It’s been interesting (and more than just a little bit sad) to observe the movements of some of the people I used to work with at Saab. Many of them are still looking for new jobs but I’ve been pleased to hear about others who have landed good positions at other car companies, or other automotive-related companies.
One of the guys I met a number of times, but didn’t get the chance to work with closely, was a guy named Peter Dörrich. Peter was the guy you can say thankyou to if you own the very rare Saab 9-4x. GM moved him to the US a few years ago, where he led the team developing both the 9-4x and the Cadillac SRX. He also led the team that developed the Saab 9-2x a few years before that.
Last year, Peter was the recipient of a national managerial award in Sweden, voted for by all members of Unionen, one of the biggest unions in Sweden. I already knew that Peter was one of the most popular guys at Saab but that award showed just how highly he was respected within the whole of Sweden.
Today, Peter’s name popped up in my news feeds. It turns out he’s just been hired by Rolls Royce.
When I first read the headline I was hoping we might see a night panel button on the next Phantom Drophead Coupe. Alas, Peter’s joined the other Rolls Royce’s Marine division, where he’ll be the ‘SVP Global Engineering Services’. Sounds like a fitting title and the maritime world is better for his appointment.
It’s always nice to hear of people you like landing on their feet again. Some of the people I worked next to at Saab have landed at Volvo, of course, but we’ve also got people at Jaguar LandRover, Ikea, PoleStar, GM, Ford and other prominent companies within Scandinavia and around the world.
For those former colleagues who haven’t landed something yet, I hope your fortunes change for the better soon. Maybe they’ll change if there’s a good purchaser for Saab announced in coming days/weeks.
This is one of the saddest things I’ve read about the demise of Saab Automobile in recent times.
Many of you would know that some of Saab’s classic vehicles from the US were sold recently. Thankfully, those cars ended up in good hands and should be preserved for years to come. You can read more on the collection and it’s preservation over at Hemmings.
That wasn’t the only sale on the schedule, however. The Man-in-charge also sought to sell off all the equipment and stock at Saab’s US headquarters in Royal Oak, Michigan. Ray Wert, from Jalopnik, went along to the auction to observe the goings-on and it sounds like a very sorry tale.
The lobby’s filled to capacity with folks ranging from semi-professional bankruptcy auction scavengers to curious community members who work nearby to me, the one lone journalist.
The “auction” wasn’t much of an auction. One expects an auction to be orderly — and in a bankruptcy, one expects there to be rules designed to help engender the highest possible bid. That wasn’t the case here.
Instead of an auction it was more like a fire sale…
Having worked in a Saab office just like the Royal Oak office, I can well imagine what it would have looked like. How those storage areas and parts would have been arranged. In Sweden, some of those marketing materials would have been available in bundles on the shelves just across from my desk.
The thought of some sweaty bargain-hunters rifling through what was once someone’s very personal space is more than just a little unpalatable. I had people who became good friends working in that office.
It just makes it all the more disappointing that a company with such a wonderful human element like Saab doesn’t exist any more (as we knew it), yet others in the same industry, but without the soul, continue to flourish.
Such is the way of the business world, I guess.
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The upside of that fire sale is there’s now nothing left in Royal Oak and if someone’s successful in buying Saab, they can open their US offices in the north-east, where they should have been all along.
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Speaking of which……..
News is popping up around the web that Brightwell are pulling out of the Saab race. Apparently GM didn’t want to play ball. SU covered it and the full story is at Dagens Industri.
I think Brightwell had the resources to do something good with Saab, but I also think they lacked the experience that might have been needed to convince the various movers and shakers to cooperate.
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Friends in Italy tell me they’ve come across a brief news article somewhere (I can’t find it) stating that BMW were only interested in Saab’s Phoenix platform. This doesn’t make total sense to me, and as the article is yet to be found, I’ll treat it with a small degree of suspicion (though I think BMW are an unlikely buyer).
