Soon-to-be Saab owner Koenigsegg confirmed this morning that it is cutting ties with 81 of Saab’s 218 dealers in the United States in an attempt to significantly restructure the small automaker.
Current Saab owner General Motors sent out a letter via FedEx to the 81 doomed dealers on Wednesday on behalf of Koenigsegg, which will operate Saab under the name Saab Cars of North America. The dealers should be receiving their letters today at the latest.
The surviving 137 dealerships were selected on account of their profitability, selling rate and locations, a Koenigsegg representative said this morning during a conference call with reporters. It is unclear when the dealers will need to close their doors, although General Motors will continue to support the survivors through October 2010 when Koenigsegg takes over.
Saab Cars North America’s chief operating officer, Mike Colleran, said today that the deal for Koenigsegg to acquire Saab should be completed by the end of the year.
