<![CDATA[GM Inside News Forum - "Old GM" Brand News]]> http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:34:44 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/v2/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[GM Inside News Forum - "Old GM" Brand News]]> http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums Worst Fear? Ex-Saturn Dealers Signing On To Represent Chinese Manufacturer http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/worst-fear-ex-saturn-dealers-signing-represent-chinese-manufacturer-86254/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:43:36 GMT Link: http://wardsauto.com/ar/chinese_auto_maker_091117/

Wards Auto - By Mac Gordon

The Brilliance Auto Group is wending its way through North America regulatory processes as it seeks to become the first China-built vehicle lineup to go on sale in the U.S.

“We've signed up dealers representing more than 30 locations and are negotiating with dozens more,” says David Shelburg Sr., who at age 80 is known to hundreds of dealers after a long career of developing dealership organizations, such as Subaru and Kaiser-Frazer.

Shelburg’s Auto-Kam Automotive Group, based in Scottsdale, AZ, is the franchisor and distributor of record for the Brilliance vehicle lineup in the U.S.

“We're going great guns among Saturn dealers,” Shelburg tells Ward’s. “Saturn dealers are the cream of the crop, and when General Motors cut them loose, our phone rang off the hook. The Brilliance lineup of premier cars and SUVs will make a great fit for Saturn.”

One of the first Saturn dealers to hook up with Brilliance is the Tom Kelley Group in Fort Wayne, IN., followed by Laird Mooney in San Diego and the Larry Miller organization in Salt Lake City. A Brilliance franchise requires a $35,000 down payment per store.

“These are charter dealers who are typical of the caliber of the Saturn dealer owners we are negotiating with,” Shelburg says. “We're promising to ship new cars for retail sale by mid-2010, depending on completion of the testing we're doing for the (U.S.) government.”

Several of the impending Brilliance retailers have agreed to put the brand on sale at their former Saturn locations.

Full article at link. ]]> Perian http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/worst-fear-ex-saturn-dealers-signing-represent-chinese-manufacturer-86254/ Saab Cut 38% Of Dealers Last Week; Running Low On Inventory - New 9-5 Months Away http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saab-cut-38-dealers-last-week-running-low-inventory-new-9-5-months-away-86190/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:27:12 GMT Link: http://content.usatoday.com/communit...t-us-dealers/1

More than one-third of Saab dealers in the U.S. will be closed as part of General Motors' sale of the unit to Sweden's Koenigsegg Group, reports the Associated Press.

Saab is introducing a new sedan, the 9-5, even as it's tried to conserve cash.

As if that isn't bad enough, all Saab dealers, whether they're staying business or closing across the nation, have another problem: not enough cars. Dealers in the U.S. are running short of cars because Swedish Saab cut production to conserve cash as it prepares for its first new model in seven years, the 9-5, Bloomberg News reports.

"We have about 10 Saabs left, and they won't last long," said Ivan Goodwin, sales manager at Jim Ellis Saab in Atlanta, as quoted by Bloomberg. "It's going to be a big problem, but there is nothing we can do about it." And about those closures:

GM has sent letters to 81 of its 218 U.S. Saab dealers telling them that they will lose their dealerships when the sale is expected to go through at the end of this month, a GM spokeswoman confirmed. Those that remain, 137 of them, will carry on.

"We selected a network that gives us the best opportunity to achieve that," Mike Colleran, Saab's chief operating officer in North America, is quoted as saying.

Saab is unable to increase production until the sale to Koenigsegg, which it had expected to close last month, is complete and new financing arrives, Geers said. The deal was postponed after the European Investment Bank delayed a decision on granting Saab a 400 million-euro ($600 million) loan, which it eventually approved Oct. 21. The European Commission must still sign off on the funding, leaving dealers waiting.

“We’ve been in limbo too long,” said Goodwin, the Atlanta dealer, which also received notice it will remain open. “But we’re optimistic. The new 9-5 has got more bells and whistles. It’s the best car they’ve ever made.” ]]> Perian http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saab-cut-38-dealers-last-week-running-low-inventory-new-9-5-months-away-86190/ HUMMER Talks Rebranding, H4 and H5 Models http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/hummer-talks-rebranding-h4-h5-models-86183/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:42:18 GMT Pending the sale of HUMMER by General Motors to Tengzhong, the brand is looking to stay "relevant" and keep its tag line "Like Nothing Else" true.

