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1. Saab is trying to introduce a bevy of new models in the next few years, but I'll believe the SUV when I see it. I've heard that story two ways; go and no-go. I believe the environment, the bad PR on safety and Ford's tires will bang that market, but good, and that the SUV will shrink into a better minivan, which is where Saab's SUV really is, in case you missed the spec on the Buick.
2. GM may not continue to be "pretty bad at new vehicle introductions". Whos says the past inevitably dictates the future. Is this DeL-axiomatic?Especially if Saab continues to have the autonomy it's been given to go with our market - one that hollers for individuality, quality/reliability, safety, performance, service rep, and style at a premium price.
3. At vehicle execution, our 1999 9-3 is rated #1 in the UK by Consumers. Zero (0) faults found. That has been our experience. (i.e., getting it right the first time).
4. GM's people cannot possibly all be suits. They hired a guy from the PT Cruiser success and gave him El Camino-type responsibilities. They make the Vette - very best in its class. They hired the MD guy for Saab... so things cannot be all bad. I look to some of that old Alfa magic in design to float GM's way too.
5. One of the reasons I bought the Saab was that I looked at the reliability curve for NGs and it was exponentially up. 80s chassis be damned. I wanted a reliable car and that's what I got.
6. Struggling of late? Hell.....there was a time there I thought we'd lost Chrysler, so you can name any company you want. FMC is laying off too. with lots of their sales coming from steep discount lease deals.
7. Saab is still a small ($3.8B endowment), emergent car company with a very, very, very faithful client base. Small and flexible in today's market ae beautiful things. In lining up on goodwill, only Porsche beats Saab among the Eurocars for repeat purchases. The trick is to grow the base and Saab's rep for reliablity, made with the NGs, will influence many. Test drive stats bear me out on Saab's ability to do that.
8. Saab's market -- the $26K-$40K near-luxury/luxury car market... is the fastest-growing market in the bizness and, if I'm not mistaken, the truckers will come back to cars. So it's zero-sum for trucks and back to cars and shrinking SUVs.
5. Hard times are what competitive business is all about. Saab is GM's _only_ world car. In case DeL misses the globalization trend, a rising tide lifts all boats and DeL is still preaching zero-sum games theory in a domestic market.
Remind DeL that Saab has these spiffy new fuel-saving technologies (2) and that this is no bluff. The turbo wasn't a bluff and neither is this technology. Ask DeL to look around and tell you "who else" can do with an internal combustion engine what Saab touts it is GOING to do.
I have seen the 9x pix and I believe it's a winner going out the gate. The people at the dealership who have seen things I have not are bubbly. So are the Swedes. Swedes are not normally bubbly, giggly people.
posted by 207.181.7...
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