JMK Saab an exemplary Saab dealership in Springfield, New Jersey, also a Saab History sponsor, has recently relaunched their website.

The website itself connects you to the interior of a Saab 9-3’s integrated navigation system, a system well known and easy to use. It was this easy to use functionality that has been applied throughout the website.

The logic in this new design is that if Saab’s intuitive interface works well for consumers, why can’t the same good ideas be applied to the website? JMK Saab certainly thinks so, and it’s catching on. The theming throughout the website is very recognizable, and easy to use in my opinion, and should serve them very well.

As you may already know, JMK won the prestigious dealer of the year award last year, and if they continue to do what they do so well, I am sure they will be a candidate once again in the near future.

I encourage you to visit their website directly at http://jmksaab.com

Photo Credit: Albany Biz Journal

New Salem Saab of Albany, New York, a Saab History site sponsor and advertiser dealership has been covered in their local business journal.

Here is a snippet from the article.

The Carls have always been a one-car family: no Chevrolets, no Cadillacs, no other GMC products on the lot. Since 1961, the Carl family has made a living selling Saabs.

But Saab’s days may be numbered. Unless someone buys the division, General Motors Corp. will drop Saab in 2010.

And that leaves Darryl Carl questioning what will become of his family’s third-generation auto dealership.

“We have no idea what’s actually going to happen to Saab and the brand, and to me and my small group of people. You just hold on to your pants every single day, and you hold on to your pennies,” says Carl, president and owner of New Salem Saab in Albany.

Video Info: Click on the video for it to start playing, and please wait for the ad to pass first.

According to the Indiana Business Journal and Channel 8 in Indiana, two exclusive Saab dealerships in Indiana, one my younger brother visited back in 2000 on his way from Denver, Colorado, that being Indy Saab as well as Fishers Saab, are both closed. This reduces the Saab dealership count in the United States to 223 in total, with just 75 exclusives left.

I hope Falcone can turn around his now service-only facility (smart move keeping the lights on for Saab), so that when a new buyer comes, you can ramp things up again once the products come, how’s that for optimism?

I leave you with the piece below.

Dealer closes Saab locations, adds VW, Subaru
Chris O’Malley - comalley@ibj.com

Central Indiana’s only Saab new-car franchise has closed its stores in Fishers and Indianapolis.

Saab dealer Bob Falcone, however, has acquired the former Duke Gold Speedway Volkswagen Subaru dealership at 1930 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis, which will also service Saab cars. The VW-Subaru dealership closed abruptly last November after Gold’s death.

Falcone closed Indy Saab, 2444 W. 16th St., and Saab of Fishers, 13417 Britton Park Road, last Friday. He took over the Indianapolis dealership in 1990 and opened the Fishers location in 2001.

Falcone said he transferred all of his 45 Saab employees in Fishers and Indianapolis to the former Duke Gold facility, and has hired some key employees who worked for Gold.

The Saab brand has been put up for sale by General Motors Corp., which is nearly bankrupt. GM couldn’t provide enough direction about the future of the division, Falcone said, leaving his franchise vulnerable. He said he held $4 million in inventory.

Falcone said that although he terminated his Saab sales agreement, he will continue to operate a factory-authorized Saab repair facility at the new location.

The VW sales, parts and service business is scheduled to operate fully on May 11, and the Subaru line on May 18.

I have recently received yet another e-mail from an inside source lately stating that Saab Automobile is looking at sending a transition team to the United States to help get things running smoother again for the 225 Saab dealerships later this year.

Apparently, there have been numerous ideas on the table for a while, but this one continues to be brought up.

“Saab Automobile AB is thinking about having a transition team travel to the United States from Sweden to relaunch the stateside efforts with very little overhead operating out of a few offices from within a few Saab dealerships”

I have discussed this with others for some time and really wonder if a transition team working out of dealerships will really be the best even short-term solution to the current lack of direction in the United States for the Saab Automobile company. I am hesitant in this idea, but would like to know why this idea was proposed along with some additional details.

I still believe that the best solution will be to bridge gap and reconnect Saab Automobile with their historic roots in the United States and get some property leased in Portsmouth, New Hampshire by June, so that a new Saab Automobile North America or Saab Automobile of America, Inc. team will be able to become quickly assembled.

