to use the Gripen logo in the future.
"It is a very attractive emblem in China and we do not want anything disturbing our business there," said Hans-Åke Danielsson at Scania to TTELA.
Negotiations concerning the brand name SAAB is still ongoing with Saab AB and no decision has been reached yet.
"We look at it [the brand name] as an important asset with strong ties to us, but there is really no news in the matter. Talks are still ongoing," said Sebastian Carlsson at Saab AB.
"It is a very attractive emblem in China and we do not want anything disturbing our business there," said Hans-Åke Danielsson at Scania to TTELA.
Negotiations concerning the brand name SAAB is still ongoing with Saab AB and no decision has been reached yet.
"We look at it [the brand name] as an important asset with strong ties to us, but there is really no news in the matter. Talks are still ongoing," said Sebastian Carlsson at Saab AB.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Spyker Cars files lawsuit against General Motors
Spyker Cars, the previous parent company of Saab Automobile, today annouced that it has filed a lawsuit against General Motors. Spyker claims that GM took unlawful actions to push Saab into bankruptcy and thus avoid competition with Saab in the Chinese market. Here's the press release:
But this lawsuit, if successfull, will of course not bring the good old Saab back. It can only bring a nice profit (90 per cent of the award) to Spyker Cars and its shareholders. If it wasn't all about money earlier, it certainly is now. But it would be nice to see GM get its ass kicked in court!
PRESS RELEASE: SPYKER FILES A THREE BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS
Zeewolde, the Netherlands, 6 August 2012 -- Spyker N.V. (Spyker) announced that it has filed a complaint against General Motors Company ("GM") in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan today at 08.00 AM EST. Spyker filed the complaint in its own right and on behalf of its 100 percent subsidiary Saab Automobile A.B., which was declared bankrupt on December 19, 2011.
This lawsuit seeks redress for the unlawful actions GM took to avoid competition with Saab Automobile in the Chinese market. GM's actions had the direct and intended objective of driving Saab Automobile into bankruptcy, a result of GM's tortiously interfering with a transaction between Saab Automobile, Spyker and Chinese investor Youngman that would have permitted Saab Automobile to restructure and remain a solvent, going concern. The monetary value of the claim amounts to US$ 3 billion (three billion US dollars).
Since Saab Automobile is in receivership and hence incapable to contribute to the costs of litigation, Spyker and Saab Automobile have entered into an agreement pursuant to which Spyker will bear the costs of such litigation in exchange for a very substantial share of Saab Automobile's award when the proceedings are successful. Spyker has secured the financial backing required to see the lawsuit through to the end from a third party investor.
Victor R. Muller, Spyker's Chief Executive Officer said: "Ever since we were forced to file for Saab Automobile's bankruptcy in December of last year, we have worked relentlessly on the preparation for this lawsuit which seeks to compensate Spyker and Saab for the massive damages we have incurred as a result of GM's unlawful actions.
We owe it to our stakeholders and ourselves that justice is done and we will pursue this lawsuit with the same tenacity and perseverance that we had when we tirelessly worked to save Saab Automobile, until GM destroyed those efforts and deliberately drove Saab Automobile into bankruptcy."
But this lawsuit, if successfull, will of course not bring the good old Saab back. It can only bring a nice profit (90 per cent of the award) to Spyker Cars and its shareholders. If it wasn't all about money earlier, it certainly is now. But it would be nice to see GM get its ass kicked in court!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Sonett summer is over
Hi everybody!
Let me first apologize for not writing here on the blog since 29 June. And thank you for the emails and messages you have sent me the past month. I guess what happened in June was that I lost the energy and the spirit I need to write a Saab blog. When National Electric Vehicle Sweden bought Saab, the air went out of the balloon so to speak. That does not mean that I have no faith in NEVS or that you should not have faith in NEVS. Let's give them a chance.
So what have I done this summer? Well, I have been relaxing, reading, fishing, kayak paddling, mountain biking, and of course driving the Sonett. I have to say that the Sonett is a true driver's car. My Saab 9-5 is extremely comfortable and pleasant to drive. The Sonett is fun, fun, fun! The steering is very precise (shocking precise given that it is a 44 year old car), the engine revs beautifully, the free wheel driving is exciting and you just enjoy cruising, accelerating, steering through bends and of course the look on people's faces when you pass by. So my love for Saab is not gone.
What will happen to Life with Saab? At the moment I don't know. I guess now that my summer vacation is over I will start following Saab again and write on the blog, maybe. Or maybe not. I will just have to give it a few days, maybe a week or two and see if the energy and the spirit is still there.
Anyway, I hope you too have had a good summer and don't worry, not much has happened in the Saab world the past month or two. NEVS is still the buyer of Saab, allthough the deal has not been completely finalized yet.
