According to Reuters, Pangda Automobile Trade Co. aims at opening 50 Saab outlets in China this year. Wang Yin, Pangda's board secretary, said this to Reuters in a phone interview. Wang continued by saying that the annual China sales target for Saab is 10,000 imported units this year, depending on Saab's output level at home.
It was also revealed that Pangda aims to set up a manufacturing venture with Spyker Cars and a partner in China this year and to start local production in two years.
To Auto Sohu Pangda’s CEO and founder Pang Qing Hua said that Pangda will search for a manufacturing partner or China's National Development and Reform Council (NDRC) will recommend one. In the contract with Saab, Pangda has the right to choose and suggest a partner but Saab has the right to refuse a partner, but Saab has no right to choose a partner. So basically if any Chinese company wants to produce Saab’s in China, they have to go through Pangda.
Pangda also seems to be eager to import Saab's to China, a responsibility China Automobile Trading Company (CATC) has at the moment. But the deal CATC has with Saab for import can according to Pangda be cancelled at the end of this year.
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.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Next Saab 9-3 will use Engine of the year!
Remember back in September of last year how proud and satisfied both Saab's CEO Jan Åke Jonsson and Chairman Victor Muller were to have signed a deal with BMW to buy their 1.6L turbo petrol engine for use in the upcoming Saab 9-3 replacement?
If I am not mistaken, this is the engine that just won the "Engine of the year" award in the 1.4 litre - 1.8 litre class at the International Engine of the Year Awards at Engine Expo in Stuttgart! Here is the motivation for the top podium finish:
Over the past four years, BMW and PSA have won this category with their jointly developed and produced 1.6- litre turbo engine. However, in the past 12 months, BMW has launched its own, further developed version of the multiple award-winner, and it’s this powerplant that has taken the honours in 2011.
Central to this enhanced unit is the adoption of fully variable valve management. The throttle-free load control technology – based on the Valvetronic system used in other BMW engines and highly unusual in this compact segment – optimizes the engine’s responses and, at the same time, makes for a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.
Within fractions of a second, the valve management adjusts the stroke and opening period of the intake valves to the amount of output required, with the camshaft acting on the valves through an additional intermediate arm, and not directly through the cam follower. The pivot point of this additional intermediate arm is infinitely adjustable by an eccentric shaft controlled by an electric motor.
The result is an engine that brings fully variable valve management, turbocharging and 120 bar petrol direct injection together for the first time in a Mini. The engine was first seen in the Countryman Cooper S and has now been rolled out across the Mini range. The fuel economy of the 184bhp motor on the EU combined cycle is around 9% better than its predecessor’s.
When it came to the judging, the new unit was up against some talented rivals. Fellow downsized turbos from Alfa Romeo and Ford both scored well in Europe, but failed to match the BMW’s consistent scoring in all regions. That could change in the future when the Alfa and Ford units are rolled out across multiple continents.
“It’s the energetic heart of one of the world’s friskiest and most funloving cars,” said jury member, Frank Markus from Motor Trend, summing up the Mini engine’s appeal.
Jan Åke Jonsson and Victor Muller of Saab and
Ian Robertson of BMW unvail the 1.6L turbo engine
If I am not mistaken, this is the engine that just won the "Engine of the year" award in the 1.4 litre - 1.8 litre class at the International Engine of the Year Awards at Engine Expo in Stuttgart! Here is the motivation for the top podium finish:
Over the past four years, BMW and PSA have won this category with their jointly developed and produced 1.6- litre turbo engine. However, in the past 12 months, BMW has launched its own, further developed version of the multiple award-winner, and it’s this powerplant that has taken the honours in 2011.
Central to this enhanced unit is the adoption of fully variable valve management. The throttle-free load control technology – based on the Valvetronic system used in other BMW engines and highly unusual in this compact segment – optimizes the engine’s responses and, at the same time, makes for a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.
Within fractions of a second, the valve management adjusts the stroke and opening period of the intake valves to the amount of output required, with the camshaft acting on the valves through an additional intermediate arm, and not directly through the cam follower. The pivot point of this additional intermediate arm is infinitely adjustable by an eccentric shaft controlled by an electric motor.
The result is an engine that brings fully variable valve management, turbocharging and 120 bar petrol direct injection together for the first time in a Mini. The engine was first seen in the Countryman Cooper S and has now been rolled out across the Mini range. The fuel economy of the 184bhp motor on the EU combined cycle is around 9% better than its predecessor’s.
When it came to the judging, the new unit was up against some talented rivals. Fellow downsized turbos from Alfa Romeo and Ford both scored well in Europe, but failed to match the BMW’s consistent scoring in all regions. That could change in the future when the Alfa and Ford units are rolled out across multiple continents.
“It’s the energetic heart of one of the world’s friskiest and most funloving cars,” said jury member, Frank Markus from Motor Trend, summing up the Mini engine’s appeal.
Deliveries to Saab restarted
Dagens Industri reports that deliveries of parts and components to Saab's manufacturing plant in Trollhättan have restarted. But Saab has been warned that the deliveries will be stopped immediately if Saab do not live up to the delivery agreements.
CEO of supplier Plastal tells DI that the agreement only is a short term solution, and that Saab still needs long-term funding. "If Saab do not pay according to the conditions, we are prepared to stop deliveries", he said to DI.
Other suppliers like IAC, demands a guarantee that debts will not accumulate. And Saab says that the suppliers will be given secure working conditions the next six months.
It is still uncertain when production at Saab can resume, but these are important steps on the way.
