General Motors’ Swedish Saab division has only been officially up for “strategic review” since December, but the Detroit automaker isn’t wasting any time readying its Saab division for a timely sale. In an attempt to make the Saab brand more appealing for sale, GM is setting up it the Swedish automaker as a separate business.
According to inside sources, Saab has been negotiating its independent status with GM and the Swedish government. Reactions have been good up until this point, meaning Saab will likely become more of a stand-along company, with decision making and budgeting moved back in-house.
“Under this [plan], the Saab board will be more like a normal board, and less dependent on what happens on GM’s European strategy board,” Paul Akerlund, head of Saab’s union, told Automotive News Europe. “They will make their own decisions.”
That means that future model development will likely move back to Sweden, with production all but secured at Saab’s Trollhättan, Sweden plant. Under GM’s current plan, the next-generation Saab 9-5 would have been produced at Opel’s factory in Germany.
GM is hopeful that the move will make Saab more attractive to potential buyers. With Saab acting as an independent company, buyers will be able to better evaluate the automaker – thanks to its own set of financial books.
