Porsche Not Interested In Acquiring Saab Nor Scania

Posted on 06. Jan, 2009 by Ryan in 2000-2009

I have given this some considerable thought and after talking with a colleague of mine and reviewing a number of e-mails from Saab Enthusiasts and other automotive journalists, I am in a position to think Porsche would be a great owner for Saab with their products fitting in perfectly in the Porsche lineup as indicated here, especially with Porsche recently buying VW today which owns Audi & SCANIA.

Update: Here is Porsche’s official response as they are stating that this is a rumor and that they are also not strategically interested in SCANIA as well.

Hello Ryan,

we are not aware of this rumor and I would like to highlight to you as well that we have no strategic interest in Saab nor Scania.

I hope that clears the situation.

Best/Herzliche Grüße,

Frank Gaube
Head of Investor Relations and Financial Press
Porsche Automobil Holding SE
Porscheplatz 1
D – 70435 Stuttgart

This is what a possible product lineup would look like with Porsche if they were to buy Saab Automobile in order from trim levels (VW, Saab, Audi, Porsche).

If Porsche is truly in negotiations with Saab Automobile, then the three companies Jan-Ã…ke Jonsson mentioned back on December 3rd, were either intential smoke-screens, or just said so long ago that Saab Automobile had already moved onto establishing dialog with other companies since that time.

In the meantime, I have provided three bullet points as to how and why Saab may be a good fit with Porsche in addition to where they fall in their model lineup.

* Porsche still has Saab’s former chief designer, Michael Mauer that worked in Sweden from 2000, responsible for the 9-X, 9-3X and 9-3 Sport Hatch Concept cars that inspired the 9-3 SportCombi production model as well as the 2004-2007 9-3 Convertible and 9-2x.

* Porsche could possibly be the owner SCANIA per Sweden’s law, maybe reconnecting Saab with Scania after 20 years of separation since 1989. This could happen regardless of SCANIA’s statement that they are not interested in financially supporting Saab made back on December 1st, 2008.

* Porsche Boxters & Saab 9-3, 9-3 Viggen & 9-3 convertibles were manufactured at the Valmet plant in Uusikaupunki, Finland together, and therefore may have the possibility to be on the same manufacturing line again.

I have sent in a few e-mails to Porsche at this point to inquire about this possibility because perhaps after them announcing their acquisition of VW today, they may not be done buying automobile companies.

Tags: chief designer, Finland, Porsche, saab, saab 9-3, Saab Automobile, Saab Nor Scania I, Sweden, Valmet plant, VW