Let me first apologize for not writing here on the blog since 29 June. And thank you for the emails and messages you have sent me the past month. I guess what happened in June was that I lost the energy and the spirit I need to write a Saab blog. When National Electric Vehicle Sweden bought Saab, the air went out of the balloon so to speak. That does not mean that I have no faith in NEVS or that you should not have faith in NEVS. Let's give them a chance.
So what have I done this summer? Well, I have been relaxing, reading, fishing, kayak paddling, mountain biking, and of course driving the Sonett. I have to say that the Sonett is a true driver's car. My Saab 9-5 is extremely comfortable and pleasant to drive. The Sonett is fun, fun, fun! The steering is very precise (shocking precise given that it is a 44 year old car), the engine revs beautifully, the free wheel driving is exciting and you just enjoy cruising, accelerating, steering through bends and of course the look on people's faces when you pass by. So my love for Saab is not gone.
What will happen to Life with Saab? At the moment I don't know. I guess now that my summer vacation is over I will start following Saab again and write on the blog, maybe. Or maybe not. I will just have to give it a few days, maybe a week or two and see if the energy and the spirit is still there.
Anyway, I hope you too have had a good summer and don't worry, not much has happened in the Saab world the past month or two. NEVS is still the buyer of Saab, allthough the deal has not been completely finalized yet.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Saab brand name is not a deal breaker
When the deal where National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) buys the assets of Saab Automobile from the bankruptcy administrators was announced two weeks ago, the discussions with Saab AB and Scaina AB concerning the right to use the SAAB brand name had not been concluded. And one week later we got reports that there were disagreements concerning the right to use the brand name. And that this disagreement could possibly be a deal breaker. But now majority owner of NEVS, Kai Johan Jiang, has told Dagens Industri that NEVS wants Saab Automobile no matter what happens with the brand name.
"Our risk assessment of the acquisition has been ongoing for two years and we have concluded that we will go through with the deal even if we for some reason would not get access to the SAAB brand name," Jiang told DI.
"If we can use the brand name, it will of course be a huge bonus," he added.
Since the deal was announced a lot of people have expressed their opinion on the future possiblilities for an all electric Saab. The acquisition has gotten both praise and criticism. To DI Jiang admits that it is a high risk project.
"Sure it is a high risk project that I'm entering into. But Saab is a very fine company with a great ability for innovation and we have found an unique way to develop the company. Cars run on electricity is the future."
And Jiang is sad that NEVS' ability to bring new life into Saab is being questioned.
"Of course it saddens me, it hurts me deeply. But I will do all I can to prove that this will be a success."
"Our risk assessment of the acquisition has been ongoing for two years and we have concluded that we will go through with the deal even if we for some reason would not get access to the SAAB brand name," Jiang told DI.
"If we can use the brand name, it will of course be a huge bonus," he added.
Since the deal was announced a lot of people have expressed their opinion on the future possiblilities for an all electric Saab. The acquisition has gotten both praise and criticism. To DI Jiang admits that it is a high risk project.
"Sure it is a high risk project that I'm entering into. But Saab is a very fine company with a great ability for innovation and we have found an unique way to develop the company. Cars run on electricity is the future."
And Jiang is sad that NEVS' ability to bring new life into Saab is being questioned.
"Of course it saddens me, it hurts me deeply. But I will do all I can to prove that this will be a success."
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Disagreement on the SAAB brand name
You thought the Saab sale was done and peace and quiet could return to Saab? Think again. This is afterall the Saab saga. Nothing is done untill every deal is signed and money paid...
Today Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reports that there is disagreement around the SAAB brand name. On one side we have the defence and aerospace company Saab AB and the truck maker Scania AB, and they claim that they have to approve a new owner of Saab in order for this new owner to be able to use the SAAB brand name. On the other side we have Saab Automobile's new owner National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) and
the bankruptcy administrators, and they disagree with Saab AB and Scania.
The use of the SAAB brand name is reuglated by two agreements from the 1990ies. And the problem is that these agreements are now being interpreted different by the two sides.
None of the involved parties would however make comments to Svenska Dagbladet, so it is impossible to know if this is just a storm in a teacup or a serious problem that can bring down the deal.
Sources say that Saab AB got fed up with all the mess and uncertainty around Saab when Spyker owned the company. Reason being that many people around the world do not know the difference between the defense and aerospace company Saab AB and the car company Saab Automobile AB. And so people thought that also Saab AB was in trouble. To ensure this won't happen again, Saab AB wants a long term owner of Saab. And if Saab AB is reluctant to approve NEVS, then maybe they doubt if NEVS is in this for the long term, or the credibility of the business plan or the funding.
