Editorial Archives - Page 5 of 9

On a personal note….

I’ve got admit, this situation is wearing me down.

I’m sure that the vast majority of you are aware of my history with Saabs United as its former owner, editor, gopher and whatever. SU remains the most active Saab enthusiast weblog on the net.

Through the sale of Saab by GM back in 2009/10, I was able to use Saabs United as a channel to convey very accurate and timely news as to what was happening with the sale situation. It was a trusted receptacle of information about Saab because the various sources confiding in me knew that my heart was 200% behind the company.

My motivation was to make sure that the world knew that Saab was a viable company – which I still wholeheartedly believe it is today. Back then, if GM were going to make a decision about shutting Saab, I was determined that they weren’t going to be allowed to do it quietly, without full disclosure about the situation (or as full a disclosure as I could provide).

I was proud of the fact that Saabs United maintained a very-near-to-100% accuracy record and became a reference point for Saab employees, enthusiasts and even the professional media. We even had one newspaper reporter in Sweden who used to troll through SU comments to dig up subjects for his ‘opinion’ pieces. What a laugh.

When I took this job at Saab, there were a number of people who warned me that my freedoms would be curtailed and that I would find it hard to cope with, given my previous independence and willingness to tell the story. I accepted this, exhausted as I was from the relentless workload that I had to balance with the blog, my full time job and family commitments.

Putting the news element to one side, I also accepted this because I wanted to take my own personal mission beyond the provision of news, which dominated my blogging life for nearly two years. From a product perspective, I was tired of arguing with armchair quarterbacks about what was involved in developing Saabs from the outside. I wanted a chance to show them first hand, from the inside, what went into the vehicle development, manufacturing and marketing processes from the Saab perspective.

Personally speaking, the problem for me now is that I’ve shed the full-time job and have plenty of time to do this blogging thing right, but it’s all about the business right now, and I’m tied by the company’s need to maintain radio silence unless there’s something concrete to talk about.

I’m a toothless tiger.

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You can call this post an exercise in catharsis if you like.

It’s extremely frustrating to an old Saab warrior like me to not be able to rush full speed into the breech as I used to, especially seeing I’ve still got the energy and passion to do so.

It’s extremely frustrating to me that I no longer have the information that I used to, that I can’t better inform people as to what’s really going on here.

It’s extremely frustrating to me that I can’t develop the website that Saab employed me to build because I can’t fulfil the promise that my previous record offered. I still have all the tools to do so. What I don’t have is the material to work with on a regular enough basis.

It’s extremely frustrating to me that I can’t bring my friends, the many Saab enthusiasts I’ve met over the years, closer to this company, which is what this whole exercise was intended to do.

It’s extremely frustrating to me that I can’t fight back when I see various automotive columnists writing this company off in exercises that resemble the provision of entertainment rather than addressing the real questions of what this company can do, and whether the automotive sector is better off with or without this company.

It’s beyond frustrating to me that I can’t help you all sort through the bullshit.

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Before any of you accuse me of getting big-headed here, I do not profess to be any sort of information saviour, nor do I think that the provision of information can solve this company’s current issues – people with resources are the only ones who can do that. I do think, however, that the provision of accurate information can help people to better understand and accept certain circumstances, and thereby remain loyal to and interested in the company.

I’m still here and I’ll remain here because I believe in the potential of Inside Saab. I believe in Saab Automobile, and the Saab Spirit that people outside this circle simply do not understand. This role is something I dreamed of doing years ago when I first started Trollhattan Saab (the predecessor to Saabs United). I truly believe that this type of exercise has positive benefits to offer a car company, and that a running and functional Saab would be incredibly well positioned to make maximum use of it.

I just wish I had the licence and the access to do a better job for the readers out there because you’ve supported this company in a superhuman way and you deserve it.

Have a good weekend. Here’s to getting all this stuff sorted so that we can one day run this place like a normal car company. There’s so much on offer here.

What's happening at Inside Saab (the blog)

Hi all,

I’m currently back in my home country, Australia, which is why the second press release from last night was posted by Ludvig, my colleague at Saab.

That explains some of the quietness around here the last few days.

