Saab Receives Stay Of Execution, Restarts Production

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Wonders never cease. Saab’s date of execution had been set for December 31. 24 hours before the last gasp, Saab has received a reprieve.

“We are preparing the wind-down process. At the same time we are open to options, to bids that come in. Therefore the deadline has also been dropped,” Saab spokesman Eric Geers said to Reuters. The news even surprised GM.



A spokesman for GM in Europe said he had no information on the December 31 deadline being canceled.

Geers on the other hand had even better news: Saab will restart some production lines again in January for its new 9-5 model and Cabrio.

“We have the orders and we have to deliver them as usual. We also have the orders for the 9-3 and others. The factory has to continue again,” said Geers.

GM is still in talks with potential bidders, but Geers only named Spyker Cars and declined to talk about other parties.

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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  • Kman Kman on Dec 30, 2009

    Well I for one coudn't figure out why Saab had to die, since it is its own self-contained brand, with a a distinctive -- albeit GM-brtualized -- personality. I mean Fiat got a piece of Chrysler for no cash, why coudn't Saab find a similar suitor - there are costs in shutting a company down. I like how lw put it though; amusing, and I'd mix in a bit of the Office Space concept (the movie). Just keep showing up for work and do what you want, ignoring management.

  • Iamwho2k Iamwho2k on Dec 30, 2009
    “We have the orders and we have to deliver them as usual. We also have the orders for the 9-3 and others. The factory has to continue again,” said Geers. I guess some people really have been living under a rock. Who orders a car from a Dead Brand Walking?
  • Fred diesel Fred diesel on Dec 30, 2009

    Look out...Nutella hits a chord!!! Exactly how many "brands" of "beige automotive spackle" does the WORLD need?? GMNA and whats left of the US auto manufacturing industry are by and large Fd. Theyve gotten a slight repreive only because of a worldwide recession and lower oil prices. That WILL change shortly. The domestic mfgs simply dont have product to deal with $4/gal fuel. Saab has been the TRUE pioneer of so many technologies that are required today and will be tomorrow. When the growing Chinese auto industry buys obselete Saab machine tools...what does that tell you? FUGM

  • Accs Accs on Dec 31, 2009

    Worse comes to worse.. they can always just stop production in the middle.. and scrape the Saab badge off and glue the Buick badge on. As far as the center mounted ignition... Oh heck they can market that as the Jet Fighter appeal. Bob Lutz would Fast Track that option IMMEDIATELY!

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