Saab fans buy last car off the production line
Published: 5 May 12 11:01 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40652/20120505/
Saab enthusiasts have confirmed that they have collected the funds required to purchase the last Saab 9-3 manufactured in the now defunct Saab factory in Trollhättan in western Sweden.
- Former Saab CEO arrested for tax crimes (21 May 13)
- New snag for Swiss deal on Swedish jet fighters (10 Apr 13)
- Gandhi 'helped Swedes' in India fighter jet bid (8 Apr 13)
"We, the fans set out on a mission to buy a car, and not just any car, we set out to buy the last of a production series, the last Saab 9-3 Griffin," a post on the Saabs United blog on Friday explained.
"And we have done it. Today we passed the amount required."
More than 600 diehard Saab fans have assisted in the collection of the money which will be duly converted to Swedish kronor and transferred to a Swedish bank in order to pay the invoice from ANA, the firm responsible for selling the vehicle.
The Saab 9-3 will however not be destined for a life on the open road and will in due course be donated to the Saab Museum in Trollhättan.
Saabs United stated that the donations page on their website will be kept open for a "little while longer" promising to donate any extra money left over after the purchase of the car to the Saab Museum.
Saabs United was begun in February 2005 and was previously owned by Steven Wade, an Australian who later secured a post at the Swedish firm after the takeover by Spyker. It has since been taken over by Tim Rokka.
Saab Automobile petitioned for bankruptcy in the Swedish courts in December 2011 following the failure of a Chinese consortium to complete a takeover.
India's Mahindra and Mahindra, and China's Youngman, are the latest Asian firms to be linked with a prospective buyout of the loss-making Swedish firm.
Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6513
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Riksbank unveils new board members
Sweden's central bank has appointed two new board members plucked from banking and academia to replace two outgoing members, one of whom was an outspoken critic of the Riksbank's commitment to the government's inflation goal. READ () »
350 jobs lost as Ericsson shuts Swedish factory
Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has buckled under the pressure of European competition and will turn off the switch on a cable production plant in Sweden, leaving 350 employees without jobs. READ () »
Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal
While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax burden on salaries when social security payments and salary brackets are taken into account. READ () »
Ericsson probed over suspected bribes
Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »
Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump
Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »
'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'
A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »
H&M mulls production in South America and Africa
Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »
Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines
Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »
'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'
Sweden tops a list of countries that risk suffering a housing market crash, Germany's Commerzbank has warned, citing the slackening off of Swedish property prices as a harbinger of a potential downswing. READ () »
Solna voted best place to live in Sweden
Solna, a suburb just north of Stockholm, is the best place to live in Sweden, according to a new ranking published on Friday by Swedish news magazine Fokus. READ () »
- 17/05 LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill »
- 16/05 India in no rush to open first Ikea store »
- 16/05 H&M CEO to Bangladesh: raise minimum wages »
- 15/05 Sweden plummets in income equality ranking »
- 15/05 Pensioners to recruit ageing Swedish rockers »
- 15/05 Swedish shop hits back: our Converse are real »
- 15/05 Young Swedes forced to live with mum and dad »
- 14/05 Converse in bid to ban 'fake' shoes in Sweden »
- 13/05 Nordea tracked clients in secret 'black book' »
- 10/05 ABB executive to quit after five-year tenure »
| 22/05 | Accountant to Bank of ChinaSjr Ab | Stockholm |
| 22/05 | Accountant to Bank of ChinaSJR AB | Stockholm, STHM |
| 22/05 | Accounting ManagerMichael Page | Göteborg |
| 22/05 | Accounting ManagerMichael Page | Göteborg, VTG |
| 22/05 | Architectural Engineer #8409Aker Advantage | Stockholm |
| 22/05 | Business Developer/Account ManagerTransPerfect Translations | Stockholm, STHM |
| 22/05 | CAD/PDM Support EngineerEuropean Spallation Source ESS AB | SKÅ |
| 22/05 | Controller Tele2 Group ProductTele2 | Kista |
| 22/05 | Driven och social nätverkstekniker till ett av världens mest kaenda foeretagAcademic Work | Stockholm, STHM |
| 22/05 | Head of Product Control - If IndustrialIF skadeförsäkring | Stockholm, Nordic |
- 22/05 Spain and Germany fight youth employment »
- 21/05 Car boss asks Merkel to rethink CO2 pledge »
- 21/05 SAP to hire hundreds of autistic IT experts »
- 18/05 Economists warn against German euro exit »
- 17/05 Germany cool to France's EU economy plan »
- 17/05 Au pairs rules relax for non-German families »
- 16/05 Germany refuses to slam French economic policy »
- 16/05 Capri-Sun drink wins false advertising award »
- 15/05 Anaemic economy feels winter chill »
- 15/05 ThyssenKrupp bins 3,000 admin jobs »
- 22:08 What has happened to TL?
- 21:42 Living costs in London
- 21:37 International school in Lund
- 20:30 Husby Riots and violence against the police...
- 20:15 An alternative on the menu
- 19:57 Investment market in Sweden
- 19:46 I need a dentist, in Malmö?
- 18:50 Where do I find out if my massage qualifications
- 18:50 Restaurant Inspection Scores
- 17:49 Moving from Canada to Sweden
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
That's a real wonderful insentive to allow Swedes to buy cars of their choice and keep the workers at Volvo and hopefully very soon make the possibility of the SAAB workers in Trollhättan back to work again when the company should have its new ownership.
The workers will be able to pay their income taxes and revive the economy which will int urn generate more revenue to the government. What A CONCEPT!
Denmark's Ferrari like prices will do nothing positive for Sweden. SAAB has also been a pioneer in turbocharging and ethanol technology, allowing the efficient use of smaller engines for fuel efficiency. Enjoy your rides on public transportation.
I get your argument but its short sighted. All of the inputs you mention are predicated on an oil economy which is reaching its sunset. To keep it short, your solution benefits the current generation to rob scare resources from future generations. Not taxing fossil fuel vehicles is selfish and shortsighted. Preparing for a post oil economy on the otherhand is wise....but wisdom and austerity no longer fuels long term financial planning for countries....the world is run on quarterly reports with about as much forward thinking strategy as that if little more.
Don't think that is it as much as this....
Volvo and Saab are both sensible people's cars. However, they never had the sex appeal of BMW or the Status of Mercedes. As the prices increased of Saabs and Volvos sensible people went and bought Hondas and Toyotas.
Don't get me wrong there are a lot of great things about Saab and Volvo especially the dependability of older models. However, they have lost their relative market niche...since Sweden is making efforts to become a green country Saab and Volvo should really focus on becoming not only the most sustainable driven cars but the most sustainable built cars. That is a niche for Saab and Volvo to climb to the top in...
As most likely in the next 20 years in the more enlightened countries owner's of fossil fuel cars will be looked at as self centered and ignorant..sort of how most of the world looks at American's now, due to their massive consumption habits and lack of understanding of the overall world they live in.
Maybe SAAB will some day, under a new owner less moronic than General Motors, produce cars that are built up to a standard, not down to a price. I wish them well.