News reports state that there’s a new bidder in the hunt for Saab Automobile’s bankrupt estate. Apparently it’s a consortium of Chinese and Japanese investors who are looking to build electric cars. Is it just me, or has this got disaster written all over it?
I retain some hope that Saab can be sold to a buyer who wants to make Saabs. Personally speaking, if that company is to be chosen from Mahindra, Youngman, or this Sino-Japanese consortium, then my vote goes to Mahindra. They are a genuine international industrial company who I think have a realistic feel for what’s actually involved in the car industry and can see a role for Saab in their portfolio. Unfortunately, though, realism hasn’t played a prominent role in the fate of Saab for some time.
Reports coming through (covered on SU today) seem to indicate that the Swedish government are neck-deep in talks regarding this electric car proposition. This isn’t overly surprising as the government in Sweden seems fixated on outcomes that either confirm or deliver political messages. Electric cars present a nice, happy, ‘green’ picture that’s very Swedish, even if it’s not overly realistic.
Continue reading Electric cars should not be Saab’s immediate future (or anyone else’s)