Report: BMW Bids to Purchase Saab

[Gripster]

Saab is an interesting brand. I've never liked them (torque-steer mayhem) but have friends who, for a time, wouldn't buy anything else. These "Saab people" wanted a premium European car that wasn't a BMW or a Mercedes because "everyone has a BMW or Mercedes". They couldn't afford or didn't want a sports car like a Porsche and found Jaguar too stuffy. The same people weren't too fussy about handling dynamics either.
For them, a Saab was perfect.

I think that the brand has value if the niche appeal of the cars could be expanded. They tried this with the monstrosity that was the Saaburu, but the car didn't appeal to the masses. It was too obviously Japanese and was just a more expensive Impreza.

With careful market positioning, I think BMW could exploit the brand in the same way that it has done with Mini. Create a decent drivers car with a different personality to their other offerings and you would have a hit on your hands. It could even be FWD.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by M ETT

Well said Sir!
This actually makes me really worried for BMW's future. Please people don't mix SAAB as a car brand with Jet fighter's. the SAAB planes are made by a conglomerate jointly owned by SAAB Aircraft and BAE. We have to remember that SAAB as a car brand has just ocasionally been in the black for the last 20 years or so.
It's easy to blame GM for what has happened to SAAB and I will admit that they did not manage the brand well, but the truth is; had it not been for GM, SAAB had gone bankrupt 15 years ago. The reason for this is simple because unlike MINI SAAB has failed to produce any products that anyone other than a select few want to buy.
I for one hope BMW looses out on this one. They would be better off.

well said in response to a well said +1

Personally I think growth above all is a problem, expecting BMW to grow forever is unrealistic. Keep your brand untouchable and desired, not damaged through constant expansion. The 'value' of the brand is part marketing... but that can be tarnished by a few slip ups and shoddy expansion driven decisions on quality... ~Frost

[Black Flagged]

its no mini or rolls royce, bad move

[czechchamp]

I like SAABs and hope BMW can pull this off. This acquisition (if it were to happen) has a big potential

[zumjosh]

Originally Posted by SchnellM3

Interesting, seems like it could be a good move.

BMW could get back in the Airplane business lol

It technically already is. Rolls Royce makes turbine engines for AirBus so yes, BMW is still involved with building airplanes in one way or the other.

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by zumjosh

It technically already is. Rolls Royce makes turbine engines for AirBus so yes, BMW is still involved with building airplanes in one way or the other.

Rolls Royce aviation group has absolutely nothing at all to do with BMW.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_plc

They briefly collaborated during the 90's. That is all.

[JesperGustavsson]

SAABs with BMW chassis and interior quality would sell well, and I don't think they would steal many customers from the BMW brand.

This would, in any case, be brilliant for SAAB (and Trollhättan), that is d**n sure!

[DoD74]

Originally Posted by ///Matthew

I support anything that keeps BMW badges from gracing the bodywork of FWD vehicles...

Amen...

[rmani]

Originally Posted by ///Matthew

I support anything that keeps BMW badges from gracing the bodywork of FWD vehicles...

agreed

[az34]

saab need BMW; BMW does'nt need Saab. I hope they wont buy them.

[jmsent]

Originally Posted by kmarei

Its a shame what GM did to Saab (or what Ford did to Volvo)
My dad used to have a Saab 9000 in the late 80s
Damn well built car, owned it for 4 years, nothing broke on that car.
I recall a time when Saab was compared to BMW and MB and Audi
Then the American bean counters bought them, and treated them like the bucks, pontiacs etc
I,e a single model with some different tail lights and call it a different name
And spent very little on research or development
I hope BMW saves them and they make a comeback

I keep reading how GM ruined SAAB. But if SAAB had been a viable company they wouldn't have ever been acquired by GM. When GM bought them, SAAB was out of money, and was still selling ancient models. The pre GM SAAB 900 dated all the way back to the 99 with a few modifications. They had no money to develop a new generation. The 9000 was never a pure SAAB vehicle, with its platform sourced from Alfa, as I recall. These cars were quirky to say the least, the dealer network was terrible, and they were falling further and further behind. Yes, GM failed to keep SAAB going in the long term, but SAAB was in big trouble long before GM came along. As for BMW saving them, I really don't see the point. BMW's reputation is far better than SAAB's in virtually every respect, SAAB's sales have never been very large, and their dealer network is in shambles.

[MikeyV]

Why would BMW want Saab when they already have a much cooler badge that they already own and can use without buying Saab's baggage, the badge I'm talking about is Triumph. BMW also own Riley.