To answer a few of the questions that popped up…..

Who is Ludvig?

Ludvig and I work together in social media at Saab. He’s Swedish, very experienced at what he does, and I’m told he has rock-hard abs. Both of our roles have been somewhat restricted by Saab’s current circumstances, which is why we haven’t generated as much social content as we would like. But we continue to plan and await the opportunity to execute.

Am I still working for Saab?

Upon hearing that I’d returned home, one friend asked if I was still working for Saab.

The answer is Yes, absolutely. I just had to return home after three months in Sweden. The timing is pretty unfortunate, to say the least, but was necessary. I’m looking to get back to Sweden in November and will be working from Oz in the meantime.

What are you working on?

Being here makes it a little slower in getting content together, for obvious reasons. Time zones can be a PITA.

Right now, I’m working on a few things that should be quite interesting for people to see:

An interview with former Saab rally driver, Simo Lampinen
Your Q&A responses, part 2
What the Swedish police thought about the Saab 9-5
And of course, the Facebook 100,000 fans celebrations, which are coming along remarkably well.

What’s happening at Saab?

Being in Australia, I was asleep when the second press release was published earlier today, announcing Guy Lofalk’s intentions to seek an end to administration and Saab’s intentions to appeal and have him replaced. I’ve just woke up to this news myself and being so far away from what’s going on, I’m also still trying to understand it.

Obviously, with this being a company website, I am very limited in what I can say about it due to market sensitivities. My understanding, however, is that the court would look at these actions quite quickly, so I think the matter should be decided soon. Which way the decision will go is a matter for the court and the parties making their submissions. It will be extremely interesting to see if the reasons behind the applications are made public.

If you have been following trusted news sources on this issue in the last weeks, there appears to be a theme emerging, one that seems to have culminated in the most recent events.

Press Release: Swedish Automobile Informed By Administrator Of Application To Terminate Voluntary Reorganization

Trollhättan, Sweden: Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swan) announces it has been informed that the administrator of the reorganization, Mr. Guy Lofalk, will apply for termination of the voluntary reorganization of Saab Automobile AB (Saab Automobile) and two subsidiaries at the Swedish court in Vänersborg.

In spite of the funding commitment of North Street Capital LP which was published earlier today, the administrator who leads the reorganization, Mr. Guy Lofalk, will file an application at the Swedish court to terminate the reorganization process. Saab Automobile shall contest this application and request for continuation of the voluntary reorganization process.

Simultaneously, Saab Automobile shall apply at the court for replacement of Mr. Lofalk as administrator.

On Saab and hope

I want to thank you all for your patience at the moment.

I know there are a lot of questions out there, from a lot of concerned people. If you know me, then you’ll know that it’s been extremely frustrating that I haven’t been able to play the role that I’m accustomed to in this type of situation. I’m used to providing as accurate and detailed coverage as possible and pointing out the speculation and/or errors appearing in the mainstream press (of which there have been plenty, especially in the last few days). It’s a somewhat sad trade-off that I haven’t been able to do this, but one that I’m content to make. And it’s pleasing to know that other independents are taking up that fight.

The following was left on Inside Saab earlier this afternoon and I thought I’d take a moment to bring it to the front page and provide a response. The writer is Harley, in response to today’s brief press release:

Are we really all being sensible, continuing to hang on to our hopes for this once great company? I wonder.

Yes, there may be anomalies in media reporting. But we all know what SAAB [has] been through over the past 10 years, and even the folk that work there must be getting pretty fed up by now. Sadly, I can’t help thinking that the company’s disappearance is now inevitable, and I wonder how they can possibly make it through yet another year at this stage. Even if they do, any future incarnation of the company is likely to be a far cry from anything it’s ever been, or that we could ever hope it to be.

I know there are a lot of people hanging in there for Saab. I know that Harley’s not the only one feeling this way. But…… there are also a lot of people working on the company’s continued existence, too. There’s even a bunch working on future Saabs and the technology that will be in them – even now.

As Harley asks, is it worth it?

Continue reading On Saab and hope

A post about nothing

Hi all,

We’ve received a few comments, and a few submissions via the contact page, asking for some clarification as to what’s being reported in various press outlets right now.

