Turkey's Brightwell Holdings May Be Saab Suitor

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Could Saab end up in Turkish hands? According to Bloomberg, Turkish private equity firm Brightwell Holdings will bid for the remnants of Saab, with a view to producing cars again.

Brightwell board member Zamier Ahmen told Bloomberg “We will make a bid very shortly, there’s no question,” but the company is still doing its due diligence. The aim appears to be a restart of production at Saab’s Swedish facilities, and a revival of Saab’s automobile lineup. Any deal must be approved by GM, the Swedish government and the European Investment Bank. As far as Islamic countries go (well, sort of – Turkey is officially a secular country), we’d take a new 9-5 over one of the Iranian Peugeot clones, but there will no doubt be many dissenting views in the comments.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

More by Derek Kreindler

Comments
Join the conversation
9 of 27 comments
  • Athos Nobile Athos Nobile on Jan 21, 2012

    "we’d take a new 9-5 over one of the Iranian Peugeot clones" Hands down. But I doubt they will be able to produce a 9-5 at a price competitive with the Iranian Pug. At the right price, I'd buy a 9-3 Sportcombi. At the price they were charging here, no way.

  • Obruni Obruni on Jan 21, 2012

    this plan is doomed to fail, as long as production is kept in Sweden. SAAB needs volume. if the cost base remains in Sweden, SAAB is forced to compete with BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Infiniti and Jaguar in the retail segment. the past decade has shown that it cannot. it cannot make up for the retail side in fleet sales either, as the CO2 emissions are too high. what is left? cut the cost base by moving manufacturing to Eastern Europe. revive that engine sharing deal with BMW to get your hands on low emission, fleet friendly diesel engines. and lower prices, targeting the Citroen DS line, Renault Latitude, and Skoda Superb/VW Passat in Europe; Acura, Buick, and Hyundai Genesis in the US.

  • GS650G GS650G on Jan 21, 2012

    GM will do everything they can to sink SAAB beneath the waves while appearing to be blameless.

    • See 2 previous
    • Robert.Walter Robert.Walter on Jan 22, 2012

      @SCE to AUX VCC had already been in a better position to succeed, due to several factors, by the time Ford bought them.

  • Bimmer Bimmer on Jan 22, 2012

    Has anyone seen two SAAB concepts (a 3- and a 5-door) based on 'flying vagina' Subaru? Pictures were at the end of that PDF, published in anticipation of last Friday auction.

    • See 1 previous
    • Bimmer Bimmer on Jan 22, 2012

      @krhodes1 Yes, it was there too. SAAB had some pretty interesting concept cars, it's a shame that they never seen the light of day.

Next