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That leaves Mahindra and Youngman as the remaining suitors known to the public, who seem to be seeking to buy Saab as a whole. IMHO, Youngman would be a disaster and they won’t get cooperation from GM anyway. So…..Go Mahindra!
If neither of these companies are successful in bidding for Saab, I think we’ll be able to conclude that Brightwell’s Zamier Ahmed was correct when he said today that GM want to kill Saab off completely. And if that happens, it won’t be because of competition, or concerns about technology.
This episode was the first episode I had ever seen of Top Gear. Until six months ago I couldn’t even drive, and so I felt confident it could have little relevance to my life.
If they’d put the review in context, something like “we’re quite interested in finding out what a thirty-something British mother, slighted by the fact that she’s now up to her ears in nappies rather than cappuccinos and with no discernible interest in cars thinks about a motoring entertainment show” – then I could understand.
As it is, it’s just plain stupid.
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And speaking of Top Gear, the Saab story from last weekend is available on it’s own, here.
I’m going to watch the full episode tonight.
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I’d love to go into the political bunfight that occupied the last five days or so of our lives here in Australia, but it’s irrelevant for most of you and well known to the Aussies that visit here.
Suffice to say it made for some riveting television.
I haven’t seen it yet – I’ll employ some trickery and watch it within the next few days – but Top Gear’s Saab special has just been shown on the BBC.
J Fan has already written the following in comments here:
Well, I enjoyed that. It was never going to be a straightforward praise for Saab, but, by Top Gear standards, that was pretty good, especially the 99 Turbo and safety part.
The black 9000 was almost identical to the one my father bought in 1993 – was great to see it again! I’m glad they highlighted the changes that Saab made to the GM sourced parts over the last two decades.
Was quiet a sad piece. When the credits rolled, my father, brother and myself merely stared at the tv, reflecting upon that sad end.
I figured it might be appropriate to have a feedback section so people could have their say on the show. An appropriate tribute? Entertaining? Surprisingly caring? A crock? A wonderful boost to the value of Chris’ 99Turbo?
Earlier this week and at the last minute I was contacted by the Top Gear producers to ask me if it was possible to attend the studio filming along with my car and one other.
We managed to pull it off and got the two cars in time for rehearsals and the main filming session:
As some of you may have already heard, there will be a Saab feature story on Top Gear this weekend.
It’s not a Saab vehicle review, of course. Instead, Messrs Clarkson and May drive a number of historic and modern Saabs, and I assume they then proceed to analyse the company’s recent demise. It might not be nice in parts, but I have a feeling they will treat some of the brand’s products and history with the appropriate measure of respect (one can always hope!).
I haven’t seen the story, but I know a few of the vehicle owners whose cars you’ll see in it. Observant eyes would have already noticed Mike P’s Saab 9-5 in the season preview they ran in Episode 1.
The 9-5’s shown at the beginning, in a bit they describe as not being part of the series, but the car will be in there.
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Those of you who get Top Gear live on your telly should make sure you tune in this coming weekend.
Those of you who don’t get Top Gear live will have to employ some tricky internet-type tactics to either watch it via the Beeb or do one of those tricky torrent thingies a day or so later (not that I’d ever condone that sort of thing, of course).
I’ve just read over at Saabs United that “an automaker from Munich” might be sniffing around Saab with a view to buying the company. Munich, of course, means BMW.
Let me assert straight away that this is the first I’ve heard of this. I no longer have regular correspondence with the goings-on at Saab and I can’t speak to the veracity of this claim.
But if BMW were really interested?????
Let me put it this way – if BMW are truly interested in buying Saab Automobile then it would be, hands down, the absolute best outcome that the administrators could get. Even if BMW paid half of what the others were offering. As long as BMW’s business plan included making Saabs in Sweden, which isn’t out of the question for them when you consider manufacturing costs and labour laws in Germany, then that would be the best outcome for all concerned, by far.