Today Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reports that there is disagreement around the SAAB brand name. On one side we have the defence and aerospace company Saab AB and the truck maker Scania AB, and they claim that they have to approve a new owner of Saab in order for this new owner to be able to use the SAAB brand name. On the other side we have Saab Automobile's new owner National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) and
the bankruptcy administrators, and they disagree with Saab AB and Scania.
The use of the SAAB brand name is reuglated by two agreements from the 1990ies. And the problem is that these agreements are now being interpreted different by the two sides.
None of the involved parties would however make comments to Svenska Dagbladet, so it is impossible to know if this is just a storm in a teacup or a serious problem that can bring down the deal.
Sources say that Saab AB got fed up with all the mess and uncertainty around Saab when Spyker owned the company. Reason being that many people around the world do not know the difference between the defense and aerospace company Saab AB and the car company Saab Automobile AB. And so people thought that also Saab AB was in trouble. To ensure this won't happen again, Saab AB wants a long term owner of Saab. And if Saab AB is reluctant to approve NEVS, then maybe they doubt if NEVS is in this for the long term, or the credibility of the business plan or the funding.
Friday, June 15, 2012
A rewind to Saab zero emission convertible
I guess after this week's announcement that NEVS buys Saab, many of us are skeptical about future Saab products. Electric cars of today are not very versatile. They are mostly small but heavy, have a very limited range, long charge time and are very expensive. So it is easy to be doubtful to future Saab products. But the problems with electric vehicles will of course fixed. They will develop into normal sized cars with normal range and acceptable charge time. But this will take time. And the question is if Saab will be given that time by its owners and the market. For now, let us learn about how great Saab's electric convertible concept was perceived all the way back in 2009. Swedish Auto Motor & Sport tested the Saab zero emission convertible and liked it a lot. Below is a translation of their write up after the test drive.
Close Encounter
Saab 9-3 True Electric. In about one year's time, Saab can start selling electric cars that can be driven 300 km on one charge and that costs around 350000 SEK. The company Electroengine, located in Uppsala, is responsible for the flash of genius.
You've read it before: bzzzzzzz, and then the electric car drives away! Zero emissions, zero excitement, zero reality in the world of car buyers - however, the maximum dream, weight and price. But this is not yet another test drive down the same line. Although I’m sitting in the first prototype the driving experience is so good that I would buy it directly. There is no feeling of drawbacks.
The engines don’t sound like high whining sewing machines, but make a kind of rough sound and, yes, a mechanical feeling. Directly on the drive shafts there are two large electric motors of more than 165 horsepower each! There is no gearbox and therefore not any noise from the gears. But what gives you that real feeling of desire is not really the car itself but the fact that the technology inside has taken a major leap forward compared to the electric cars I’ve previously driven. And the strange thing, or should we say symptomatic thing, is that the technology does not come from the automotive sector, but from a small technology company, who happens to be located in Uppsala: Electroengine.
Thomas Bergfjord is the technology brains behind the car. An entrepreneur who has been interested in electric cars for years, but for only a little over a year ago realized that the technology was ready for implementation. The breakthrough is the battery management. In a typical electric car you can only empty about 80 percent of the capacity in the battery pack. As a comparison, it’s like it always has to be ten liters of petrol left in the tank. In a conventional electric vehicle the battery pack provides no more capacity than what the weakest cell permits. When the batteries age, the capacity decreases severely.
In a conventional electric car the battery maker have to work around 100 hours on matching cells with similar qualities. Think of it this way: the cells in a battery are individuals with different characteristics. In order to provide a battery pack that serves as a unit you have to find the batteries that match. If one or more cells in a conventional electric vehicle get damaged after a crash or an electrical fault, it is almost impossible to replace just a few battery cells. The entire package must be replaced. That’s expensive. Very expensive.
When you charge a conventional electric car you can not fast charge more than to when the first cell reaches its maximum. Thereafter the charging gets slow and energy is lost due to heat. In a conventional electric car you need to put much effort - energy - to keep the battery pack at a constant temperature. Variable temperature weakens the performance according to this principle: the weakest cell is in control.
But today I drive no ordinary electric car. According to Thomas Bergfjord all these problems are solved, thanks to a new approach to balancing and controlling the cells in the battery pack. The small company has filed twelve patent applications, and there are more to come. The strongest cells send their energy to the weakest. The production of the batteries is faster and cheaper because you do not have to add the 100 hours in matching the cells. The fast charging phase becomes longer because the strong cells will send the current to the weaker cells. Problems with varying temperature are reduced significantly, meaning that the batteries could be spread out on different places in the car.
And you can replace individual cells. “The most important things aren’t that we can drive farther and that the batteries will be cheaper and faster to produce. The most important thing is that we can repair a battery pack. This means that second-hand car market can function and that leasing companies can be interested. A 100000 SEK brick that suddenly becomes worthless is the greatest danger for electric power”, says Christer Wikner who is the “businessman”.