That means new powertrains, and new models like the H4 and H5 -- this marks the first time anyone official as mentioned anything beyond the H4 based on the HX concept.

http://bit.ly/SsRLO

. ]]> Hummer Guy http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/hummer-talks-rebranding-h4-h5-models-86183/ Saab to terminate 81 U.S. dealerships http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saab-terminate-81-u-s-dealerships-86106/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:29:52 GMT *New Saab owner to terminate 81 U.S. dealerships* Reuters Source (http://www.reuters.com/article/euMergersNews/idUSN1346080920091113) Image: http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9904/2011saab95113440x268.jpg DETROIT, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg will terminate more than a third of U.S. Saab dealers when it completes its purchase of the premium brand from General Motors Co, GM said in a letter to dealers on Thursday. The new owner will reject 81 Saab dealers in the United States, while moving forward with the remaining 137 dealers after the deal closes by a targeted date of Nov. 30. GM notified the terminated dealerships of the decision on Thursday, GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney said. All Saab dealers signed a termination agreement in June when GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The terms of those termination agreements will go into effect for rejected dealerships, Carney said. Koenigsegg will operate the brand through a new entity, Saab Cars North America Inc. If the deal to sell Saab falls through, GM would close Saab and all the dealerships would be terminated, Carney said. New Saab owner to terminate 81 U.S. dealerships
Reuters
Source



DETROIT, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg will terminate more than a third of U.S. Saab dealers when it completes its purchase of the premium brand from General Motors Co, GM said in a letter to dealers on Thursday.

The new owner will reject 81 Saab dealers in the United States, while moving forward with the remaining 137 dealers after the deal closes by a targeted date of Nov. 30.

GM notified the terminated dealerships of the decision on Thursday, GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney said.

All Saab dealers signed a termination agreement in June when GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The terms of those termination agreements will go into effect for rejected dealerships, Carney said.

Koenigsegg will operate the brand through a new entity, Saab Cars North America Inc.

If the deal to sell Saab falls through, GM would close Saab and all the dealerships would be terminated, Carney said. ]]> Buick61 http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saab-terminate-81-u-s-dealerships-86106/ Saab Beginning an Exodus from Oz? http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saab-beginning-exodus-oz-85780/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:50:29 GMT Saab starts exodus from Downunder

New Zealand Herald

4:00AM Wednesday Nov 04, 2009

Saab is winding up the 9-5 sedan and wagon ahead of next year's revised model.


Struggling Swedish marque Saab is cutting its model range for Australia and New Zealand by half, a shake-out that reduces its variants from 62 to 34.

Sales across the ditch are down 33 per cent this year to around 650 units. Sales in New Zealand for the past few years have been almost negligible, less than one car a week.

Saab will wind up the 12-year-old 9-5 sedan and wagon ahead of the new model next year and cut 27 variants from the remaining 9-3 range, many of which are base-model petrol-only models.

The revised range will include more E85 ethanol-capable BioPower powertrains and comes as Saab parent General Motors gets set to sell the Swedish brand to Scandinavian super-sportscar maker Koenigsegg Automotive AB, a move that will force a new distribution arrangement for Australia and New Zealand.

Saab is handled in New Zealand and Australia by Holden-based GM Premium Brands, established a few years ago to distribute GM-owned niche brands that also included Hummer and Cadillac.

But the global financial crisis changed things. GM sold Hummer to Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co, and Holden axed plans to import Cadillac.

The early demise of the current 9-5 range means Saab dealers will have to make do with the Saab 9-3 in sedan, Sportcombi wagon and Convertible forms until the arrival next year of the new 9-5.

Distribution of Saab in New Zealand and Australia also needs to be resolved once GM completes the Saab sale in Sweden.

In trimming the 9-3 list, Saab has focused on deleting modest-performing, petrol-only model specifications, such as most of the base-engine 129kW Linear and Vector petrol variants, which have been selling in parallel with their 147kW 2.0-litre BioPower-engined counterparts.

The combination of front-drive and high-power 206kW 2.8-litre turbo V6 also has been put to the sword in the sedan and wagon, with Saab Australia's product managers retaining only the all-wheel-drive XWD variants powered by the Holden-made engine.

The V6 Aero Convertible, however, keeps the front-drive/V6 configuration, along with the distinction of being the most expensive Saab in the revised range.

Most of the ethanol E85-capable BioPower and 1.9-litre diesel variants have escaped the axe. The BioPower engines can run on straight petrol if no ethanol is available.

No date has yet been announced for the arrival of the new 9-5, although most observers expect it to appear in 2010 to resume its flagship status.

More at the LINK

Thanks to mattyman1010 for the tip!!

