Fiat President Sergio Marchionne, Speaks About Saab Automobile Interest In Bloomberg Interview

Posted on 07. May, 2009 by Ryan in 2000-2009

TTELA reports that Fiat chief, Sergio Marchionne who interviewed with Bloomberg recently, has said the following about Saab Automobile.

Fiat chief condemns Saab’s ability to achieve success on their own. “The Saab is too small” “says Marchionne.

“We could combine Saab with another brand, “says Marchionne. Saab has a network of dealers in the U.S. market. It would be a shame not to use it.

For starters, a while ago, I was interested in the thought about Fiat, Saab’s original planned owner back in 1989, coming about and being a new owner twenty years later.

However, with all of the dialogue about Fiat wanting to be a huge company, I now feel that it makes me think that we could be experiencing economies of scale that would loose sight on the intricate details of a unique Saab all over again with that kind of relationship.

There are a few things that scare me in what Marchionne said to Bloomberg, where he states “Saab is too small”, and secondly, that they would “combine Saab with another brand”, presumably opel? I believe that this idea, would clearly undermine all of the work Saab has done to become independent, so to do a 180 and undo a reconstruction process to independence would be ignorant, failing to see the forest through the trees.

However, the last of the three lines Bloomberg quoted Marchionne, I do agree with. The quote involves the dealerships where Marchionne says “Saab has a network of dealerships in the U.S. (225 to be exact), and it would be a shame not to use it”. I agree with this like I said, but using the dealership to merge Saab into the ether with another car (Fiat or Alfa) that gets huge economies of scale, eventually diluting Saab into a Fiat, then to dust, then I have to disagree.

I want Saab Automobile to live on as a car company, not an “engineering only” facility nor a past memory, I want Saab to continue their pursuit for independence free to plan, choose and think as they feel fit.

I leave you with the TTELA piece below.

While all the focus is directed against Fiat’s plans to incorporate Saab and Opel in a new major group, the Saab is working on with his own hunt for a new owner..

In parallel with the Saab-track continues to Geely paired with Volvo, which is also for sale.
Yesterday also clarified Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne its interest in Saab.
In an interview with American news agency Bloomberg called his Saab for “an interesting opportunity”.

Fiat chief condemns Saab’s ability to achieve success on their own. The Saab is too small, “says Marchionne.
- We could combine Saab with another brand, “says Marchionne. Saab has a network of dealers in the U.S. market. It would be a shame not to use it.

What Sergio Marchionne believes in combining Saab with another brand develops he is not in the interview.
Sergio Marchionne made his statements on the Saab in connection with a visit to the USA, where he is to discuss a merger with Chrysler.

Tags: Bloomberg, Bloomberg Interview TTELA, car, Chrysler, Fiat chief, Fiat President, saab, Sergio Marchionne, United States, Volvo