If you’re a regular Inside Saab reader, you’ll know that I’m currently on vacation and away from Sweden. That limits the amount of current information I have access to and thus, what I could possibly say on Inside Saab about these reports.

Regardless of being away, however, I don’t think there is much that I would be able to say right now, anyway. The situation is quite delicate at this point in time and our ability to comment on any ongoing matters is very restricted. We remain as a listed company and cannot comment on speculative matters being reported in the press.

I know that a lot of Saab fans and other stakeholders are concerned for the future right now and I can assure you that our executive continues to work tirelessly towards securing this future. We will comment further when there’s more that we can say.

In the meantime, thanks as always for your support. It is felt, and it is appreciated.

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As always, when following news stories about Saab, I’d recommend you read my quick guide to internet journalism and wash the news through the filter of your own research.

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Internet journalism – the good, the bad and the ugly

I’ve been writing about Saab on the web for nearly seven years now and anyone who’s been following Saab’s journey over that period will know that there has been a lot to read and write about over that time.

I’m fortunate now in that I’m employed by Saab to write for them. I have never been able to claim a lack of bias in my writing, and that’s especially so today. I’m comfortable with that, as I’ve never pretended to be anything but an enthusiast.

Whilst I’m paid by the company, I still try to make sure that there’s some level of balance in what I write. I won’t air all of our dirty laundry, but I will report the bad news. I’ll also make sure that the good sides of this company that are overlooked in the mainstream media get some time in the sun, too.

I’ve been labelled by one editor-in-chief as a corporate PR shill, which I think is a bit rich. Whilst I do have to liaise with PR about market-sensitive stories, and whilst I do maintain a page that speaks to tens of thousands of people per month, I actually sit outside of the PR department at Saab. PR’s job is to speak to the press. My job is to speak on a more personal level to the people and in time, when this is all over, include people in some good Saab experiences and stories. That’s the broad difference, as I see it.

I’d like Saab enthusiasts to be able to read articles on the web and make some judgements about those articles. Too often I hear people panicking about something they see in the news. Yes, we’ve been in some serious situations, but it’s worth bearing in mind that things are generally not as sensational as they are written up to be.

Here’s a few thoughts on some of the various types of information going on out there.

Continue reading Internet journalism – the good, the bad and the ugly

My own reflections on today’s positive news……

It’s a strange feeling, to celebrate entering a process that most companies would prefer to avoid. However, it gives you an idea as to how beaten down Saab has been in the public’s mind (and in our own, to some extent) when I tell you that there were, indeed, some small celebrations here today after the court in Gothenburg approved our appeal and granted us ‘reorganisation’ status.

For us as a company, it means that actions against us by unions and creditors are on hold (or withdrawn) whilst we reorganise our operations. It means that we have a stable climate in which we can get our house in order, organise our operations and plan for a re-start of production in an orderly manner without having to fend off arrows from so many different directions.

For our staff, who have done it tough in the last month but have still turned up for work and done whatever they could to keep things going, it means some welcome financial relief.

For our other stakeholders, who have supported us so much in some pretty dark times, I hope that it’s the light at the end of the tunnel getting a little bit brighter. We have a road map for where we’re going and today’s decision will be of great assistance in getting there.

For me personally, and I think for many others as well, there is the realisation that whilst this decision is a positive outcome (it beats the hell out of the alternative), it also means that the real work for Saab begins now (again). This decision gives us some space and some calmer waters in which to operate, but there’s still a hell of a lot of work to be done in order to bring this company around.

We have to negotiate with, and then pay, our suppliers. We have to get production up and running so that we can supply our distributors. We have to reorganise the company so that it’s more efficient and effective. We have to communicate our message effectively whilst giving the papers nothing to write about.

All of that’s going to require a lot of work, but I know that our people are up to the task. Today there was a brief moment where we could feel some relief, but the processes that will underpin our internal reorganisation are already in motion and this is where the real work begins.

