As GM's sale of Saab to Swedish sportscar maker Koenigsegg draws to a close, details are beginning to leak out on the conditions imposed by the new owners.
A report in Automotive News says Koenigsegg has decided to reduce its U.S. dealer count from 218 to 137. Rejected dealers were sent letters yesterday informing them of Koenigsegg's decision.
After the sale is complete, Saab will be run out of Detroit as Saab Cars North America. The remaining dealers will operate under the current GM franchise agreement until it runs out in October of next year.
stephen987 says:
03:23 PM, 11/12/09
What happens when that agreement is up? Further cuts? Perhaps a complete withdrawal from the U.S. market?
gregnv says:
05:03 PM, 11/12/09
☹ Another Saab story ¦'- (
brn says:
05:37 PM, 11/12/09
stephen, you bet they're going to cut more. Koenigsegg can't handle something this big. They're going to slim it down to something more manageable and see what happens. I also expect Saabs to become more exclusive and more expensive.
dougtheeng says:
05:55 AM, 11/13/09
I hope for good things for Saab. I've always been strangely attracted to them, so I don't want to see them disappear from either my price range or North America in general.
felonious says:
08:13 AM, 11/13/09
Getting run out of Detroit is probably the best thing that could happen to them - or anyone.