GM: Saab Truly Most Sincerely Dead

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

It’s over. The deal with Spyker (surprise) fell through, and GM has announced that Saab will be wound down and 218 US dealer closed. Automotive News reports: “We regret that we were not able to complete this transaction with Spyker Cars,” GM Europe President Nick Reilly said in a statement. “We will work closely with the Saab organization to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner.”

GM is calling Saab’s wind down neither a bankruptcy nor a forced liquidation process:

“Consequently, we expect Saab to satisfy debts including supplier payments,” Reilly said, “and to wind down production and the distribution channel in an orderly manner while looking after our customers.”

GM’s peak for Saab was 47,914 in 2003. The company’s U.S. high was 48,181 in 1986. In 2009 YTD, Saab sold 7,812 cars in the US.

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • Nevets248 Nevets248 on Dec 18, 2009

    born from jets. killed by douchebags.

    • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Dec 18, 2009

      Better trademark that or it's going to be the title of the first "complete history of Saab" coffee table book that comes out after the brand dies for good.

  • Adub Adub on Dec 18, 2009

    And now that Tiger can't hawk Buicks, that brand is dead too!

    • GarbageMotorsCo. GarbageMotorsCo. on Dec 21, 2009

      I don't think Tiger did a damn thing to help Government Motors sell Buicks. He is 40 years too young for one thing. Secondly, I've attended MANY tournament events and the attendees are not driving Buicks, that's for sure. The money they have, they are driving more exclusive wheels like Bentley, Rolls, Mercs, Bimmers and Lexus. Show up in a Buick and they'll tell you that you took a wrong turn and the Casino and bingo hall are a few towns over :) Even my 2 year old Cadillac was a Ford Escort compared to what filled the parking lots at those events.

  • Speedlaw Speedlaw on Dec 18, 2009

    I had two. The first, a classic 900 turbo, was unique at the time as you were getting a fast car, set up for euro highway use, with unique styling. The back seat was big enough, something missing in today's 3 sized cars. The hatchback made this a mini pickup truck. You still had a quick turbo, good mileage, and a safety cage. In the mid 80s this was radical. A later 1/2 GM 9-3 had some of those attributes, but the big rear seat was missing. (yah, I know, that 6 inches of floorpan metal makes it cost 10k more, if a euro car). Still quick, but built cheaply. The old school 900 was finicky but well built. And then, they never upgraded them again....and they died of failure to evolve.

  • Walksatnight Walksatnight on Dec 19, 2009

    Ms. Harry says it all right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-KH2WI4Gzw

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