Photo Credit: New York Times

Saab’s new Design Director, Jason Castriota has been recently interviewed by the New York Times.

Here’s a small part of that interview below:

Jason Castriota, formerly designer for Ferrari, Pininfarina and Stile Bertone, has been tapped by Saab to lead design, through Mr. Castriota’s design firm.

Jason Castriota Designs has been hired to handle design for Saab Automobile, the Swedish automaker that was bought in February by Spyker NV, a Dutch car company.

Saab’s news release referred to Mr. Castriota, 36, as design director, adding that he would take “the lead role in design at Saab,” but he will not work exclusively for Saab, Mr. Castriota said in an interview on Monday.

Mr. Castriota is widely regarded as a star in the car design world. He was at Pininfarina from 2001 to 2008. While he was at Pininfarina, he worked on designs for Ferrari and also for Maserati (which is owned by Ferrari) including the Maserati Birdcage concept. More recently, he worked at Stile Bertone, where he designed the Mantide, an exotic car based on the Corvette ZR1.

Mr. Castriota, who was born in the United States, set up his own firm, Jason Castriota Design, in December and has offices in New York and Turin, Italy, where he also keeps a residence.

Bertone Mantide Mr. Castriota designed the Mantide supercar during his brief stint at Stile Bertone, the Italian design firm.

In the interview, Mr. Castriota said that the Saab relationship began with a meeting he had with Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s chief executive, and Victor Muller, the chief executive of Spyker and chairman of Saab, at the Geneva Auto Show in March. They discussed Mr. Castriota’s designs for a sportier, upscale version of the company’s bread and butter 9-3 sedan.

At first Mr. Muller and Mr. Jonsson wanted to hire him as Saab’s in-house design director, Mr. Castriota said. Instead, it was agreed that Mr. Castriota’s firm would remain independent, but direct design for Saab.

How does Mr. Castriota see Saab?

“Quirky and distinctive are important words,” he said. “It should be a true premium car alternative to the Germans. With the 900 series, with turbocharging and sporty performance, it was a smart buy. You saw doctors and lawyers everywhere driving Saab.”

These days, he noted, Audi has taken that position in the market that Saab occupied in the 1980s and part of the 1990s.

Mr. Castriota’s 9-3 may be on the road by 2012. He also may work on a small car, the 9-2.

Mr. Castriota pointed to the success of the Mini Cooper as a model for the success that the 9-2 might achieve. “There’s some behind-the-scenes talk going on for platform sharing with other companies,” he said, adding that he will have a voice in Saab’s marketing.

Click here for more of the interview on the NY Times.

Photo Credits: Pete Kuncis

The Saab Rally Team here in the North East, are at it again, this time as an entry to the New England Forest Rally here in Maine this Friday, July 17th in Bethel, Maine near Sunday River Ski resort. Their team will be joining the RallyHo! Motorsports team as the only Saab entries in the forest rally.

Driver Luke Sorenson and co-driver Joshua Jenny, will be taking their 1975 Saab 99 rally car that we’ve seen participate in numerous rallies here in the North East region of the United States over the years.

The last time I was at the New England Forest Rally, formerly called the Maine Forest Rally, was in 2001 when I was with the New England Saab Association. At that time there four participants in Saabs! Here here for Luke & SaabRally.com this year for keeping the Saab rally spirit alive in the North East which began back in 1957 with the Great American Mountain Rally.

The official entry is in and the team has their sights set on the New England forest rally, scheduled for July 16th & 17th, 2010

For more details on this rally and to see them in action, please visit this website directly.

New England Forest Rally
July 16th & 17th, 2010
Hosted at Sunday River Ski Resort
Newry, ME
GPS: 44d 28′ 25.21N
and 70d 51′ 22.28W

Photo Credit: Charles Gould

Saab enthusiast, Charles Gould has recently written a rather detailed account of his “barn find” acquisition of a 1962 Saab 96.

Below is the first chapter of this incredible story.

Another Saab Story- Barn Find 1962 Saab Model 96!

Written by Charles Gould
Photos by Gabriele Isenbrand
Chapter One

I received the Craigslist ad from a friend on Friday night, even before I saw it on the Vintage Saab list, where it had also been posted. The ad said that the 1962 Saab, had been parked in this garage by a little old lady in 1978, and that it had sat there ever since. The ad confessed that the engine was stuck, and that the rest of the car’s condition was unknown, but the photos made it look fairly derelict, with all of the dust and debris which had collected on it for those thirty-three years.

Everyone on the Vintage Saab list had speculated that thirty-three years in a dark, damp New Jersey garage could not have done it well, and that between the salt air, and the obvious mice infestation, it was probably a fairly rusty candidate for restoration.

