Update III: Payment problems was due to a malfunctioning new payment system. Read more here. Everything should okay on Thursday.
Update II: Production started as normal on Wednesday morning. Seems like the alleged payment problems was just a storm in a teacup.
Update I: CB Online has an article about the production disruption:
FKG association CEO Svenake Berglie says at least five car part suppliers have not received payments from Saab since Friday [...]
Saab spokesman Thomas Schulz said he did not know about the claims and dismissed rumors that production at Saab's main plant was halted Tuesday.
Worrying news from ttela.se:
Saab was forced to stop production
Saab Automobile is reported to have problems paying the suppliers.
Deliveries were stopped and on Tuesday the factory in Trollhättan stood still.
Several sources stated that the stop in the factory was due to at least one supplier halted the delivery to Saab. But the company chooses to remain silent both about any payment problems and shutdowns.
- We have 800 suppliers and I can not comment on our relations, says the director of communications Eric Geers.
- But, with so many suppliers, it is no wonder that stops can occur.
But Håkan Skött, Chairman of the IF Metall union at the plant, confirmed that production stopped because of problems with material deliveries.
- I don't know how long the stop lasted, but there has been a stop.
Svenåke Berglie, president of Automotive Suppliers Association, says that Saab has had problems paying its suppliers on time.
- Saab has lagged behind on the payments and we have urged the company to fix this. It is clear that there is a problem when suppliers are not paid on time. - Any company can now and then get into cash flow problems. However, Saab is a company that has everybody's eyes on them and must get this right, says Svenåke Berglie.
I guess we will get more information on the stop tomorrow. Until then let's assume that this was just an misunderstanding between Saab and the supplier.