If you are a prospective buyer and/or investor or even someone at Saab Automobile AB in Sweden reading this, please consider this. There needs to be an effort shortly, in assembling that new “dream team” that will lead the United States operations and I am offering my assistance in doing so. As you should know, I am in touch with a number of individuals that should be brought to the team that span a wide range of backgrounds, some former Saab USA employees, some not, many with vast experiences that are literally waiting on the sidelines for the go ahead to return back to work at Saab USA, and some for the the first time.

I encourage you to contact me here at Saab History for more details as to my suggested plan and strategy in relaunching this renewed effort for a new Saab Automobile North America, Inc.

From the words of a former Saab USA employee, “We’re hear, we’re waiting and we’re excited!”

Photo Credit: Saab History

On Saturday morning before I headed out to the Springtime in Sweden event, I noticed a beautiful Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan purchased at Saab History site sponsor, Shaw Saab in Norwell, Massachusetts!

This sighting with the Portland Museum of Art in the background was a good qualifier for this week’s Saab Sighting of the week!

If you are interested in buying a new or previous owned Saab at Shaw Saab, please check out their website directly http://www.shawsaab.com

Photo Credit: Saab USA (left) / Saab History (right)

The Saab USA “Jet Into Spring” sales event ends on the last day of April.

The Jet Into Spring event offers 0% for up to 60 months for qualified buyers on the entire 2009 Saab 9-3 lineup (sport sedans, sport combis and convertibles.

If you are in the market for a new Saab, check out the prices on the Saab USA website directly.

I also encourage you to, if logistically possible, to go through the Saab History’s Saab dealerships sponsors directly as indicated on the banner ads on this website, as they will surely take care of you in your market!

Photo Credit: New Salem Saab @ Albany Airport

New Salem Saab of Albany, New York, long time Saab History supporter and oldest continually family owned and operated Saab dealership in the North East, has chimed in with their history of servicing the 1986 Saab 900 Turbo Saab Friction Tester at Albany Airport.

I guess Burlington, Vermont and Boston, Massachusetts aren’t the only airports with the Saab Friction Testers here in the North East region of the United States! While Buffalo-Niagara Airport used to have a 1983 Saab 900 Friction Tester, it’s good to hear that it has been restored and is in safe keeping at the Saab USA Heritage Collection!

Darryl Carl, President and owner of New Salem Saab describes their first encounter with the 86 Saab 900 Turbo Friction Tester from nearby Albany County Airport.

“At first we thought it was just another Saab…then we realized it was much more involved, thankfully we have a very competent staff that has been trained to service Saab Friction Testers”..

It’s no surprise that a dealership like this with leadership that ensures proper service training can take care of the nearby Airport’s Saab Friction Tester. After all, this is same dealership that also outfitted Saab 9000 and Saab 9-5 police cars to their local sheriff’s department as well!

In the meantime, I understand that Albany Airport continues to use this 1986 Saab 900 Turbo Friction Tester, they also now own a Saab 9-5 Wagon Friction Tester in service as well! I have sent some inquiries over to them, so I hope to receive some more details and photographs in the near future.

A thank you goes to New Salem Saab for providing this information to Saab History.

Photo Credit: New Salem Saab/Albany County Sheriff’s Office

Saab History Site Sponsor & Advertiser, New Salem Saab of Albany, New York, the oldest continually family owned and operated Saab dealership in the North Eastern region of the United States has as we know, outfitted the local Albany County Sheriff’s department with Saab 9-5 police cars

However,what we did not know, is that they outfitted them with Saab 9000’s before that! I have placed a few e-mails into the staff to see what their experiences have been like with the Saab 9000 versus the 9-5 in pursuit mode!

Photo Credit: Courtesy Google Maps

Accent Auto Group / Saab Nashua North Closes

Saab Nashua North opened their doors for sales in November of 1994 as an exclusive Saab dealership. Early on, they were ranked at the top 5% of sales volume for Saab Cars USA in the New England region. The were located at 293 Daniel Webster Hwy in Merrimack, New Hampshire..

In September of 2007, Saab Nashua North was moved to a new Accent Auto Group by owners Bob Lajoi and Kevin Slattery. As of April 9th, 2009, not more than a year and a half later, the dealership is now closing its doors at the 419 Elm Street, Milford, New Hampshire address according to a local news source.

I have added Saab Nashua North/Accent Auto to the Lost Saab Dealerships Of New England Project List for the record.

Here is their letter to customers sent today:

Please be advised that effective April 9, 2009, Accent Auto Group’s franchise agreement with General Motors Corporation terminated. As a result, the company can no longer perform any warranty service work. Please note that this does not mean that your warranty (if still in effect) will not be honored, but any warranty work for your vehicle will have to be performed at a franchised General Motors or Saab dealership.