One thing that is certain is that a quick restart is very important, and not only for Saab but also for the suppliers. Manufacturer of car seats, Lear Corporation, has given 163 employees notice of resignation. From earlier Plastal has given notice to 50 employees, Trollhättans Terminal has given 35 of its employees a notice, DHL Supply Chain has noticed 22 employees and IAC has given 200 employees notice.
CEO of supplier Plastal tells DI that the agreement only is a short term solution, and that Saab still needs long-term funding. "If Saab do not pay according to the conditions, we are prepared to stop deliveries", he said to DI.
Other suppliers like IAC, demands a guarantee that debts will not accumulate. And Saab says that the suppliers will be given secure working conditions the next six months.
It is still uncertain when production at Saab can resume, but these are important steps on the way.
One thing that is certain is that a quick restart is very important, and not only for Saab but also for the suppliers. Manufacturer of car seats, Lear Corporation, has given 163 employees notice of resignation. From earlier Plastal has given notice to 50 employees, Trollhättans Terminal has given 35 of its employees a notice, DHL Supply Chain has noticed 22 employees and IAC has given 200 employees notice.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Saab 9-5X rendering
I spotted this one on the Italian Saab blog SAAB news: a Saab 9-5X! Rendering is done by Theophilus Chin.
A Saab 9-5X is of course very unlikely at the moment with Saab being in a liquidity squeeze. And there would maybe not even be a market for such a niche vehicle from a niche car brand. But it looks good, doesn't it?
Saab prepares for the Saab 9-5 SportCombi
Earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show Saab launched the new Saab 9-5 SportCombi. I was lucky to take a closer look at the car a couple of weeks later at Saab's spring show in Stockholm. I know that at least one of my readers has placed an order for a Saab 9-5 SportCombi, and maybe even more of you are considering the car. Then you might be interested to know that despite the production at Saab still being halted, the preperations for the Saab 9-5 SportCombi is progressing.
Yesterday the body shop at the Trollhättan plant mainly worked on fitting the new body parts such as the 9-5 SportCombi tailgate. The press shop ran try-outs and trimming of sheet metal parts for the SportCombi. And in the paint shop about 80 Saab 9-5 SportCombi-bodies was painted. Bodies to be used on the pre-series cars. In assembly the Pilot Team ran through the new 9-5 SportCombi stations with the affected teams.
Yesterday the body shop at the Trollhättan plant mainly worked on fitting the new body parts such as the 9-5 SportCombi tailgate. The press shop ran try-outs and trimming of sheet metal parts for the SportCombi. And in the paint shop about 80 Saab 9-5 SportCombi-bodies was painted. Bodies to be used on the pre-series cars. In assembly the Pilot Team ran through the new 9-5 SportCombi stations with the affected teams.
Victor Muller's coming tasks: Find new CEO and get rid of the EIB loan
Tomorrow, at the general meeting of shareholder of Spyker Cars NV, Saab's CEO Jan Åke Jonsson will retire. Chairman of Saab Automobile and CEO of Spyker Cars, Victor Muller, will take on the position as CEO untill a permanent replacement for Jan Åke Jonsson is found.
But Victor Muller acting as CEO is not planned to be for very long. According to Bloomberg News, Victor Muller says that as soon as the deal with Pangda Automobile Trade Co Ltd is completed, his focus will shift to finding a new CEO for Saab. But also to get rid of the loan with the European Investment Bank.
"After the Pangda deal is implemented, my focus is going to be finding a new CEO and getting a commercial loan to take out the EIB. We cannot be dependent on the government or the EIB for whatever we do with the company. We have been paralyzed, we cannot move left or right."
The EIB loan has turned out to be a millstone around Saab's neck. Any changes Spyker Cars and Saab want to make in the ownership structure must be approved by both the EIB and the Swedish Government as long as the EIB loan is there. In addition, the EIB loan is very expensive.
I for one can't wait for Saab to be fully master of its own destiny!
PS: At the general meeting tomorrow Spyker Cars NV will change it's name to Swedish Automobile NV. So as of tomorrow no more association with Spyker Cars.
But Victor Muller acting as CEO is not planned to be for very long. According to Bloomberg News, Victor Muller says that as soon as the deal with Pangda Automobile Trade Co Ltd is completed, his focus will shift to finding a new CEO for Saab. But also to get rid of the loan with the European Investment Bank.
"After the Pangda deal is implemented, my focus is going to be finding a new CEO and getting a commercial loan to take out the EIB. We cannot be dependent on the government or the EIB for whatever we do with the company. We have been paralyzed, we cannot move left or right."
The EIB loan has turned out to be a millstone around Saab's neck. Any changes Spyker Cars and Saab want to make in the ownership structure must be approved by both the EIB and the Swedish Government as long as the EIB loan is there. In addition, the EIB loan is very expensive.
I for one can't wait for Saab to be fully master of its own destiny!
PS: At the general meeting tomorrow Spyker Cars NV will change it's name to Swedish Automobile NV. So as of tomorrow no more association with Spyker Cars.
Money in the bank
Swedish TTELA has had a talk with Victor Muller, who could tell that the first EUR 30 million from Pangda Automobile for 1,300 Saab cars has already been received by Saab. Now the suppliers receive letters with orders for more parts and compenents.
To TTELA Victor Muller also says that the driving force for him the past time has been the responsibility he has for the employees at Saab.
To TTELA Victor Muller also says that the driving force for him the past time has been the responsibility he has for the employees at Saab.
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