The ad stated that the little car would be sold to the highest bidder at an estate sale, which was to be held the following afternoon at 4:00 PM. There was only one problem. The estate was over 200 miles away! Although I wanted to go to see the car in person, I was not prepared to get there in time for the Saturday 4:00 pm deadline. So, I made arrangements to place a bid over the telephone, sight unseen.

I had lost three other “bullnose” “stroker” Saabs, and I did not want to lose another. One was from an estate sale in Texas, and the executor had promised to sell it to me for $4,500, and then decided to increase it to $5,500, and then decided to get it running first, and then demanded $6,500, which I was still prepared to pay, as it had a factory rebuilt engine, and a GT hood, even though it was not a true GT. He then decided to place it on EBay, where it drew close to 12K from a European buyer. Oh well, I guess it wasn’t meant to be!

So, I was very excited about this New Jersey barn find car, as I really love original cars with years of patina, and I also truly love barn find stories. I was “willing” this to be a nice original car, and although the posts on the Saab list were getting pretty discouraging, I did not give up hope.

At 10:00 am on Saturday, I decided that I really needed to see this Saab in person, and that I had to be there to bid live, and to be sure that my telephone bid did not fall through for a bad reception problem, or some other glitch. So, I called several friends and nobody was available to take the 200-mile road trip. As I was getting ready to set out alone, my friends Carter & Gabrielle called to say that they were in town and wanted to visit. I asked if they were up for a road trip, and they set out to my house, while I went to the bank to get some cash!

I debated whether to drag the trailer along, because it always seems that when I bring the trailer, the car is always a disappointment, and when I leave the trailer home, the car turns out to be great, and I have to frantically hunt down a U-Haul in the vicinity of the purchase.

I finally decided to grab the trailer from my shop on the way out, and we bolted down to New Jersey. We arrived at 3:20, and were greeted by four other very knowledgeable Saab enthusiasts, the three estate sale ladies, and some assorted customers buying other estate trinkets from inside of the home.

We were sent out to the garage behind the house, at the end of a long and very narrow driveway, which had long since been overgrown with trees and shrubs which had made the narrow access even narrower. It was obvious that this narrow driveway, and the overgrown trees and shrubs would preclude getting the trailer anywhere near the little Saab which had been tucked away thirty-two years prior.

When we finally got a chance to check it out, I was so excited to climb through the sad and lonely looking little teardrop. As someone on the list had posted, all four tires were flat, and all four wheels were stuck, so we were wondering how we were going to get it out of there if we were successful. Anyway, our investigation in that dark garage made it obvious that this was a remarkable example, even though it was covered in thirty-three years of dust and crud, and looked like hell on the surface. This was clearly a remarkably well preserved, time capsule, owned by a woman who was the original purchaser late in 1961. She had parked it here in this garage in 1978 when she fell ill, and there it sat until being unveiled again in the last thirty days!

There was almost no rust whatsoever, and what little was there, was limited to surface deterioration on the bulkhead, where the mice had nested and urinated on the metal, which contrary to an earlier post, did not penetrate through the metal, but did remove the paint and caused some pretty deep surface rust in the corner on the driver’s side.

Contrary to the earlier post, although a previous owner had bent the steel up above the battery tray to accept a larger battery, they did not cut the metal, and I figured that it could be bent back close to original. The plywood panels in the trunk were near perfect, and under the rear seat looked like brand new.

Yes, the engine was stuck, but we are always saying that mechanical stuff is easy to fix, but rust is such a headache. The upholstery and headliner were simply amazing, and even the dash pad was not cracked. The oil change stickers confirmed the mileage and dates, and contrary to an earlier post, the paint on the door seals was transfer from the door, after being closed for thirty years. There was no overspray on the door seals, although I was surprised to see both door striker mechanisms on the jamb were painted. Does anyone know if these were painted at the factory?

There appeared to be some minor repair work on one rear fender, but it was done quite well. Otherwise it was remarkably unmolested, and well preserved, and even had the optional white face Blaupunkt radio, speaker, antenna and even the grounding straps for the radio installation kit.

I decided that I really wanted this car, and when I learned that it would be a sealed bid auction, I got very concerned, as there were about three or four other knowledgeable Saab enthusiasts at the site, and three more bidding by telephone. There was also another guy who arrived carrying a 6 amp battery charger, and who had intended to plug that into the garage outlet, in the hopes that he could get the stuck engine to spin on the 6 amps of available power!

It was nerve racking to try to decide what to bid, as I really had no idea what the others would bid. Well, we all must have had a pretty good idea as to value, as four of the six bids were within $200.00 of each other, and my bid was $99.00 higher than the next lower bid! Fortunately, we were the high bidder, except for one telephone bid that had a contingency that the seller provide a title at that price, which the seller could not do.