I was chatting with a colleague this morning, and he likened this whole drama to a never-ending movie, with all its ups and downs, underdogs, villains and near-death experiences. We both agreed that it would be nice to write the final scene now, one where the main characters go off into the sunset to lead a normal, outwardly boring existence doing whatever it is that they do.

We design and build great Swedish cars. It’d be so wonderful to get back to doing just that.

If you haven’t done so yet, I’d recommend that you read In Saab’s Corner – a series of posts I did a few weeks ago outlining the many things this company has got going for it. We have a lot to share with the world and we can’t wait to do it.

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Follow-up: Why we shouldn’t call the next Saab the “9-3″

When I posted a few days ago about my personal preference for the next new Saab to be called the 900 rather than the 9-3, I was expecting a little bit of controversy and criticism – and it certainly came to pass. I think we had a pretty good and robust discussion, though, and it was good to hear people’s thoughts on the idea.

I’d like to tackle a couple of themes running through the comments and perhaps narrow the discussion down a little bit.

Firstly, I’d like to tackle one misconception that was mentioned. This is a fair assumption on Steve’s part, however…..

With Swade’s status as an employee, I’m assuming he has seen more details of the design. Perhaps he sees something that we can’t yet appreciate.

Actually, I haven’t. The Saab Design studio is a mere 200 meters or so from where I sit, but I haven’t visited there yet. I know that if I see the vehicle it’ll be really, really hard for me to not talk about it. So I’ve made a conscious decision to keep away for the time being. I know a little bit more about the car than the average Saab nut right now, but I’ve not gone to see it for myself.

So with that out of the way, what about a few of the other themes that came through in comments?

Saab should change the range of names to …..

I don’t suggest, nor think, that there’s any value in changing the entire Saab nomenclature. That would require an extraordinary marketing investment and time that we just don’t have. And aside from that, as I mentioned in the original piece, I actually like the 9-3, 9-5, 9-4x way of labelling vehicles. It’s logical, sensible and it looks good on the cars. I’m not writing this with the idea in my head of changing the whole setup.

What I’m suggesting here is that Saab retain the 9-* nomenclature for the entire range, except for the vehicle that will replace the 9-3. I’m suggesting that we change that one and call it a Saab 900. So, when that vehicle comes out, we would have the 900, a 9-5 and a 9-4x.

…….tangent:

I’m just thinking out loud here, but perhaps Saab could retain the 9-3 name for this new vehicle, but use the 900 name for a performance package? Maybe in conjunction with the Aero tag? So you have a 9-3 Linear and 9-3 Vector (or base and Premium, if that’s the way it’s going to go), then move up to the 900 Aero for the top model? Just a quick thought on the side.

/tangent

I know it will be a point of contention for many to have two different naming conventions: 9-* and 900. But is it that much of a problem, really? Step outside the regimented initial thought process for just a moment and I think you’ll see it can work quite easily. The naming convention remains the same except for one model, which uses a classic Saab nameplate.

IMHO, It’s not that hard and still way more understandable and coherent than a bunch of unrelated alpha-based names.

Saab should look forwards, not back

A fair call, but I’m not convinced that it’s right in the context of what I’m suggesting.

I’m not suggesting that Saab should track down the tooling for the original 900 and start building it again. That’s re-tracing one’s steps in a manner that can only lead to oblivion.

What I’m suggesting here is that the 900 moniker still has a lot of value, and that value is better being unlocked and used for the company’s benefit, creating connections between former owners and the new vehicle. It’s better than that value only being saved for retrospective pieces and owners’ gatherings.

If what I’m suggesting is so wrong, then why do we have the Mini today, the Fiat 500, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Dodge Challenger, the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro, and of course, the continued existence of the Porsche 911. It’s a mix of successful older badge names attached to new vehicles that carry on the heritage and help to build links with former owners, or new owners who idealised the original cars in their youth.

They key, once again, is to have the right car. If the replacement for the Saab 9-3 has those key Saab features that we all hope for, that combination of performance, utility, safety and comfort/luxury that the 900 did so well, then why not adorn it with Saab’s most purchased and most revered nameplate?

