Saab Closing 37% of Dealers
GM had already canceled franchise agreements with all 218 U.S. Saab dealers earlier this year, but word from Sweden is the new owner of Saab will only renew 137 branches. That leaves 81 stores out in the cold. The new company, which will be owned by Koenigsegg, made the move after sales took a dive of 62% this past year, mainly due to an aging product line.
A Saab spokesman said the new owners “have looked at what is best for Saab, in what parts of the U.S. we should be, and at which dealers that have a good possibility to make good money.”
The redesigned Saab 9-5 shown above will be the company’s first all-new product when it goes on sale late next year.
Saab Terminates 37 Percent of U.S. Dealer Franchises (Bloomberg)
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There is that delicate little matter about the list. The list of dead dealers that GM promised and has, to date, never provided to the public. (As well as the dealers that were taken off the kill list due to political connections.) I'm sure the level of disclosure and openness with Saab will be similar.
segfault,
except the new owner will want to promote confidence in the dealers it does pick. You would think anyway.
Out of curiosity is the new
9-5 based on a GM design or is it designed completely by Koenigsegg?
Stellar, it was designed under GM management, as was the upcoming 9-4X.
I found out about this news today when I dropped off my car at my local Saab (Sutliff)dealership in Central PA. Apparently my new dealer is almost 75 miles away. GMAC must be thrilled with news of these closures as they will only serve to depress existing residuals even further. I guess GMAC is going to need some more taxpayer money…