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, Sat, 4 May 2002 20:13:23
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I'm in the venture capital / M&A office of a Japanese company which is a major supplier of die machining machine tools to both GM (worldwide) as well as SAAB Sweden. We've been Saab suppliers in Europe for a good number of years.
The issue of GM's effect on Saab is a genuine concern, but there was simply no way for any independent company which was so 'genuine' in its car making approach but yet so seemingly inept at US mass-market customer reliability concerns could survive once companies like Honda/Toyota proved that reliability on a car up to 80k would never need be an issue again.
GM's backing has allowed SAAB a somewhat happy medium, and I think the relationship is really hitting its stride with the arrival of the new agressively engineered concept cars and engines, but it is obvious to me as I drive my 02' 9-5 that the car is, in fact, much more GMish than we would like to admit. I even have sneaking suspicions that would any of us dane to drive an 02' Impala with the bells and whistles we may have a similar impression... (?)
To be fair, GM has actually come a long way in the last 10 years, and I think that it's association with SAAB has been used to garner some good ideas for the company as whole. My colleagues in engineering at the Japanese company where I work are impressed with GM's push to bring in ideas from both its European and Japanese partner companies to create a 'new' integrated American car company. This is probably why GM has allowed the Swedes to keep the ball in their court, though I will tell you that there is no other car company in the world that is as stringent to its subsidiaries and suppluers as GM (as learned from Toyota). One wonders then how long GM will allow SAAB to not return anything much more than good will on the investment. That is why I sense the head of SAAB making statements like it's now or never to re-make SAAB.... Because competition is the fiercest it's ever been in the auto industry.
Jon
02' 9-5
97' 900 convertible
posted by 12.100.24...
, Sat, 4 May 2002 20:13:23
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