When I sit behind the wheel, it feels like driving any car, but actually a bit better. The silence is beautiful, but it is the character of the car that seduces me. A gearless car is wonderfully pleasant, no shudder, just a steady flow. It is said that the electric engine provides full torque from start and the torque on this car is said to be unbelievably 2400 Nm. But there are no crazy burnouts, but rather a dignified suction that increases with the speed.
The explanation is that the effect is adjusted so that it will feel like a “normal” car. Of the 335 horsepower, I can only use just under half “because this is the first prototype”. Typical! But the possibilities you get with two separate engines is extremely exciting. “For the chassis guys this is a pure gold mine, the front axle can easily be locked at low speed for better traction and it is no problem to apply more torque on the outer wheel, which would make the front wheel drive car wonderfully controllable when cornering - if you like,“ continues Thomas.
The curb weight with batteries for 300 km of driving is the same as that of a petrol car, and it’s noticeable. Or rather, the car feels smooth and balanced as any Saab convertible. The regenerative engine braking can be programmed at will, and the batteries can be placed low in the car, which makes the least “damage” so that the car's balance is not affected.
Another fun feature is that the energy consumption is virtually the same at 110 km/h when driving an electric car with 150 or 350 hp. But why does a small company like Electroengine choose to work with the “high-risk partner” Saab, and where is the money coming from, and what about the charge time and can this project turn into real cars?
Thomas: “Saab is small enough for this to work. We can schedule a meeting with ten decision makers and sit in the same room. In addition, the contact with everybody at Saab has been characterized by a positive optimism. Despite all the uncertainty they have never been difficult to understand or used their size against us. It’s been incredibly impressive and nice. But I want to stress that we only have a partnership and not yet a finished deal on production.“
The money for the company is so far coming from the founders who have had good support from Almi in Uppsala, but they hope for government aid money. The bureaucracy works slowly.
With a standard power outlet you can charge to 15 km per hour. A three-phase power outlet and 16 amps gives a little less than 100 km per hour. If you connect it to 32 amp you can charge 200 km in one hour.
Thomas tells me something I have not heard before. “Everybody talks about that you can fast charge a battery up to 80 percent. But that applies only when you charge from zero. If you have emptied the battery to 60 percent, you can just fast charge to 80 for the best cell. But we can, as mentioned, charge more than normal electric cars.“
Then the question of reality. Thomas and his colleagues are now working on new prototypes to be tested properly. The plan is that Saab will build 100 cars next year for field testing at large partners. “We see no reason for not starting to sell electric cars to regular customers in about one year's time. And prices will go down as volumes go up. In addition, we are thinking about after market sets for used cars!“
Christian von Koenigsegg has test driven the car and likes it. He is thinking fondly of electric Koenigsegg cars and believes that Saab should go directly to electric cars without first taking the road through hybrids - even though those cars also may be built.
What can I say? Sure it sounds almost too good to be true. But this feels more down to earth and likely than for instance the concept bluff Quant on the Geneva motor show. Which large inventions didn’t sound unbelievable when they before they became reality?
Close Encounter
Saab 9-3 True Electric. In about one year's time, Saab can start selling electric cars that can be driven 300 km on one charge and that costs around 350000 SEK. The company Electroengine, located in Uppsala, is responsible for the flash of genius.
You've read it before: bzzzzzzz, and then the electric car drives away! Zero emissions, zero excitement, zero reality in the world of car buyers - however, the maximum dream, weight and price. But this is not yet another test drive down the same line. Although I’m sitting in the first prototype the driving experience is so good that I would buy it directly. There is no feeling of drawbacks.
The engines don’t sound like high whining sewing machines, but make a kind of rough sound and, yes, a mechanical feeling. Directly on the drive shafts there are two large electric motors of more than 165 horsepower each! There is no gearbox and therefore not any noise from the gears. But what gives you that real feeling of desire is not really the car itself but the fact that the technology inside has taken a major leap forward compared to the electric cars I’ve previously driven. And the strange thing, or should we say symptomatic thing, is that the technology does not come from the automotive sector, but from a small technology company, who happens to be located in Uppsala: Electroengine.
Thomas Bergfjord is the technology brains behind the car. An entrepreneur who has been interested in electric cars for years, but for only a little over a year ago realized that the technology was ready for implementation. The breakthrough is the battery management. In a typical electric car you can only empty about 80 percent of the capacity in the battery pack. As a comparison, it’s like it always has to be ten liters of petrol left in the tank. In a conventional electric vehicle the battery pack provides no more capacity than what the weakest cell permits. When the batteries age, the capacity decreases severely.
