Discussion
http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/26/autos/saab_spyker_...
Good news, assuming it happens and the company doesn't go down in flames in the next 18 months.
Good news, assuming it happens and the company doesn't go down in flames in the next 18 months.
Tis on BBC as well now http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8481621.stm
Seems like good news but $74m was a very cheap price.
Seems like good news but $74m was a very cheap price.
Victor Muller said he would get Saab and I said on here that he would. He really wanted this marque.
It's great news also for UK as Spyker is now based in the Midlands.
As the beer ad used to go, this makes a refreshing change!
About time there was some good news - the thought of Bernie Ecclestone buying Saab filled most with fear.
It's great news also for UK as Spyker is now based in the Midlands.
As the beer ad used to go, this makes a refreshing change!
About time there was some good news - the thought of Bernie Ecclestone buying Saab filled most with fear.
Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 26th January 20:08
What can Spyker gain by doing this?
SAAB made, and continues to make, a loss. So that 75 million is only the start of a very expensive process.
The models are all based on old GM stuff and they are no longer part of GM.
The volumes are tiny, probably too tiny to make sense in mas production of cars.
A new, higher volume, chassis is needed, but from where? GM again? Subaru? VW/Audi?
Then there is the question of drivelines. SSAB keep trying to place themselves in the same market as the prestige RWD brands and not quite getting there. If this means RWD or 4WD for the future then the possible sources of a shared platform rapidly diminish. There is Audi, who Spyker already deal with, but putting these platforms under new SAABs just creates a new rival using their own parts.
I can't help thinking that this is a very odd relationship with no obvious benefits to either party.
SAAB made, and continues to make, a loss. So that 75 million is only the start of a very expensive process.
The models are all based on old GM stuff and they are no longer part of GM.
The volumes are tiny, probably too tiny to make sense in mas production of cars.
A new, higher volume, chassis is needed, but from where? GM again? Subaru? VW/Audi?
Then there is the question of drivelines. SSAB keep trying to place themselves in the same market as the prestige RWD brands and not quite getting there. If this means RWD or 4WD for the future then the possible sources of a shared platform rapidly diminish. There is Audi, who Spyker already deal with, but putting these platforms under new SAABs just creates a new rival using their own parts.
I can't help thinking that this is a very odd relationship with no obvious benefits to either party.
Heard all this doom mongering before
and sure its a gamble
but I am sure it is impossible to work out the profit /loss position on an individual unit of a big corporation especially when that unit is supplying knowledge to the rest of the corporation
and it is very easy to manipulate the figures so you make a loss in a high tax area (sweden) while siphoning off the profit to a low tax area
The swedish engineers have shown themselves very adept at adapting crap gm technology
and trying to make a reasonable fist of it
They also have technology squirelled away in trollhatten which hopefully will see the light of day
still a gamble tho
and sure its a gamble
but I am sure it is impossible to work out the profit /loss position on an individual unit of a big corporation especially when that unit is supplying knowledge to the rest of the corporation
and it is very easy to manipulate the figures so you make a loss in a high tax area (sweden) while siphoning off the profit to a low tax area
The swedish engineers have shown themselves very adept at adapting crap gm technology
and trying to make a reasonable fist of it
They also have technology squirelled away in trollhatten which hopefully will see the light of day
still a gamble tho
Short term? Pressing ahead with the new 9-5, which by all accounts is a rather good car. As for the 'prestige' of RWD, well it doesn't seem to hold back most Alfas and Audis. They'll hopefully bring the 'Saabaru' over though.
Medium term? I can see Spyker developing some common 4WD platforms. They've already got that 'Peking To Paris' off-road thing, so they might be able to lower it into saloon territory and maybe have some bonkers V8 Spyker, and a milder, cheaper, more sensibly-engined Saab version.
Only difficulty might be engine-sourcing, although there are plenty of independent firms out there, like Ricardo, Cosworth, VM and Millington who I'm sure would be all too happy to oblige.
Medium term? I can see Spyker developing some common 4WD platforms. They've already got that 'Peking To Paris' off-road thing, so they might be able to lower it into saloon territory and maybe have some bonkers V8 Spyker, and a milder, cheaper, more sensibly-engined Saab version.
Only difficulty might be engine-sourcing, although there are plenty of independent firms out there, like Ricardo, Cosworth, VM and Millington who I'm sure would be all too happy to oblige.
Twincam16 said:
Short term? Pressing ahead with the new 9-5, which by all accounts is a rather good car. As for the 'prestige' of RWD, well it doesn't seem to hold back most Alfas and Audis. They'll hopefully bring the 'Saabaru' over though.
Audi bases a lot of its prestige on "quattro".Alfa never quite get there.
The Saabaru was an interesting idea but is now defunct.
Twincam16 said:
Medium term? I can see Spyker developing some common 4WD platforms. They've already got that 'Peking To Paris' off-road thing, so they might be able to lower it into saloon territory and maybe have some bonkers V8 Spyker, and a milder, cheaper, more sensibly-engined Saab version.
Do you realise how much money you just spent?They are broke. The options available are 9-3, 9-5 and possibly a revised Subaru tie up but as this only came about due to GM owning shares in the parent company of Subaru and these shares are now sold to Toyota it looks unlikely.
The most realistic option is probably to persevere with the current range and seek a partner for a new one when the market improves.
Twincam16 said:
Only difficulty might be engine-sourcing, although there are plenty of independent firms out there, like Ricardo, Cosworth, VM and Millington who I'm sure would be all too happy to oblige.
GM.SAAB know them so all the contacts are in place.
Other than that it's anyones guess.
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