[MikeyV]

Originally Posted by tranism

Saab is filled with engineers, builders and designers - coupled with a Scandinavian work ethic with an almost OCD level for perfection that seems to complement the nature of German engineering and business management quite nicely.

You're having a laugh aren't you, I nearly choked on my sandwich, "Scandinavian work ethic with an almost OCD level for perfection" I live in Norway, work for a Norwegian compoany, am in daily contact with other Norwegian and Scandinavian companies, I've never come across any which match your description.

The Scandinavian work ethic is very laid back, it owes more to the Australian or Kiwi style than German, my company bought a German company some years back, the cultural clash was extreme.

[liljestig]

It is well known that Swedish engineering is a leader in car safety development. Trollhättan is located only two hours from Göteborg (Volvo).

IMHO, I would think BMW is looking for two things in SAAB: safety technology and gearboxes. GM's transmission development has at times been almost led by SAAB, and patents of how to integrate different propulsion sources in one vehicle (electric) as well as 4-cyl turbo charged gasoline engine technology.

Hope they know what they are getting 'emselves into..

Cheer

[MikeyV]

I don't believe Saab's are any safer than BMW's, now if BMW was chasing after Volvo that would be another story, I doubt there is a safer car on the road than a Volvo, BMW also know a hell of a lot about turbo charging and the technology that goes with it.

[jmsent]

Originally Posted by MikeyV

You're having a laugh aren't you, I nearly choked on my sandwich, "Scandinavian work ethic with an almost OCD level for perfection" I live in Norway, work for a Norwegian compoany, am in daily contact with other Norwegian and Scandinavian companies, I've never come across any which match your description.

The Scandinavian work ethic is very laid back, it owes more to the Australian or Kiwi style than German, my company bought a German company some years back, the cultural clash was extreme.

Having worked for Scandinavian companies over the last quarter century, I hear what you're saying. The Norwegians are by far the most laid back, the Danes the most aggressive. The Swedes seem to fall somewhere in the middle.

[jmsent]

Originally Posted by liljestig

It is well known that Swedish engineering is a leader in car safety development. Trollhättan is located only two hours from Göteborg (Volvo).

IMHO, I would think BMW is looking for two things in SAAB: safety technology and gearboxes. GM's transmission development has at times been almost led by SAAB, and patents of how to integrate different propulsion sources in one vehicle (electric) as well as 4-cyl turbo charged gasoline engine technology.

Hope they know what they are getting 'emselves into..

Cheer

If they were so good at transmissions, what was their excuse for that abomination of a gearbox in the 900 series? I've driven John Deere tractors with better shift action.

[E30M3Driver]

Originally Posted by tranism

This is completely different from Rover. BMW was looking to expand and thought they could simply restart Rover, throw some money at it and start making some cash. They didn't anticipate how Rover factories and management were in total disarray.

For whatever reasons they "didn't know what they were getting into", they nearly lost their shirt and their independence. They had to sell Land Rover to recoup a fraction of Billions in losses. The success of Mini has hardly made a dent in paying back that money. They made promises they couldn't keep.

Whatever Saab was in history and heritage, it is a shambles of that now, which in and of itself is sad. Nothing short of getting it for nearly free would be a good thing for BMW but I think it would still be a distraction to the great stuff they are doing now.

[DASHOCKER]

i can see bmw bringing back the saab 9 3 viggen...

[JB135MDCT]

As long as China doesn't get Saab, I'm happy.

[PhillyNate]

I am pretty excited about this...I have no idea why.
I've always kinda liked Saab. Loved the old turbo 900's. I just hope BMW knows what it's doing.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by jmsent

I keep reading how GM ruined SAAB. But if SAAB had been a viable company they wouldn't have ever been acquired by GM. When GM bought them, SAAB was out of money, and was still selling ancient models. The pre GM SAAB 900 dated all the way back to the 99 with a few modifications. They had no money to develop a new generation. The 9000 was never a pure SAAB vehicle, with its platform sourced from Alfa, as I recall. These cars were quirky to say the least, the dealer network was terrible, and they were falling further and further behind. Yes, GM failed to keep SAAB going in the long term, but SAAB was in big trouble long before GM came along. As for BMW saving them, I really don't see the point. BMW's reputation is far better than SAAB's in virtually every respect, SAAB's sales have never been very large, and their dealer network is in shambles.

BMW can still use GM trannys. A lot of E46's had GM trannys.