Saab's Last Gasp

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Checking in on Saab, which becomes as cheerful as visiting a relative in a hospice, we hear that Saab can’t make payroll again. Says The Local: “Saab informed white-collar staff on Tuesday that they would not receive their salaries on time this month. According to a report in the Dagens Industri (DI) business daily, the money will be delayed due to the non-payment of a installment from Bahamas-registered fund Gemini.” The natives are getting restless: A local politician demands Victor Muller’s head.

“We need a new CEO,” said Paul Akerlund, chairman of the Trollhättan municipal council. “I do not think Victor Muller is a good president. He has not enough knowledge about how to manage production and development,” Akerlund told the Svenska Dagbladet.

It might be too late to look for a replacement. In Sweden, they are talking bankruptcy, yet again. The Helsingfors Dagblad finally asks:

“How long can a company in the manufacturing sector continue to operate without producing any goods? How long can you keep employees who have no work to do?”

Not very much longer, it seems. On Wednesday alone, 15 companies registered unpaid debts with the Swedish enforcement authority Kronofogden, Dagens Industri says. Saab has ten days to respond. The union representing the unpaid white collar workers also filed its demand notice. Unless Saab finds new funds, it’s lights out.

Where is the Russian financier when Saab needs him? Dagens Industri thinks he’s behind the non-arrival of the Bahamian funds. Gemini is “considered to have close ties to Vladimir Antonov,” says the paper. Antonov says it ain’t true.

Today, Dagens Industri talked to Lars Holmqvist, head of the European supplier association CLEPA. He was told by European Investment Bank (EIB) President Philippe Maystadt that the bank “will never approve Vladimir Antonov as co-owner of Saab Automobile.” Maybe that’s why the funds from the Bahamas “have been stopped at the border.” Latter wording courtesy of Inside Saab, where the former blogger Steven Swade tries his hand on mastering the art of spin. Sure, the nasty Swedish customs did it.

Promising that we will be back in a few days, we fluff the pillows and leave our patient.

Ah, let’s see what Saab’s cheering section at Saabsunited has to say. They are shooting deserters:

“I don’t know why, but people seem to be angry versus Saab. I don’t know what Saab has done to some people, but it is clear to me that some people are concentrating all their anger towards Saab. It is really sad, as the world would be much nicer without anger. I still don’t know why people go to enthusiast sites like this just to try to convince other people that they should stop being interested in Saab.”

Because the end is near, perhaps?

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Eldard Eldard on Jul 28, 2011

    If Saab was a country, it'd be any of the UPIIGS. It has nothing. Does nothing. Produces nothing.

  • Marko Marko on Jul 28, 2011

    I just checked Saab's website, and it looks like they're still leasing - what the...? OK, hypothetically speaking, if one were to lease a Saab right now for 3 years, and the company went under before the lease expired, what would happen?

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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