Currently reading: Two buyers emerge for Saab
Two suitors have already shown an interest in Saab to GM

Two new potential buyers for Saab have already emerged just days after the collapse of the sale of the troubled car maker to the Koenigsegg group.

According to reports in the Swedish press, both Beijing Automotive (BAIC) and Wyoming-based merchant bank Merbanco are now seriously investigating buying up the ailing Swedish brand.

Both companies have previously shown interest in Saab; Merbanco was among the last three bidders this summer, when GM chose Koenigsegg.

Beijing Auto was a minority partner in the Koenigsegg bid and, as Autocar reported, it was keen to restart production of the outgoing 9-5 in China.

Christopher Johnson, owner of Merbanco, is self-confessed Saab enthusiast and his father, a partner in Merbanco, founded AGCO, which was involved in a number of company turnarounds, including Massey Ferguson.

Any BAIC bid could run into significant hurdles, according to other reports in the Swedish press.

The Götbergs Posten is claiming that the Koenigsegg bid collapsed partly because of worries about BAIC getting hold of GM’s technology. Saab’s revival centers on the launch of the new 9-5 range, which is based on GM’s latest Epsilon 2 platform.

It seems unlikely that GM would be willing to let BAIC take over Saab, particularly as it was concerns about technology transfer that helped scupper the deal to sell Vauxhall/Opel to Magna, which was backed by a Russian state bank.

But one positive for Saab appears to have come for the European Investment Bank, from which Saab is receiving a loan. The EIB has reportedly said any loan previously agreed with Saab can be transferred to its new owner.

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tannedbaldhead 26 November 2009

Re: Two buyers emerge for Saab

Notiron wrote:

Who cares?

Crap cars. Another company that should have gone out of business years ago. Just like Vauxhall should and Rover did.

Do you say anything positive about anyone or anything? ever? Are you in a dark place. Missing Plummy? Do you need to talk to someone? SSRIs may be the answer. I'm here if you need me.

jackjflash 26 November 2009

Re: Two buyers emerge for Saab

kairoo wrote:
I don't know. but I'm sure when anything that involves GM is concerned a certain yappy mutt will no doubt tell us that GM is strictly on the level and it's all the fault of the nasty Germans, Swedes, Russians, Chinese...

Well that’s not true Cart, GM certainly has made many mistakes and some truly heinous cars as well, but if I see something that I think is not quite right or presented out of context I will comment on it and to your dismay from an American point of view. I mean GM did provide eighty years of employment to the German people through Opel, that’s not so bad is it?

I have nothing against our fellow inhabitants of this good earth, the Germans, Swedes, Russians, and Chinese, may they live long and prosper.

jackjflash 26 November 2009

Re: Two buyers emerge for Saab

kairoo wrote:
it's Yank holiday. no friends/family poodleman? GM your surrogate mate? - you're always blowing its kn*b

Just had a wonderful dinner with friends and family, watched some American football and now checking out Autocar for a bit, as for GM, just offering facts and opinions from time to time. How about you mein freund; having a good day? ;)