Pulled Plug Story Infuriates Saab Faithfuls
The story on Saab pulling the plug on the diagnostic computer, and hence on repairs that need that access, ruffled a lot of feathers. The Church of St. Victor is so angry at the apostate article that it broke its self-imposed code of silence and mentions TTAC by name. Delusional as they are, they believe that their links send us traffic. Selfless as we are, we probably have done more to Saabsunited’s fame than any other site. Ingrates as they are, they call our story
“the most stupid article I have ever seen! This website has no clue how things work and this is why we never refer to them… I’m making a one time side-step from that policy!”
In their rage, they overlooked a small detail …
“many customers sell their Saab now, because they worry about the parts supply. Saab workshops are faced with many imponderabilities that need to be clarified as soon as possible.Currently, workshops can only perform very limited repairs, because online access necessary for work on on-board computers has been switched off. At the successor company in Sweden, which is taking care of these processes, the necessary systems need yet to be installed.”
We may not have a clue how things work at Saab, but we sure hope that the head of the dealer council does. In talking to some contacts, we pick up ruminations that the switched-off computer may have something to do with pressuring dealers into signing a new contract. Investigating …
If you believe certain accounts, heroic Saab employees selflessly bought their own toilet paper in a last ditch operation to defend crumbling Saab.
Jaenicke has a more sober perspective:
“The remaining contacts at Saab, when confronted by me with these and other matters, appear to be unable to cope at the moment.”
Even more damning, Jaenicke likes the receivers – Swedish lawyers, not selfless Saab employees – better than the old hands at Saab:
“With the receivers and Saab Parts AB, we finally found contacts who at least think they are competent.”
As for the bankruptcy, the dealer chief thinks it should have been declared much earlier:
“A year ago it was already evident that there is not enough money, even if the lines could be started again.”
Meanwhile over at the faithful, all is peachy. Says the latest missive to the flock:
“There are also some other really big spare-parts news that I would LOVE to reveal to you right now, but I’m not allowed to so keep your shirt on, keep driving those great Saab’s and don’t worry, your life with a Saab will not be a problem! =).”
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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The wife's (smack!!) car is a 2006 9-3 Convertible. Broke a front spring between Christmas and New Years. Ask me how much fun it is to 1] get a replacement; and 2] get Saab / GM to cover its replacement because it's covered by a 10-year / 120K-mile warranty (2003-2006 common issue). Of course, the 9-3 is a GM car; let's just see what else uses that chassis.......Opel Vectra!!
If you want the real story of what is currently going on, check out www.SAABSDIVIDED.com and see in real time how they are abandoning their dealers and customers. No closure, no information, no BK, just saying "thats is we're done, game over, SAAB USA is closing." Without the propaganda like you will find on the SAABSUNITED.com site which only posts positive news and doesn't tell the complete story.