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New Salem Saab Outfitted Saab 9-5 Police Cars
March 9th, 2009, 10:23pm by Ryan - 3 Comments
Photo Credit: New Salem Saab
Saab History Site Sponsor & Advertiser, New Salem Saab of Albany, New York, the oldest continually family owned and operated Saab dealership in the United States has just shared this information with us today.
Apparently, New Salem Saab as a continuation on the material on Saab Police Cars, helped supply the local Albany County sheriff’s department with three beautiful Saab 9-5’s complete with police package in 2000.
The program worked well as New Salem Saab acted as a service point for the vehicles and the Albany County Sheriff’s department enjoyed the vehicles as they held up better than any other previous car did, in snow and other inclimate weather.
The program worked quite well for a good year, in its first run, then a year later, the Albany County Sheriff’s department were interested in buying 13 more of them, but according to the record, GM did not allow for this partnership to continue and ended it the following year.
What’s interesting is that this cross-promotion was very successful in the year it was in operation, and even though both the department as well as New Salem Saab, who originally created the initiative, neither party, was able to continue the plan.
It should be mentioned however that it was Saab Cars USA, at this time that accepted program initiated by New Salem Saab and the local Albany, New York Sheriff’s department. As we remember at the end of 2001/2002, Saab Cars USA, Inc. was effectively no more when it became a brand team and was forced to move to Detroit, Michigan. This is when many other similiar initiatives, also became unfortunately terminated.
This type of initiative goes to show that it takes an exceptional Saab dealership like New Salem Saab to be successful in today’s automotive climate. Through great leadership, intelligent planning and thoughtful insight, New Salem Saab continues today as a fine example of one the oldest continually owned and operated Saab dealerships in the United States.
Categories: 2000-2009, Dealerships
3 Comments
This was quite interesting to see and read. One has to wonder why GM has been so keen to stop the sale of cars. Did they perhaps flog a few Chevys instead.
Hopefully, it will soon be possible for the New Salem Garage to start leasing out Saabs again to the Sheriff’s department.
I swear, when I look at the history of Saab under GM, that GM only wanted Saab’s technology, and really wanted Saab itself to die. It’s like they secretly tried to crush the life out of Saab so they could say, “Sorry we had to shut Saab down, but it’s not our fault, nobody bought their cars.” But, try as they might, the elusive Saab couldn’t be crushed and wouldn’t die. And now, the worm might just turn on its former tormentor.
Ted,
I know, that’s totally the case.
Effectively in 2002, that’s when Saab Cars, USA, Inc. died, and a brand team came together.
Continuing to consolidate Saab is really the writing on the wall for GM’s treatment of Saab.
When you force everyone to quit including dealers, it shows..that all you wanted was the technology.
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