]]> mikmak http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saab-beginning-exodus-oz-85780/ GM Opens Wallet To Clear Saturn Vehicles: $4000 Cash + $1000 More To Saturn Owners http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/gm-opens-wallet-clear-saturn-vehicles-4000-cash-1000-more-saturn-owners-85727/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:28:55 GMT Source: Automotive News special email alert Jamie LaReau - November 3, 2009 - 12:16 pm ET DETROIT -- In an effort to clear out the remaining Saturn inventory, General Motors Co. today began an incentive program that runs through the end of the month. Consumers can get either $4,000 off of any 2008 or 2009 Saturn or 0 percent financing for 72 months. “Since we’re not producing new cars, this is a way to give owners an incentive to get into a new Saturn product,” said John McDonald, a GM spokesman. In addition, a loyalty mailing to current Saturn owners offers an additional $1,000 in cash. That’s regardless of whether they trade in their Saturn vehicle. “They have to have owned or leased their Saturn vehicle for a minimum of six months to qualify,” McDonald says. “They get $1,000 cash, and that can be combined with other incentives.” McDonald says Saturn has about 10,000 vehicles in inventory in the United States. Source: Automotive News special email alert

Jamie LaReau - November 3, 2009 - 12:16 pm ET

DETROIT -- In an effort to clear out the remaining Saturn inventory, General Motors Co. today began an incentive program that runs through the end of the month.

Consumers can get either $4,000 off of any 2008 or 2009 Saturn or 0 percent financing for 72 months.

“Since we’re not producing new cars, this is a way to give owners an incentive to get into a new Saturn product,” said John McDonald, a GM spokesman.

In addition, a loyalty mailing to current Saturn owners offers an additional $1,000 in cash. That’s regardless of whether they trade in their Saturn vehicle.

“They have to have owned or leased their Saturn vehicle for a minimum of six months to qualify,” McDonald says. “They get $1,000 cash, and that can be combined with other incentives.”

McDonald says Saturn has about 10,000 vehicles in inventory in the United States. ]]> Perian http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/gm-opens-wallet-clear-saturn-vehicles-4000-cash-1000-more-saturn-owners-85727/ HUMMER Uses SEMA Show To Announce Brand Refocusing http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/hummer-uses-sema-show-announce-brand-refocusing-85694/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:37:45 GMT Fresh off a signed final agreement to be sold to a Chinese company, HUMMER is getting back in the game at the 2009 SEMA show. The company said earlier today it's going to refocus it's brand messaging on off-road agility and capability, and will also showcase two SEMA concept vehicles. One called the H3 Moab and the other is the H3T Sportsman.

Full article with photos. ]]> Hummer Guy http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/hummer-uses-sema-show-announce-brand-refocusing-85694/ Behind The Saturn Shutdown: Roger Penske Explains What Happened http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/behind-saturn-shutdown-roger-penske-explains-what-happened-85630/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:11:31 GMT Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...30-716822.html

By Sharon Terlep - Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


DETROIT (Dow Jones)--Auto magnate Roger Penske believed he was taking over General Motors Co.'s Saturn brand until the very last moments, when France's Renault SA shocked both Penske and GM by backing out of an agreement to provide vehicles.

Penske addressed the failed deal Friday as he announced Penske Automotive Group Inc.'s quarterly financial results. The company also disclosed it took a $1.9 million third-quarter charge on the Saturn deal.

"We believed we were making substantial progress toward an agreement," Penske said during a conference call with investors. At the last minute, he said, Renault decided the Saturn venture "did not meet their return requirement."

"We as a company could not accept the risk of moving forward without a supply in place," he said.

Under their novel agreement, Penske would have taken over GM's network of Saturn dealers. The auto maker would have continued producing Saturn vehicles for about two years after which time Renault would take over production.

Penske said he considering pairing with a number of vehicle providers but decided Renault was the only viable option.

According to people familiar with the matter, Penske had thought he had an agreement with Carlos Ghosn, Renault's chairman and chief executive, to supply Saturn models after that, but the Renault board balked at the plan.

Penske had not publicly addressed the issue until Friday.

Article continues at link. ]]> Perian http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/behind-saturn-shutdown-roger-penske-explains-what-happened-85630/ <![CDATA[GM Eager To Keep Pontiac & Saturn Customers; 1.6m To Get Free Oil Change Coupon]]> http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/gm-eager-keep-pontiac-saturn-customers-1-6m-get-free-oil-change-coupon-85612/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:51:01 GMT Link: http://wardsauto.com/ar/gm_pontiac_saturn_091028/ DETROIT – General Motors Co. is entering the free-agent market. The auto maker will reach out next week to some 1.6 million customers affected by the wind-down of its storied Pontiac brand. Susan Docherty, vice president-U.S. sales, calls these consumers “free agents” and says GM will attempt to steer them to Buick-GMC or Chevrolet dealerships by offering free oil changes. GM also will distribute information about Buick, GMC and Chevrolet product portfolios as it tries to keep these customers “in the family,” Docherty says, adding a similar campaign is being planned to woo Saturn-brand customers. Article continues at link. Link: http://wardsauto.com/ar/gm_pontiac_saturn_091028/

DETROIT – General Motors Co. is entering the free-agent market.