The company will remain open for the next 30 to 60 days, primarily to sell the remaining vehicle inventory and to wind down operations. Please note that because the VIP service program was contracted with a third party, the Company can no longer provide it.

If you wish to obtain copies of any documentation pertaining to your vehicle purchased from Accent Auto Group, the Company will be happy to provide this to you upon written request to the following address:

Accent Auto Group
419 Elm Street
Milford, New Hampshire 03055
Attn: Service Department

Thank you for your loyalty and business.

Sincerely,

Robert Lajoie, Manager
Accent Auto Group

Photo Credit: Clyde Billing, Inc.

Clyde Billing, Inc. was operated as one of the first Saab dealerships in the country, established on April 1st, 1958 in Washington, Maine.

Clyde & Harriet Billing began this dealership initially in 1955, then took on the SAAB dealership when the first President of SAAB Motors, Inc. Ralph Millet, launched the nationwide dealership network just after SAAB arrived in the United States.

The Billings Family have had a long history with Saab in the United States and to this very day, Clyde Billings still own an original SAAB model 92A, a vehicle that was never officially imported into the United States. His son Bruce, continues to hold the torch for family in New England as an avid event going enthusiast and member of the New England Saab Association.

Here are some more details about the evolution of this SAAB dealership from Bruce Billing today.

I have sent along an aerial view of the original dealership, Washington Garage. It was located on route 220 in the center of Washington Village. It was operated from 1955 until 1966, and they became a SAAB dealer in 1958.

The Washington garage burned down in 1973, all operations had moved to Augusta by 1967. The second garage was used up til 1980, the dealership then moved to where
it is today. The second garage no longer exists either, the current dealership is O’Connor SAAB-VW at 258 State St. in Augusta (1980-present). O’Connor bought dealership in
2002. Where the original dealership was in Washington is now a park.

regards, Bruce

What: Clyde Billing, Inc.

Who: Clyde & Harriet Billing

When: 1958 - 1967, 1967- 2002

Where: Route 220, Washington, Maine (In Center of Village), 2nd garage, 258 State Street Augusta

Clyde Billings, Inc. resides as one of the original SAAB dealerships, now archived in the The Lost Saab Dealerships Of New England Project.

Photo Credit: Saab-Scania of America, Inc. / 60 Marsh Hill Road, Orange, Connecticut 1983
(L-to-R Bob Sinclair, Clyde Billing, Harriet Billing, Erik Carlsson)

Harriet Billings of Clyde Billing, Inc. that started a Saab dealership with her husband Clyde, in Washington, Maine that began back in 1958 and was sold in 2002, has passed away this weekend at 84.

Saab History has recently received a summary provided by her son, Bruce Billings this morning, more will be forthcoming.

I give my sincerest condolences to the Billing Family.

Harriett Billing passed away unexpectedly on Saturday March 21st at the age of 84.

She and her husband Clyde operated Clyde Billing Inc. , a SAAB dealership in Washington Maine and later Augusta Maine from 1958 until 2002.

She and Clyde were accomplished racers and ralliers during the 60’s. I’ve sent along a picture of them receiving an award from Bob Sinclair to mark their 25 years with SAAB taken in 1983.

Bruce

Photo Credit: Saab History / 2007

Saab Dealership, ANA of Trollhättan, Sweden, the largest of Saab dealerships in the world, nearby from the Saab Factory itself, has decided to tell the local paper, TTELA, that they are optimistic and think the future of Saab is certainly worth waiting for from what they know.

They understand that many of their fellow Saab dealerships around the world are having incredibly tough times, but they think it important to hold out.

This news story is great to hear, with reconstruction well underway, prospects lining up and new products right around the corner such as the Saab 9-3x, New 9-5 and 9-4x.

Optimism on Ana for the future

TROLLHÄTTAN Despite Saab’s notice and declining sales, is Ana Trollhättans new CEO optimistic.

- I know there are financial products on time and I think it is great when they come, “says Joachim Lind.

The first April to enter Joachim Lind as the new president of Saab dealer Ana Trollhättan AB. He has previously worked as including the seller and sales manager for Saab, both in Sweden and abroad.

Although there currently is blowing hard on the Saab, he is positive for the future.

- I am proud and pleased to have this job. Then of course, circumstances could have been nicer. But we are optimistic and hold heads high. Unlike other dealers who are defensive, so we drive business as usual and is more aggressive. We are at war with, and in this, “he says.

Following the development

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