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Thanks again for your input and thoughts. I don’t know what’s actually going to happen with the naming of the 9-3 successor, but it’s nice to toss around this idea and perhaps the people who will actually make that decision are reading this and considering the issue.

Opinion: Why we shouldn’t call the next Saab the "9-3"

Saab’s next all-new vehicle to be unveiled to the public is a little way away at the moment, but I’d like to talk about one aspect of it here today. This post might not win me too many friends, either at the factory or out there in enthusiast-land, but be that as it may….. I’d like to put forward some personal thoughts about nomenclature.

Saab’s next vehicle release will be the most important vehicle release in the company’s history. Why? Because it will replace the current Saab 9-3. This is Saab’s bread-and-butter. Traditionally, it’s the vehicle size that we sell the most, and it’s the vehicle segment that our customers spend the most time shopping around in. I don’t want to sound too dramatic about this (though I’m not sure I can be too dramatic about it, to be honest), but if this vehicle fails, we’re toast.

Given those dire, all-encompassing consequences, I think it’s worth a little extra time thinking about every aspect of this vehicle, including something that can set the tone just right, if it’s done correctly – the vehicle’s name.

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Saab has used a couple of different nomenclature schemes over its history. The common thread is that all but a few of them have involved the number 9. We started with an ascending two-digit code in the Saab 92, got all the way up to the Saab 99 and then went to three digits. Then four digits.

Finally, in a bid to do something new for a new generation of vehicles, we went to our current nomenclature, which is written 9-3 and 9-5 but badged rather cleverly with a to-the-power-of look. It’s modern, it places our vehicles in segments that are logically ordered, segments that can be compared with other manufacturers.

But is it right?

Personally speaking, I’d say both yes and no. I don’t have a problem with our current nomenclature at all, except that I wonder if it’s going to set our new vehicle, our most important vehicle, apart from the rest like it should.

Can we do better? Well, after watching a video a few days ago, an idea came into my head and personally speaking, I think we can.

Some have accused Saab of going too much into BMW territory by naming our vehicles with similar names to the ones that BMW use to segment their vehicle series (3, 5, etc). I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. As I said before, it’s logical, clean it looks great on the cars.

But I think there’s another German manufacturer that we can take a look at and perhaps learn something from. Check out this video from the Frankfurt Motor Show……

Continue reading Opinion: Why we shouldn’t call the next Saab the "9-3"

Timing of the reorganisation appeal

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I’m going to have to wheel out the mantra we used back when Saab was being sold in 2009/10.

Please observe the non-official spokesmodel to the right (original vendor here and thanks to Hugh for the reminder).

We know that some Saab-related stories seem to cause an almost hysterical reaction here in Sweden, but sometimes it really can be an over-reaction. Take yesterday’s stories about the timing of the bankruptcy filing, for example. It’s a piece of minutiae that gave papers something to report on, but it should have been little more than a minor note.

Here’s how it broke down.

Unions filed their bankruptcy request yesterday. Saab also filed their appeal yesterday, but we filed a little after the 1530 deadline to get it from Vanersborg to Gothenburg on the same day (the 1530 deadline became a story during the day). Swedish news services are now running a “which filing will win the race” theme, which is basically a non-story.

Saab’s appeal filing is expected to be resolved within days. The court first has to agree to hear the appeal. Assuming that happens, the law regarding reorganisation states that a resolution should be forthcoming immediately, which we can loosely expect to mean “as soon as possible”.

We have provided more detailed information that has to be considered, so it may take a little longer to read, but that detailed information should allow for a quicker and more clear-cut decision, too. Bottom line: it is reasonable to expect a resolution of our appeal within days of it being received (technically, it will be received tomorrow).

If left to run its course, the unions’ bankruptcy filing is expected to be resolved in several weeks from now.

Effectively, there is no race. If Saab’s appeal succeeds then wages should be paid under the government scheme and the unions would withdraw their action. If Saab’s appeal fails, then we’re up a very smelly waterway without adequate means of transportation – and plan D kicks in.

So, if you’re a Saab fan and you hear slightly high-pitched reports in the media, don’t panic. If someone you know starts talking about this supposed legal ‘race’, please direct them to the lady pictured above. Or just send them here.

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