Creditors/Suppliers – this group gets a reasonable shot at maximising returns and a very credible business partner for their future Swedish operations.
Employees – many employees at Saab, even if they haven’t already got a new job, will have some hesitation about returning under some of the proposed new owners. As I’ve written on these pages before, these people have been living on the edge for three years now and many of them are just tired of it. Many might indeed return if someone else bought the company, but BMW buying the company would be a tremendous incentive for those who would otherwise be teetering on the edge of such a decision.
Customers – I’ve already seen one person say “if I wanted a BMW then I’d buy a BMW.” What a silly way of looking at the situation. If BMW could do with Saab what they’ve done with Mini and Rolls Royce (and with BMW itself) then Saab owners would have absolutely no reason to worry at all. I don’t like BMW cars, but if there’s one thing BMW know how to do well, it’s brand management. Fortunately, there are many things BMW know how to do well. The price of a Saab would not fall. It may even rise. But I’m quite sure the quality of the car would rise as well.
The Swedish people – You’d get to live your lives without any negative Saab headlines because finally, Saab wouldn’t have an owner that the Swedish press could whine about.
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Why might BMW want Saab?
It gives them a credible front-wheel drive brand (for vehicles bigger than Minis) that means they don’t have to dilute the Ultimate Driving Machine aura surrounding their own branded vehicles.
Saab still have access to a clientele that BMW would like to reach – educated, upper-middle income earners with enough automotive awareness to realise that rear-wheel-drive isn’t always the best solution for the situation.
Victor Muller’s quip about getting Saab for the price of a wind tunnel was true and whilst BMW might have to front up a little more in cash terms, they’d still be getting a full car company – from design to delivery – for an absolute steal.
Saab has technology that BMW would probably like to have access to. Phoenix, for starters, and the work being done by e-AAM would be nice to get without the premium licence fee they’d have to pay as a complete outsider, too.
As I said at the top, I don’t know how deep this goes, but IF it’s true, then the administrators should be beating down BMW’s door right now. At face value, and assuming some good intentions, it would appear to be the absolute best option for Saab and its stakeholders.
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Let me be clear – I think that out of the currently mentioned suitors, there could be several viable owners for Saab.
But BMW would, by far, gain the most acceptance from the industry, the potential customer base and Saab’s existing stakeholders.
Pierre from Charles River Saab has posted a wonderful story on the CRS weblog today.
Having been the recipient of a similar favour in the last few years, I found myself smiling non-stop as I read this. And as a post-script, if I’m guessing the dates correctly, this might well have happened on my last day in Trollhattan, too.
It’s a highly recommended way to pass a few minutes on a Sunday. And Pierre – yes indeed, you do need to get to the museum some time. I can only wish I was still there to introduce you to Peter and accompany you both on a tour.
I haven’t even scratched the surface of everything that’s happened on this trip. It’s been one highlight after the other and I’ve been so busy that I’ve hardly had any time to update the site. I’ll get around to sharing (almost) all of it here in due course.
I had to take a little time out, though, to share some of what happened today. Thanks to the kindness of friends, Mike and Hilary, I was able to spend a dream afternoon with Saab’s ace rally driver, Mr Saab himself, Erik Carlsson.
Right now, we’re smack-bang in the midst of a whole range of 50th anniversaries for Carlsson and he’s loving every minute of it. The party started back in 2010 with the 50th anniversary of his first-of-three consecutive wins in the RAC Rally. It’ll continue this year with the anniversary of his first Monte Carlo win in 1962. The sixties were a golden era for Saab racing and much of it was down to the deft touch of the kid from Trollhattan – Carlsson ‘On the roof’.
I’m very happy to report that Erik was in fine form – happy, energetic, healthy and with his formidable sense of humour fully intact. He was fresh back in England from a weekend event in Stockholm for Bilsport Magazine, which the Bilsport guys will be happy to hear he thoroughly enjoyed.