In a conventional electric car the battery maker have to work around 100 hours on matching cells with similar qualities. Think of it this way: the cells in a battery are individuals with different characteristics. In order to provide a battery pack that serves as a unit you have to find the batteries that match. If one or more cells in a conventional electric vehicle get damaged after a crash or an electrical fault, it is almost impossible to replace just a few battery cells. The entire package must be replaced. That’s expensive. Very expensive.
When you charge a conventional electric car you can not fast charge more than to when the first cell reaches its maximum. Thereafter the charging gets slow and energy is lost due to heat. In a conventional electric car you need to put much effort - energy - to keep the battery pack at a constant temperature. Variable temperature weakens the performance according to this principle: the weakest cell is in control.
But today I drive no ordinary electric car. According to Thomas Bergfjord all these problems are solved, thanks to a new approach to balancing and controlling the cells in the battery pack. The small company has filed twelve patent applications, and there are more to come. The strongest cells send their energy to the weakest. The production of the batteries is faster and cheaper because you do not have to add the 100 hours in matching the cells. The fast charging phase becomes longer because the strong cells will send the current to the weaker cells. Problems with varying temperature are reduced significantly, meaning that the batteries could be spread out on different places in the car.
And you can replace individual cells. “The most important things aren’t that we can drive farther and that the batteries will be cheaper and faster to produce. The most important thing is that we can repair a battery pack. This means that second-hand car market can function and that leasing companies can be interested. A 100000 SEK brick that suddenly becomes worthless is the greatest danger for electric power”, says Christer Wikner who is the “businessman”.
When I sit behind the wheel, it feels like driving any car, but actually a bit better. The silence is beautiful, but it is the character of the car that seduces me. A gearless car is wonderfully pleasant, no shudder, just a steady flow. It is said that the electric engine provides full torque from start and the torque on this car is said to be unbelievably 2400 Nm. But there are no crazy burnouts, but rather a dignified suction that increases with the speed.
The explanation is that the effect is adjusted so that it will feel like a “normal” car. Of the 335 horsepower, I can only use just under half “because this is the first prototype”. Typical! But the possibilities you get with two separate engines is extremely exciting. “For the chassis guys this is a pure gold mine, the front axle can easily be locked at low speed for better traction and it is no problem to apply more torque on the outer wheel, which would make the front wheel drive car wonderfully controllable when cornering - if you like,“ continues Thomas.
The curb weight with batteries for 300 km of driving is the same as that of a petrol car, and it’s noticeable. Or rather, the car feels smooth and balanced as any Saab convertible. The regenerative engine braking can be programmed at will, and the batteries can be placed low in the car, which makes the least “damage” so that the car's balance is not affected.
Another fun feature is that the energy consumption is virtually the same at 110 km/h when driving an electric car with 150 or 350 hp. But why does a small company like Electroengine choose to work with the “high-risk partner” Saab, and where is the money coming from, and what about the charge time and can this project turn into real cars?
Thomas: “Saab is small enough for this to work. We can schedule a meeting with ten decision makers and sit in the same room. In addition, the contact with everybody at Saab has been characterized by a positive optimism. Despite all the uncertainty they have never been difficult to understand or used their size against us. It’s been incredibly impressive and nice. But I want to stress that we only have a partnership and not yet a finished deal on production.“
The money for the company is so far coming from the founders who have had good support from Almi in Uppsala, but they hope for government aid money. The bureaucracy works slowly.
With a standard power outlet you can charge to 15 km per hour. A three-phase power outlet and 16 amps gives a little less than 100 km per hour. If you connect it to 32 amp you can charge 200 km in one hour.
Thomas tells me something I have not heard before. “Everybody talks about that you can fast charge a battery up to 80 percent. But that applies only when you charge from zero. If you have emptied the battery to 60 percent, you can just fast charge to 80 for the best cell. But we can, as mentioned, charge more than normal electric cars.“
Then the question of reality. Thomas and his colleagues are now working on new prototypes to be tested properly. The plan is that Saab will build 100 cars next year for field testing at large partners. “We see no reason for not starting to sell electric cars to regular customers in about one year's time. And prices will go down as volumes go up. In addition, we are thinking about after market sets for used cars!“
Christian von Koenigsegg has test driven the car and likes it. He is thinking fondly of electric Koenigsegg cars and believes that Saab should go directly to electric cars without first taking the road through hybrids - even though those cars also may be built.
What can I say? Sure it sounds almost too good to be true. But this feels more down to earth and likely than for instance the concept bluff Quant on the Geneva motor show. Which large inventions didn’t sound unbelievable when they before they became reality?
Thursday, June 14, 2012
NEVS to co-operate with Mahindra?
According to Swedish buiness news Dagens Industri, Saab's new owner National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) is looking for a car manufacturer to start a co-operation. This car manufacturer could be Mahindra & Mahindra of India.