The auto maker will reach out next week to some 1.6 million customers affected by the wind-down of its storied Pontiac brand. Susan Docherty, vice president-U.S. sales, calls these consumers “free agents” and says GM will attempt to steer them to Buick-GMC or Chevrolet dealerships by offering free oil changes.

GM also will distribute information about Buick, GMC and Chevrolet product portfolios as it tries to keep these customers “in the family,” Docherty says, adding a similar campaign is being planned to woo Saturn-brand customers.

Article continues at link. ]]> Perian http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/gm-eager-keep-pontiac-saturn-customers-1-6m-get-free-oil-change-coupon-85612/ Lingenfelter Camaro-Based Trans-Am Concept For SEMA http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/lingenfelter-camaro-based-trans-am-concept-sema-85545/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:25:46 GMT I spent the day with the guys at Lingenfelter for an exclusive advanced preview of the retro-inspired 455 T/A concept that the company has prepared for SEMA. I watched as the crew completed final assembly of the car, and spent a few hours nosing around their other upcoming projects. A 750-hp Camaro and Lingenfelter ZR1 kept me company as I waited to shoot the T/A. I met Ken Lingenfelter, the "Sultan of Michigan," and had the opportunity to chat a while as the guys put the finishing touches on their latest creation. It was a great time, but I am exhaust..so here is a link to our piece on the car. What do you guys think?







Lingenfelter 445 T/A Concept - Car and Driver
Take one part 2010 Camaro and add some ’70s Trans-Am . . .
BY JAKE HOLMES, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY

Given Pontiac’s demise, it’s clear there won’t be any factory-baked Pontiac Trans-Am coming from General Motors. Enter the aftermarket, which has become suddenly eager to serve buyers wanting a new-school T/A. Indeed, joining the conversion kit offered by Phoenix is this Lingenfelter take on turning your brand-new Camaro SS into the modern Trans-Am of your dreams. The concept debuts in the metal at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Keep Reading

View Gallery ]]> HoeyHimself http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/lingenfelter-camaro-based-trans-am-concept-sema-85545/ Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak Retiring http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saturn-general-manager-jill-lajdziak-retiring-85508/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:12:11 GMT *Lajdziak set to retire from Saturn after 23 years* Link to article (http://www.leftlanenews.com/lajdziak-set-to-retire-from-saturn-after-23-years.html) By Mark Kleis October 27, 2009 Image: http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/dc2007/photos/images/12_saturnrep_big.jpg ---Quote--- Saturn General manager Jill Lajdziak is set to retire from General Motors at the end of this year after twenty-nine years in the GM family. GM says that Lajdziak will exercise some vacation time before her retirement takes effect at the end of the year. ---End Quote--- Lajdziak set to retire from Saturn after 23 years
Link to article

By Mark Kleis
October 27, 2009


Quote:
Saturn General manager Jill Lajdziak is set to retire from General Motors at the end of this year after twenty-nine years in the GM family. GM says that Lajdziak will exercise some vacation time before her retirement takes effect at the end of the year.
]]> FenwickHockey65 http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/saturn-general-manager-jill-lajdziak-retiring-85508/ Swedish Report: Koegnigsegg Wants to Sell Fewer Saabs for More Money http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/swedish-report-koegnigsegg-wants-sell-fewer-saabs-more-money-85466/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:41:56 GMT Swedish report says Koenigsegg wants to sell fewer Saabs for more money
Link to article

By Jonathon Ramsey
October 27, 2009


Quote:
According to Swedish newspaper Dagens Industri, Koenigsegg wants to make more money selling fewer Saabs, which it can only do by taking Saab upmarket. And the numbers being reported indicate not just medium luxury, but top shelf, Cadillac Margarita luxury. Straight from the paper, this is allegedly Koenigsegg's ambitious three-step plan:

2010-2011: The current phase
- 115,000 cars sold gives zero in operating profit
- Average price per car: 189.000 SEK ($27,546 U.S.)

