With the inevitable sale of Swedish car company Saab from GM, there seems to be a new player, Fiat S.p.A. In February I spoke of the possible Fiat / Chrysler merger. It seems that there is a backup plan being made by both companies.
According to an inside source who did not want to be named it is possible that Chrysler won’t be permitted to join forces with Fiat. The U.S. Government could have other plans for Chrysler including a merger with GM. There may be a forced merger with two of the beloved Big 3.
Chrysler really has no upcoming products designed or in the works so it doesn’t look like they will be making anything for themselves anyway. There is a plan for American construction of Italian engineered cars from Fiat & Alfa Romeo but this backup plan seems realistic.
In this plan GM and Chrysler would merge. GM would have overall control, their assets would be pooled, and a stronger company formed. This would leave Fiat without a home.
Fiat would be basically “given” Saab so that they would have an existing dealer network and some importing infrastructure to use to get into the United States. Fiat S.p.A. wants a piece of the U.S. market and they are getting here no matter what it takes.
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Overall this merger seems to make sense from all angles. We just don’t need GM and Chrysler both making full lineups of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Also it seems more logical for Fiat and Alfa to sell their cars using current Saab dealers. I couldn’t imagine a progressive individual looking to buy an Italian Euro-hatch having a modern experience at a Dodge dealer. I also don’t see Fiat and Alfa needing to have a dealer at all of these Chrysler locations.
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Either way it works out I am excited to see Fiats and Alfas coming to the United States again. It also looks like this industry will continue to have big things in store for all of us to watch happen over the next few years.
For more info: Todd welcomes all correspondence at drivenbytodd@yahoo.com
Comments
where can I get my SIAB or Salfo Raabo
fiat compera saab
"We just don’t need GM and Chrysler both making full lineups of cars, trucks, and SUVs." Who is this "WE" the high comander of US made cars? This is the kind of thinking that has allowed the Big 3 share of the North American market fall to the current disgraceful level.
Saab Enthusiasts Have High Hopes for Brand Despite Probable Split with GM
State of Nine, the world’s premier website for Saab enthusiasts, recently polled its customers to learn what they hope will happen with the neglected Saab brand.
More than 2,200 customers responded to the “Save Our Brand” online survey at stateofnine dot com. Results about the state of the brand included:
* 53.9 percent of customers would like to see Saab become an independent brand, while 21 percent would like to see it merge with another brand
* If Saab were to merge, 22.5 percent would like to it with Volvo and 17.6 percent would like it to be BMW
Members also shared their opinions on the best features of the Saab: 32.2 percent say that it is fun to drive and 24.9 percent appreciate the design the most. The majority of respondents are driving the Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5. By a large margin, State of Nine members polled say their favorite Saab model is the Classic 900.
Saab owner Jack Stoughton would love to see Saab and Saturn merge and then have a car company like Fiat purchase them to run as an independent company.
“The marketing and engineering of these two cars are almost the same - but the Saab has a much more upscale market segment,” Stoughton said.
Saab owner Simon Anderson said that the State of Nine survey clearly demonstrates the car company’s loyal customer base.
“SAAB's loyal customers will strongly support their brand through a transition to return to the advantages an independently owned car company offers in terms of innovation in safety, design and driving pleasure,” he said.
State of Nine was founded in 2002 and has served 30,000 customers.
State of Nine was founded on the principal that owning a Saab is a lifestyle. It also sells Saab accessories and products.
We have owned Saabs since 1987 and presently have a 1999 9.3 Viggen, 2001 9.3 Viggen and 2008 9.5 S.C. GM has totally wasted the talent and expertise that Saab had in the development of turbo charged 4 and 6 cylinder cars. Saab's have always been a leader in safety and innovation of unique features. Their latest concept cars Aero-x and 9-x Bio-Hybrid were outstanding and won various awards. GM's management just were totally lost trying to send Cadillacs to Europe when Saab was already established and would have been a money maker if they had refreshed their 9.3 & 9.5 models instead of continually delaying them for the past 5-years.
As to whether they become a member Fiat or other Company we will always hold Saab up as truly great car Company.
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