Several weeks ago there were whispers that the "Japanese-Chinese" electric car consortium and Mahindra were in talks regarding Saab. Now Dagens Industri reports that Mahindra could get the responsibility of completing the development of Saab's Phoenix platform. This would probably mean that Mahindra will gain access to use the platform on their own vehicles. And this could explain why Mahindra in the end did not seem that eager to end up as owner of Saab.
It is estimated that SEK 2 billions is needed to complete the Phoenx platform. According to Kai Johan Jiang, primary owner of NEVS, SEK 7 billion has been raised to develop and manufacture electric vehicles. In addition to Saab's own technology, it is also said that technology from Toyota will be used.
Dagens Industri also reports that there are plans to continue manufacturing of "traditional cars" in Trollhättan. Cars with low CO2 emmissions. It is however not mentioned what make these cars will have.
Several weeks ago there were whispers that the "Japanese-Chinese" electric car consortium and Mahindra were in talks regarding Saab. Now Dagens Industri reports that Mahindra could get the responsibility of completing the development of Saab's Phoenix platform. This would probably mean that Mahindra will gain access to use the platform on their own vehicles. And this could explain why Mahindra in the end did not seem that eager to end up as owner of Saab.
It is estimated that SEK 2 billions is needed to complete the Phoenx platform. According to Kai Johan Jiang, primary owner of NEVS, SEK 7 billion has been raised to develop and manufacture electric vehicles. In addition to Saab's own technology, it is also said that technology from Toyota will be used.
Dagens Industri also reports that there are plans to continue manufacturing of "traditional cars" in Trollhättan. Cars with low CO2 emmissions. It is however not mentioned what make these cars will have.
Who will sell the electric Saab cars?
Yesterday Saab got new owners and from now on Saab is an electric car company. I have earlier asked how on earth Saab in the short run can manage to sell enough electric cars to turn a profit. And when the profits fail to appear, do the new owers have deep enough pockets to keep Saab alive? Now I ask who is gonna sell these cars?
Yesterday NEVS revealed that their first car, an electrified Saab 9-3, will be launched at the turn of the year 2013. That means 18 months from now. Around mid-summer 2014, NEVS expects the production at Saab to reach a considerable volume. And in the long run, the production should reach maximum capacity, which means 150,000 - 200,000 cars each year.
The main market for Saab electric vehicles will be China. China is the world's most-populous country and the world's biggest market for cars. It is also the world's third biggest country in square kilometers. And in this enourmous country, Saab has currently no presence and is a totally unknown brand. In order to make it big in China, Saab will need a well functioning distribution network and lots of dealers. And Saab needs time and lots of money to increase the brand awareness. So just who will be Saab's partner in China? Without a powerful partner, Saab does not stand a chance.
What about the US and Europe? Here Saab had a well functioning distribution network based on hundreds of dealers. Some which had been with Saab since the 50s or 60s. But this network has slowly been crumbing away for the last 2-3 years. How much of it will be left when Saab's first electric car will be launched at the turn of 2013? And do the dealers really see a future in selling only one electric Saab car each week when they used to sell one turbo Saab each day?
For now I will only ask these questions and will not try to give any answers. Mostly because I have no idea what the answers are, but also because today is only the day after NEVS bought Saab and I should probably give NEVS some time to address these issues.
But as you probably understand, I am very sceptical to NEVS and its plans for Saab. But I am open to be convinced that this is the best option for a continued Life with Saab.
Yesterday NEVS revealed that their first car, an electrified Saab 9-3, will be launched at the turn of the year 2013. That means 18 months from now. Around mid-summer 2014, NEVS expects the production at Saab to reach a considerable volume. And in the long run, the production should reach maximum capacity, which means 150,000 - 200,000 cars each year.
The main market for Saab electric vehicles will be China. China is the world's most-populous country and the world's biggest market for cars. It is also the world's third biggest country in square kilometers. And in this enourmous country, Saab has currently no presence and is a totally unknown brand. In order to make it big in China, Saab will need a well functioning distribution network and lots of dealers. And Saab needs time and lots of money to increase the brand awareness. So just who will be Saab's partner in China? Without a powerful partner, Saab does not stand a chance.
What about the US and Europe? Here Saab had a well functioning distribution network based on hundreds of dealers. Some which had been with Saab since the 50s or 60s. But this network has slowly been crumbing away for the last 2-3 years. How much of it will be left when Saab's first electric car will be launched at the turn of 2013? And do the dealers really see a future in selling only one electric Saab car each week when they used to sell one turbo Saab each day?
For now I will only ask these questions and will not try to give any answers. Mostly because I have no idea what the answers are, but also because today is only the day after NEVS bought Saab and I should probably give NEVS some time to address these issues.