2012-2015: Transition
- 80,000 cars sold gives zero in operating profit
- Average Price per car: 208.000 SEK ($30,311 U.S.)
- New models including 9-5 Koenigsegg Edition

2016 - : premium
- 65,000 cars sold gives zero in operating profit
- Average Price per car: 280.000 SEK ($40,804 U.S.)
- New models include New 900

There's a bit of confusion over average prices mentioned. The current base price of a 9-3 in the U.S. is $30,360, and it wouldn't make sense to have the average price for the entire model line in the current phase be less than the base price of the cheapest car in the cheapest country, even at a higher volume. (The base Saab 9-3 starts at 301,990 SEK, which is $44,008 U.S.)

If the devotees at Saabs United have it right, a commenter in the original Swedish article who also claims to be a Saab dealer said the average prices are missing region-specific taxes, so they should be 55-60% higher. That would make the transaction price in the current phase about $43,000, and in the final, premium phase about $63,000 with a 55% markup.

While the numbers are fuzzy, what is pretty clear is that Saabs are going to cost a lot more in seven years if Christian K. gets his way.
]]> FenwickHockey65 http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/swedish-report-koegnigsegg-wants-sell-fewer-saabs-more-money-85466/ EIB loan opens the door to Saab sale http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/eib-loan-opens-door-saab-sale-85312/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:08:03 GMT ---Quote--- *EIB loan opens the door to Saab sale* By Andrew Ward in Stockholm and John Reed in London Published: October 21 2009 19:39 | Last updated: October 21 2009 19:39 Saab Automobile on Wednesday secured a €400m ($600m) loan from the European Investment Bank in a crucial step towards its proposed takeover by a Swedish-Chinese consortium. The funds were a key condition of a provisional deal for General Motors to sell its loss-making Swedish brand to Koenigsegg Automotive, the maker of high-performance sportscars. But it cautioned that the funds were subject to a guarantee from the Swedish government and approval from EU competition authorities, neither of which have been secured. Further negotiations were needed with Koenigsegg before the government would guarantee the loan, he added. Koenigsegg announced last month that Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co had joined its consortium with the promise of €275m of investment and a deal to expand the Saab brand in China. Sweden’s centre-right government has been slow to offer support for Saab and the country’s other global car brand, Volvo – owned by Ford – as the pair fight for survival. Wednesday’s step forward for Saab came as efforts to find a buyer for Volvo also entered a crucial stage. Representatives of Ford and Geely, the front-running bidder for Volvo, held talks in London this week in an effort to bridge outstanding differences. Two people close to the Chinese company said these included price and Geely’s future access to Ford’s intellectual property. Geely said last month that it might work with Chinese state investment companies on its bid, and is the only bidder to have made its interest public. The Hong Kong-listed carmaker offered about $2bn for Volvo. Intellectual property has been a key sticking point in the deal talks for Ford, which is worried about giving too much away in the sale as Volvo’s vehicles share technology and components with its own. ---End Quote--- Full text here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9bc0b8b6-be68-11de-b4ab-00144feab49a.html
Quote:
EIB loan opens the door to Saab sale
By Andrew Ward in Stockholm and John Reed in London

Published: October 21 2009 19:39 | Last updated: October 21 2009 19:39

Saab Automobile on Wednesday secured a €400m ($600m) loan from the European Investment Bank in a crucial step towards its proposed takeover by a Swedish-Chinese consortium.

The funds were a key condition of a provisional deal for General Motors to sell its loss-making Swedish brand to Koenigsegg Automotive, the maker of high-performance sportscars.

But it cautioned that the funds were subject to a guarantee from the Swedish government and approval from EU competition authorities, neither of which have been secured.

Further negotiations were needed with Koenigsegg before the government would guarantee the loan, he added.

Koenigsegg announced last month that Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co had joined its consortium with the promise of €275m of investment and a deal to expand the Saab brand in China.

Sweden’s centre-right government has been slow to offer support for Saab and the country’s other global car brand, Volvo – owned by Ford – as the pair fight for survival.

Wednesday’s step forward for Saab came as efforts to find a buyer for Volvo also entered a crucial stage.

Representatives of Ford and Geely, the front-running bidder for Volvo, held talks in London this week in an effort to bridge outstanding differences. Two people close to the Chinese company said these included price and Geely’s future access to Ford’s intellectual property.

Geely said last month that it might work with Chinese state investment companies on its bid, and is the only bidder to have made its interest public.

The Hong Kong-listed carmaker offered about $2bn for Volvo.

Intellectual property has been a key sticking point in the deal talks for Ford, which is worried about giving too much away in the sale as Volvo’s vehicles share technology and components with its own.
Full text here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9bc0b8b6-b...44feab49a.html ]]> Hurricane http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/eib-loan-opens-door-saab-sale-85312/