Saab enthusiasts urging GM to reach a deal
As General Motors Co. continues to simultaneously wind down Saab and negotiate with bidders about a sale, Saab enthusiasts are urging GM to reach a deal to sell Saab.
| Related news: • Saab enthusiasts gather in Detroit to protest • GM extends deadline for Saab sell-off |
Saab enthusiasts are turning up the heat on GM to finalize a deal for the sale of the 72-year-old brand, including a Web site set up by Steven Wade, who also operates the Saab news and enthusiast Web site, www.saabsunited.com. The new Web site, www.iwontbuyfromgm.com, features postings from angry Saab owners.
"Saabs have been my cars of choice since 1966. If GM shuts down Saab instead of selling it in good faith to an interested buyer, I will never even consider buying a Cadillac, Corvette or Buick or anything else that GM promotes," wrote Don Young of Atherton, Calif., on the Web site. "The press often describes Saab owners as passionate and devoted to the marque. The press ain't seen nothing yet!"
GM had set a deadline of 31 Dec to identify a buyer or commence a shutdown of Saab. But Paul Åkerlund, a board member at the Swedish carmaker, told Bloomberg News that GM was prepared to wait beyond the end of this week before deciding on the future of the Saab brand.
Negotiations to sell Saab to Spyker Cars NV collapsed Dec. 18, and Spyker CEO Victor Muller blamed the failed deal partly on the "strict deadline" for an agreement by Dec. 31. The Dutch carmaker submitted a new offer on Dec. 20.
"It's our understanding that if there's a bid that GM finds sufficiently interesting, then the 31st of December is not a date that's holy," Mr. Åkerlund said in a phone interview with Bloomberg.
GM's position hasn't changed since its Dec. 18 statement, Chris Preuss, a company spokesman in Detroit, said. "We are winding down Saab and talking with interested parties as part of that process. We will not comment further," he said in an e-mail to Bloomberg.
GM decided to abandon Saab, Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac when it exited bankruptcy to focus on Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac.
Talks with GM reportedly are focusing on Merbanco Inc., a Wyoming-based group, and Netherlands-based Spyker.
Swedish sports-car maker Koenigsegg Group AB walked away from a deal for Saab last month.
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Last Updated (Sunday, 03 January 2010 19:08)











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