Hi there, Im sure you are all now aware that GM has been sucessful in selling it Hummer and Saturn brands and Saab is almost there as KiwiGuy has stated above.
Im sure Koenisegg and Saab will form a fantastic relationship. In the past every owner related ownership of Saab has been a disaster.
The ownership under the name Saab-Scania was very uncomfortable and tense for the entire Saab-Scania group comprising of Saab Automobile AB - Saab Aircraft AB - CombiTec - Enertec and Scania Trucks AB. Scania Trucks AB was reaping huge profits and saw Saab Autombile bleed millions of the groups hard earned SEK each year.
General Motors relationship with Saab has always been a oneway street. GM has always only been interested in Saabs advanced engineering capibilities and knowledge. It is not widely known but at the present time a large percent of the current engines availible in the GM model range are hugely influenced and designed by Saabs engineers. GM has depleated Saab of most of its culture and over the years has given Saab a number of tacky and sometimes shoty products. Also there have been many cockups such as the Saab 9-2x and to a lesser extent the Saab 9-7x, these cars seriously dented Saabs culture and brand appeal, rather than improve it as GM had hoped. GM has more than enything deprived investment in Saab. They did however make a huge attempt in building Saab in 2002 when over a billion was given to Saab to develop the 9-3 (which is still almost identical 8 years later). Saab designed a sedan, convertible, combi, combi xwd and a coupe hatchback. The sedan and the convertible went straight into production, the combi waited 4 years before it was released and the combi xwd waited until late 2009. The coupe hatchback was shelved then dropped. Between 2003 and 2005 GM also has Saab design the 9-2x and the 9-6x with Subaru. Only the 9-2x eventuated. The Oldsmobile based 9-7x went to production and has sold pretty well in North America.
The new ownership relationship between Saab Automobile AB and Koenisegg I believe will be a good one. Koenisegg has an electric car in the pipeline and so does Saab (commonly known as the 9-1 concept). Saab is committed to environmentally sustainable engines and has developed a 100% BioPower engine. It is working on a engine they call BioHybrid Technology whereby the engine runs of electricity and 100% BioEthenol.
As we all know, Saab has a few new models to come out within 4 years. First the 9-3x which was originally conceived in 2002 - 2003 but shelved by GM. Followed by the ALL NEW 9-5 (The current 9-5 is now 12 years old) and then the 9-4x CUV to be built in Mexico.
ITS EXCITING TIMES AHEAD FOR SAAB AND KOENISEGG!