We joined Erik at his home, where he’s accompanied much of the time by his cousin, Britt-Marie, since the passing of his wife, Pat Moss, a few years ago. His daughter Susie lives just down the road and it’s obvious that Erik enjoys having his loved ones close to him.
He greeted me with a strong handshake and his thanks for the work I’d done for Saab over the years. It’s stating the obvious to say that it was an honor for me to meet the great man at his home but to be welcomed in such a way lifted me beyond words. It’s not the first time he’s done that, though. When I first started at Saab, my friend Mike emailed me a message from Erik, welcoming me as a co-worker at Saab Automobile. It’s a message I still treasure today.
After a brief chat inside the house, we went outside to what was a highlight of the day – his ‘replica’ rally car. I use the word replica lightheartedly because whilst it has some replacement panels and other bits and pieces, much of the car is original spec, just as he raced it back in the early 1960s.
The car was rebuilt as a gift to Erik for his 70th birthday a few years ago. Right now it has decals to recreate the look of the RAC Rally car from 1960 but the vehicle specification is actually closer to the Monte Carlo winning car from 1962-63. The 96 has an 850cc, three cylinder two-stroke engine matched to a wonderfully smooth, column-shift 4-speed gearbox.
The engine started on the first turn of the key and it still sounds magnificent.
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My apologies for the wide-angle skewing but it was the first time I’d used my new GoPro Hero2 and I didn’t have time to adjust the settings. You get the picture, though.
Just seeing this classic Saab fire up and listing to the pop of the stroker engine was reward enough. Seeing it in Mr Saab’s hands was an even bigger bonus. He absolutely adores this car and he knows it inside out. His pride in having this machine was obvious and every touch was a tender one.
He told me about the oil cans in the trunk, which were actually bought by him during an event many years ago, just as a precaution. He unscrewed the top of one can showing how it was still sealed underneath, laughing that the oil would probably be more valuable than the car nowadays (hardly!).
We adjourned for lunch at the local pub and Erik was like a king in his castle, sweet-talking the staff and commanding the conversation with his booming baritone. He stands a little smaller today than in his dominant days behind the wheel. Age has taken a toll, but his health has improved in the last few years. He’s in top form today and looking forward to a Saab Owners Club event on the weekend where he’ll speak to the gathered crowd and once again and have them on the edge of their seats and laughing at his stories from days gone by. As we exit, Erik talks at length with the chef, thanks him for his skills and promises to be back. The chicken curry was a hit.
We return to his home and chat at length, seeing some of his considerable collection of memorabilia. Over an afternoon fika in his kitchen, he asks a lot of questions about what’s happening at Saab. He’s already well informed, catching up with friends and colleagues in Sweden on a regular basis (both he and I spoke with his former navigator, Gunnar Palm, by phone during the afternoon). Like everyone else, he’s both anxious about the future of the company and relieved at the fact that at least the Saab Museum has been saved. He shares his opinion on what’s happened, expressing both his admiration and exasperation at various elements of the drama in a very forthright manner.
Our visit eventually comes to an end and we take our time saying our goodbyes. Erik was kind enough to inscribe and sign a copy of the Mr Saab book for me. Hands shaken and photos taken, we get back into Mike’s car and relive the whole afternoon over again during the hour drive back to his home. Mike and Hilary see Erik regularly but I think today’s been one of those special visits for them, too.
I sat at the great man’s table and felt like I could do little more than just drink it all in. The stories, the experience, the good fortune I’d had to simply be there. Erik Carlsson quite possibly did more than any other individual to put Saab on the map and the chance to spend some quality time with him is a rare one that I will always hold dear.
I’ve been in Holland for a few days now but I’ve spent so much time chatting and looking around – which has been fantastic – that I haven’t had a chance to wrap things up from Sweden.
