Currently, the future of Saab Automobile is still up in the air as the now bankrupt company waits for a buyer to show up. Due to numerous set backs and financial troubles, the brand’s former owners, Swedish Automobile N.V., cut ties with the automaker last month and since then, there hasn’t been much noise from Sweden. Whatever the next few months have in store for Saab is a mystery but there are now serious doubts that the company could continue with it present line up. According to Reuters, the reason might be due to General Motors.
“Why would GM want to license its technology to anybody who’s going to it as a springboard to enter a market that still suffers from overcapacity?” said a Reuters’ source. GM played a big part in the bankruptcy of Saab mainly due to the 9-4X SUV. When the American giant owned the Swedish car maker in 2010, the Theta platform was shared to create the crossover. After the sale to Swedish Automobile N.V. was final, the 9-4X and its components continued on with ties to GM. Due to the General’s lack of comfort with a purposed sale to Chinese companies Pang Da and Youngman, they refused to give up the rights to the Theta platform which led to a continued lack of funds and ultimately, bankruptcy. Now that Saab is looking for a buyer, GM more than likely won’t let the SUV go which means the line-up will have to change.
What this all means is that any potential buyer will have to deal with General Motors in order to finalize the sale. The company currently on tap to buy up Saab, India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, might be able to pull something off. Even if they cut ties with GM and subsequently the 9-4X, their expertise with light-duty trucks and SUVs could fill the void left behind. Whether or not this happens is up to the future which currently doesn’t look to bright for the quirky Swedish car maker.
Source: Reuters