But as you probably understand, I am very sceptical to NEVS and its plans for Saab. But I am open to be convinced that this is the best option for a continued Life with Saab.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
NEVS buys Saab, first electric car to launch in 2013/2014, no plans for hybrid cars
On a press conference just now, it is being announced that the Saab bankruptcy administrators and the company National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB have reached a deal for the sale of the assets of Saab Automobile AB and its two subsidiaries Saab Automobile Tools AB and Saab Automobile Powertrain AB.
Saab's new owner, Kai Johan Jiang. Picture from TTELA.
Saab Automobile Parts AB is NOT included in the sale. Saab Parts and NEVS have however reached an agreement. At the moment it is unknown what this agreement covers.
NEVS has acquired Saab Property (including the part of the property company previously owned by Hemfosa), Saab Tools (except tools for the 9-5, 9-4X) Saab Powertrain and the Phoenix platform. NEVS has no interest in the Saab 9-5 and 9-4X. Both because GM has the rights and will not sell, and because the platforms are to heavy to be used for electric vehicles. NEVS's interest is in the rights to the current Saab 9-3. The sole focus of NEVS is on electric cars. NEVS has no focus on hybrid cars.
NEVS has not bought Saab Parts, but has an agreement on co-operation with Saab Parts.
NEVS will use knowledge and technology from Saab and other Swedish companies together with advanced Japanese electric vehicle technology to develop and manufacture premium electric vehicles in Trollhättan. Vehicles which will conquer first and foremost the Chinese market, but also the US market.
NEVS has also access to Japanese electric vehicles platforms that will be used.
Saab is a credible company to present new technology and new premium electric vehicles. The discussions concerning the brand name is however not concluded, which means that NEVS has so far not reached an agreements with Saab AB and Scania AB concerning the SAAB brand name. But NEVS is optimistic about reaching a deal.
At least 200 engineers will be recurited at first in Trollhättan. The first product, an electric Saab 9-3, will be launched on the market at the turn of the year 2013. Within two years of today NEVS expects the manufacturing in Trollhättan to reach considerable volumes. Long term goal is to reach the maximum capacity at Trollhättan, which is 200,000 cars each year.
The largest owner of NEVS, National Modern Energy Holdings is registered in British Virgin Islands, has its base in Hong Kong and most of its business in China with 28 bioenergy powerplants and 9 under construction.
The second owner, Japanese Sun Ivestments, is owned by private investors, companies (including listed companies) and banks. Sun Investments is focusing on commercializing and increasing sale of Japanese technology to electric vehicles.
Saab's new owner, Kai Johan Jiang. Picture from TTELA.
Saab Automobile Parts AB is NOT included in the sale. Saab Parts and NEVS have however reached an agreement. At the moment it is unknown what this agreement covers.
NEVS has acquired Saab Property (including the part of the property company previously owned by Hemfosa), Saab Tools (except tools for the 9-5, 9-4X) Saab Powertrain and the Phoenix platform. NEVS has no interest in the Saab 9-5 and 9-4X. Both because GM has the rights and will not sell, and because the platforms are to heavy to be used for electric vehicles. NEVS's interest is in the rights to the current Saab 9-3. The sole focus of NEVS is on electric cars. NEVS has no focus on hybrid cars.
NEVS has not bought Saab Parts, but has an agreement on co-operation with Saab Parts.
NEVS will use knowledge and technology from Saab and other Swedish companies together with advanced Japanese electric vehicle technology to develop and manufacture premium electric vehicles in Trollhättan. Vehicles which will conquer first and foremost the Chinese market, but also the US market.
NEVS has also access to Japanese electric vehicles platforms that will be used.
Saab is a credible company to present new technology and new premium electric vehicles. The discussions concerning the brand name is however not concluded, which means that NEVS has so far not reached an agreements with Saab AB and Scania AB concerning the SAAB brand name. But NEVS is optimistic about reaching a deal.
At least 200 engineers will be recurited at first in Trollhättan. The first product, an electric Saab 9-3, will be launched on the market at the turn of the year 2013. Within two years of today NEVS expects the manufacturing in Trollhättan to reach considerable volumes. Long term goal is to reach the maximum capacity at Trollhättan, which is 200,000 cars each year.
The largest owner of NEVS, National Modern Energy Holdings is registered in British Virgin Islands, has its base in Hong Kong and most of its business in China with 28 bioenergy powerplants and 9 under construction.
The second owner, Japanese Sun Ivestments, is owned by private investors, companies (including listed companies) and banks. Sun Investments is focusing on commercializing and increasing sale of Japanese technology to electric vehicles.
Saab deal done, press conference at 13:00 CET
According to a press release form the Saab bankruptcy administrators, an agreement to sell the assets of Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB has been reached and the bankruptcy administrators have called a press conferense at 13:00 CET today. The buyer has however not been named.