It’s always a difficult thing to say farewell to a place that means a great deal to you. I left Melbourne to go and live/study in Tasmania 17 years ago and whilst it was a big change, there was always the knowledge that I was young enough, and had deep enough roots there, to come back any time. This has been a little different.
Moving to Sweden was such a massive shift in my life outlook that I now find myself moving home with the knowledge that the chances of a full time return are quite remote. That knowledge adds a certain weight and finality to things.
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My last few days in Sweden were full of good times catching up with friends and colleagues. From my mate Mats to all the Saab marketing and PR types. We broke bread and talked about the way things were, the way they could have been and the way we think they might turn out (for the record, Mahindra seems to be the consensus opinion when it comes to potential new owners people feel they can trust).
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My last few hours were spent amongst Saab employees at a regular meeting they’ve set up at Innovatum, just near the Saab Museum. Peter Backstrom and I were both asked to speak – Peter, on the saving of the Saab Museum, and me on my time with Saabs United and Saab itself. It was billed as a battle of the heavyweights, which Peter and I gladly played up to.
If you haven’t read it yet, I posted my presentation here on site a few days ago. It was an emotional experience to deliver it and I don’t know if anyone present could tell, but I did choke up a little near the end.
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We boarded the plane at Landvetter via the tarmac and I only just resisted the temptation to get all Pope John Paul and kiss the ground.
I missed my family while I was there, but I did love living in Sweden and working for Saab. I’m going to miss the place terribly, even if it’s summer back home while Sweden is colder than a mother-in-law’s kiss this time of year (it’s just a saying, Maman).
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Landing in Holland, I was met by Nic and Stephan, two of the guys behind the We Are Many, We Are Saab meetings that were held in over 100 locations around the world a few weeks ago.
Nic’s been showing me around the area for the last few days including a brief stop in the land of Mrs Swade’s birth…..
We lunched on some of Belgium’s finest, leaving a lump of potato the size of a football in my stomach – yes!
Big portions…..
We got together again with Stephan and his family last night (+ Jos!) and had a very interesting chat about the We Are Many, We Are Saab (WAMWAS?) meetings and the general situation for Saab here. These guys and their Saab colleagues in The Netherlands have done an almighty job and when you sit down and chat with them about it, their passion for the brand and the Saab Community in general is quite palpable.
I learned a lot about what was possible just by sitting there and listening and I know that a new Saab organisation could do the same. It wasn’t easy being in the Saab organisation whilst it was struggling so much, but sometimes we all get a little too involved in what’s happening in our own silo to look outside of it. There are plenty of willing people out there and plenty of good ideas. I guess the secret is having the relationships we need to communicate those ideas from trusted sources – something to work on if and when Saab is able to re-start.
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Tomorrow it’s two-stroke heaven, then on to Blighty to catch up with some more friends before heading home.
Earlier this week, I hinted that an interview with Trollhattan’s local newspaper, TTELA,, would be forthcoming soon. The interview has been published today and as I’ve received a few concerned emails from friends about it, there are a few things I’d like to clarify.
First, the headline.
‘I have given up hope’
This is not referring to Saab. People who read further into the article will see that I personally do not hold any great hopes of working for Saab again myself, which is the situation the headline should refer to. It’s not that I have given up hope for Saab. I certainly think the future for a potential buyer would be a difficult one given the loss of people, distribution networks and the apparent lack of cooperation being shown by GM. I do maintain hope, however, that Saab can survive with at least some resemblance to the Saab we know.
Second, my flat and my car.
Apparently the Swedish text reads like these were given to me, or provided for me. This was not the case. I bought my own car (a 1991 Saab 900) and I paid my own rent (6700SEK per month, if you’re interested).
I think Anna-Karin did a great job with the interview and I enjoyed speaking with her. I can’t accurately translate the Swedish text for myself but these potential misunderstandings, and that’s all they are, were brought to my attention so I figured I should address them straight away.
