GM’s Saab Automobile has shut down production in Sweden until issues with a supplier and customs are solved, Reuters reports. “We had a problem with a supplier, but that has been solved now,” Saab spokesman Eric Geers said. “Now only the customs remains, and we will solve that.” A Swedish customs official said that after filing for protection from creditors last week, Saab lost a 30-day credit facility with Swedish customs. Saab owes duties for inventories and spare parts located in two customs warehouses, said Hans Ohlsson at Swedish customs. Saab has until March 4 to pay an undisclosed but “considerable” sum of money for the contents of the warehouses, Ohlsson said. In the meantime Geers denied that unpaid customs fees indicated Saab had acute problems in its payments. “No, that is not it at all,” he said. Automobilwoche [sub] says that Swedish customs has prevented deliveries of parts and assembled cars to Trollhättan, because Saab hasn’t paid its duties.
Update: According to Automobilwoche [sub,] the difficulties have been resolved, and production is running again. Also, Jan-Åke Jonsson said that there are “seven to eight serious buyers” who are interested in taking over Saab.
Hi Bertel,
Why do so many articles (including here) still refer to a certain Swedish entity as “GM’s SAAB” rather than what I would think is a more proper, post-bankruptcy, “SAAB”?
I enjoy your articles, pls keep up the good work!
This is what happens when you don’t manage a business. GM should have been pro-active years ago instead of reactive. It’s really simple. GM needed to tell the world they were number one. Any paring down of the production or brands was a sign of defeat. Rather than do that, theys simply kept building the same models year after year with little or no changes. But yes, they built all the models including Saab. Isn’t it strange, that now they risk not building any of the models. That Bob Lutz outspoken on so many other fronts couldn’t face Wagoner who only had old GM thinking processes built into his brain, is not creditable. Lutz should have said, I only have enough money in developement to keep current with say half of the brands, the others must go. By cleaning house when Lutz got to GM, they would be well on their way to profitability. Missed opportunities that will not be made up by the Govt. We all know this bad new partnership with a godfather for your monthly allowance will end badly for both the Govt. and GM. As for Saab, they should have never been at this party, and the hangover might be fatal. However, they are now alone in the World.
GM still owns 100% of Saab, no matter how much they pretend otherwise.
I like the phrase “serious buyers.” To me, a “serious buyer”is one who left his clown make-up, wig, and red nose at home. There is no assurance as to what sort of car he’s driving though.
“Also, Jan-Åke Jonsson said that there are “seven to eight serious buyers” who are interested in taking over Saab.”
I doubt they can find 7-8 people who are seriously considering buying their cars.
“seven to eight serious buyers” in normal people speak this means there is no one seriously interested.
In the same category as:
“we have no plans to downsize this company”
“we have no intention of selling this company” made famous by Chrysler before being bought by Daimler.
“there’s no need to worry, I’ve done this hundreds of times”
“of course we’ll be there next week to start your job”
and so on
Oh, and don’t forget RSN, “real soon now.”
Check’s in the mail!