Seeing that the deal includes only the Saab companies which have filed for bankruptcy and not Saab Automobile Parts AB, this points to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) as the buyer. As does Sweden's National Debt Office's statement from a few days back that they will keep Saab Parts. But maybe most telling is the comment of the Chairman of NEVS:
"I won't say anything, but I am in a good mood today," Karl-Erling Trogen said to GP.se
So get ready to exchange the turbo with a battery!
The press release:
Seeing that the deal includes only the Saab companies which have filed for bankruptcy and not Saab Automobile Parts AB, this points to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) as the buyer. As does Sweden's National Debt Office's statement from a few days back that they will keep Saab Parts. But maybe most telling is the comment of the Chairman of NEVS:
"I won't say anything, but I am in a good mood today," Karl-Erling Trogen said to GP.se
So get ready to exchange the turbo with a battery!
The press release:
6/13/2012
Invitation to press conference concerning Saab insolvency
The official receivers for Saab Automobile hereby invite you to a press conference in Trollhättan on 13 June 2012.
The official receivers for Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB (Saab insolvency) hereby invite you to a press conference due to the conclusion of an agreement between the receivers and buyers of the assets of the companies.
The receivers and representatives of the buyers will attend the press conference.
Time: 13
June 1.00 pm (13.00 CET)
Place: Saab Automobile AB, Saabvägen, Stallbacka Industrial area, Trollhättan (main entrance).
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
NEVS still favorite to acquire Saab, but brand name issue not resolved
We have heard it several times before, but I guess it is worth repeating: National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) is the favorite to acquire the Saab bankruptcy assets. This time according to sources of Swedish business paper Dagens Industri.
But so far we have gotten no confirmation from the bankruptcy administrators or NEVS itself that NEVS is in fact the favorite or that a deal is close.
"We can confirm that we are a bidder, and we hope to succeed in acquiring the Saab bankruptcy estate," Mikael Östlund from communication firm Springtime, which represents NEVS, told TTELA earlier today.
One reason that no deal has been announced and NEVS is being careful not to say too much, could be the SAAB brand name issue. As reported here on Life with Saab many times, the use of the SAAB brand name and the gripen logo is regulated by a deal between Saab Automobile AB, Saab AB and Scania AB. So far neither Saab AB nor Scania AB have made any decision whether any bidder can use the brand name and logo.
Saab AB has however met NEVS to discuss the issue.
"We have met them and gotten information about what they are planning. We have gotten some information and we can use more information. It is also important to get answers to our questions," said Erik Ljungberg, head of communications at Scania to Swedish Radio P4 Väst.
Also Saab AB is requesting more information from the possible buyer.
"We still miss a number of important information," said Erik Magni from Saab AB.
According to Magni, Saab AB is in ongoing contact with the bankruptcy administrator responsible for the brand name issue. And the discussions have intensified lately.
"Yes, it has intensified the past weeks," Erik Ljungberg of Scania said.
Both companies emphasize that the new owner of Saab Automobile should not have any plans that could be in conflict with the two companies' businesses.
"For us it is important that the buyer has no plans to use the brand name in any way which conflicts with Scania's and our shareholders' activities," said Erik Ljungberg.
But so far we have gotten no confirmation from the bankruptcy administrators or NEVS itself that NEVS is in fact the favorite or that a deal is close.
"We can confirm that we are a bidder, and we hope to succeed in acquiring the Saab bankruptcy estate," Mikael Östlund from communication firm Springtime, which represents NEVS, told TTELA earlier today.
One reason that no deal has been announced and NEVS is being careful not to say too much, could be the SAAB brand name issue. As reported here on Life with Saab many times, the use of the SAAB brand name and the gripen logo is regulated by a deal between Saab Automobile AB, Saab AB and Scania AB. So far neither Saab AB nor Scania AB have made any decision whether any bidder can use the brand name and logo.
Saab AB has however met NEVS to discuss the issue.
"We have met them and gotten information about what they are planning. We have gotten some information and we can use more information. It is also important to get answers to our questions," said Erik Ljungberg, head of communications at Scania to Swedish Radio P4 Väst.
Also Saab AB is requesting more information from the possible buyer.
"We still miss a number of important information," said Erik Magni from Saab AB.
According to Magni, Saab AB is in ongoing contact with the bankruptcy administrator responsible for the brand name issue. And the discussions have intensified lately.
"Yes, it has intensified the past weeks," Erik Ljungberg of Scania said.
Both companies emphasize that the new owner of Saab Automobile should not have any plans that could be in conflict with the two companies' businesses.
"For us it is important that the buyer has no plans to use the brand name in any way which conflicts with Scania's and our shareholders' activities," said Erik Ljungberg.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)