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.
- US judge rejects Saab bankruptcy lawsuit (11 Jun 13)
- Tie-up with Pipavav puts India on Saab's radar (28 May 13)
- Tax probe forces ex-Saab CEO from Vattenfall (27 May 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.
Aid cuts would be 'devastating'
Criticism of the government's foreign aid policy is mounting as Swedish ambassadors, aid organizations and politicians slam Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson's announcements that development assistance to several countries may be slashed. READ () »
Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs
Forestry giant Stora Enso plans to let another 2,500 employees go, of whom 750 work in Sweden, citing weak markets and deflating profits. READ () »
Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal
Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »
New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job
TeliaSonera's new head Johan Dennelind believes he is the right man to restore the Swedish telecom giant's reputation after the company's Uzbek bribery scandal. READ () »
ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO
Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB has appointed a new CEO, who has a background in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and automotive industries and who was a key player in the acquisition of Baldor. READ () »
Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier
Sweden's state-run liquor store monopoly has sent back 6,000 bottles of a Spanish wine because it tasted better than expected, according to a Swedish alcohol supplier. READ () »
Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories
Development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that the Swedish government may reduce development assistance for the Palestinians since they have failed to reach a peace agreement with Israel. READ () »
Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture
A hierarchical "Gothenburg Spirit" among politicians and civil servants contributed to a culture of corruption in the past decade, concluded a report on Sweden's second largest city. READ () »
Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban
The Swedish government has given up its efforts to force the European Union to scrap its ban on the export of snus, choosing instead to focus on protecting the popular moist tobacco product's use in Sweden. READ () »
'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'
Since 2008, migrants to Sweden can swap course from seeking asylum to seeking a work visa with the help of an employer. The Local speaks to one migrant who praises the system, while saying it could be improved. READ () »
- 12/06 Bankruptcy hits major Swedish free school firm »
- 11/06 US judge rejects Saab bankruptcy lawsuit »
- 10/06 Wolf 'massacre' leaves over 20 sheep dead »
- 10/06 AstraZeneca snaps up US inhaler company »
- 07/06 Prosecutor seeks docs in TeliaSonera bribes case »
- 07/06 Swedish dads stay home as mothers work »
- 05/06 Sweden's Meda denies India merger rumours »
- 05/06 Ikea founder steps down from key board post »
- 05/06 Google to power data centre with Swedish wind »
- 04/06 New smartphone app for Sweden's high flyers »
| 18/06 | Accounting SpecialistHays | Katowice, SLA |
| 18/06 | Agency General Manager ? Scandinavia | Göteborg |
| 18/06 | C++ Developer | Stockholm |
| 18/06 | Chemical Plant ManagerThe Valspar | Hendrik Ido Ambacht (NL) |
| 18/06 | Cloud ArchitectCapgemini Sverige AB | Malmö, SKÅ |
| 18/06 | Compliance Manager - NordicsAce European Group Ltd | Stockholm |
| 18/06 | CPL Ireland - Swedish CollectionsCPL Ireland | Malmö |
| 18/06 | CPL Ireland - Swedish or DanishCPL Ireland | Malmö |
| 18/06 | Enterprise Services Solution Architect | Sverige |
| 18/06 | Financial Reporting Product Manager | Sverige |
- 18/06 German investor confidence on the up »
- 18/06 Commerzbank 'to shed 5,000 jobs' »
- 17/06 Sun sets on Siemens solar division »
- 17/06 Motorists flush away millions in toilet tickets »
- 14/06 Germany joins EU youth unemployment fight »
- 14/06 Canny footballer shoots, scores, is banned »
- 13/06 Rat poison found at Lidl supermarkets »
- 13/06 Berlin: EU can find 'good solution' to US free trade »
- 12/06 German chains 'ignore Turkish shoppers' »
- 12/06 Vodafone makes bid for Kabel Deutschland »
- Goodyear Dunlop Tires Nordic - Head of Business Control
- CPL Ireland - Swedish Collections
- CPL Ireland - Swedish or Danish
- Interaction Recruitment - Swedish
- MGI Recruitment - Swedish Inside Sales
- Projob NL - Swedish and English
- Projob NL - Swedish and English
- RECA Young Professional Program/Trainee
- SITS i Göteborg söker Danslärare
- SITS i Oslo söker Lärare (även
- 02:03 Wedding Dress WANTED!
- 00:22 Campervan in -30?
- 22:50 Planning on moving to Sweden from USA
- 22:46 Was it you I saw in Stockholm?
- 21:53 Swedish health care system
- 19:27 Is Edward Snowden Victim Of Chinese Honey-Trap?
- 17:49 Help with visas!
- 16:58 Study to be a Primary School Teacher
- 15:59 Sweden vehicle emissions laws?
- 14:31 Registering elsewhere in the EU for a 2 days
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
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
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
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.