So, now we had to decide how we were going to drag it out of that narrow driveway, and figured that we would have to call a local wrecker with a long, long winch cable. I decided to unhook the trailer and back my MDX down the narrow driveway to see if it was possible to drag it out to the street for loading. Unfortunately, I had cleaned out my MDX last week to go in for a new transmission, and I had forgotten to put my tools, air compressor or tow cable back into the truck before we left, so we had no way to pump up the tires before trying to see if any of the wheels would roll, before calling the wrecker.

Now, I have pulled literally hundreds of old cars out of barns, and I am a consummate optimist, so I was “willing” the wheels to free up, as we tied up two ratchet straps to the rear control arms, and hooked them to my trailer hitch, half expecting them to break. As we tugged gently, two wheels rolled, and two dragged for about one foot before the third freed up, and another two feet before the fourth wheel freed up and started to roll. The brakes were still dragging a little, but the wheels were rolling!

We were able to slowly drag the little Saab all the way out to the street without any real problems except that occasionally the wheels would dig in, as though the little car was holding on tight, and afraid to be dragged away. I suspect that when he went to sleep in this garage over thirty years ago, nobody collected old Saabs, and now he probably feared being dragged to a junk-yard after hiding successfully here in this garage for thirty-three years.

The trailer battery, which runs the winch, died before we could drag the little car all the way onto the trailer, but we kept letting it rest and pulling six more inches, until we got the whole car safely up on the trailer. So, within thirty minutes of having won the bid, we had the little 96 loaded on the trailer and we were ready to head off for home in Massachusetts!

One of the ladies handed us the baggie, which contained the original owners manual, service coupon booklet, and brochures for the Blaupunkt radio, as well as several period road maps of New Jersey and New York. The three ladies who were running the estate sale were really sweet, and I had a lot of respect for how honest and fair they were in handling the sealed bid situation. It was really a pleasure to deal with them.

So, we were now on the road again, and headed back to Massachusetts. We had almost 100 miles under our belt, with most of those miles spent with me sneaking peeks at the cheeky front of this barn find through the rear view mirror, when we hit a huge pothole on the road. This pothole was so big that I was just waiting to feel a tire collapse! Well, nothing seemed to be wrong, so we proceeded up to Rein’s Deli in Vernon, CT, about 85 miles from home, for dinner. Reins is a traditional stop for us whenever we return from a car retrieval in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or anywhere else southwest of us here in Massachusetts!

Dinner was great as usual, but apparently we had developed a slow leak in one of the trailer tires from the pothole, and although we didn’t realize it until we left Rein’s, the tire completely blew apart three miles later on Route 84! We pulled into a small 24-hour gas and convenience store to have some light to work under, as it was now almost 9 pm.

As I had forgotten to put my tools back in my truck before we had left Massachusetts, we were stuck with no tools and no spare trailer tire. We could not get the tire off, and with the self leveling equalizer link on the leaf springs between the two right side trailer tires, there did not appear to be any way to get the dead tire off of the roadway. So, it looked like our newest acquisition would have to sit out at a rest stop overnight, until we could come back with a replacement tire and tools.

We decided to jack up the trailer suspension to bias the rear trailer tire down and the front one up, using the MDX jack. Once we had achieved the desired position, we went into the store, and carefully selected a pack of firewood, with one log just the right size and shape to jamb into the shackle mount, to hold the proper orientation for the trailer suspension to lift the front destroyed tire off of the roadway. With our custom-made hardwood suspension adjustment device now in place, we limped home the final 82 miles at a reasonably slow speed, and made it home before 11:00 pm, safe and sound!

Now with my back thrown out, and exhausted from the tension of driving that last 82 miles, while waiting for the second trailer tire to blow, we went right to bed leaving the little Saab on the trailer in the driveway overnight. Our plan was to have a closer look in the light of day, and try cleaning it up in the morning.

The following photos, which Gabrielle Isenbrand shot to document this barn find retrieval, really reveal how sad this little neglected teardrop Saab had become from being entombed in that New Jersey garage for so many years:

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z190/ricobirdo/1962%20Saab/?start=0

All I will say at this point is that I am delighted to have acquired this little time capsule, and I can’t wait to start on this project. Thanks to Carter Willey, for being such an amazing reference source on this car, and to Gabriel Isenbrand for documenting this barn find retrieval on her digital camera! Finally, thanks to both Carter and Gabrielle for all of their hard work, help, moral support and encouragement in chasing down this barn find dream! Please let me know your thoughts and comments after viewing the photos and whether you want me to write the next chapter of this story, and thanks for all of the support on saving this little 96!

Charles Gould
chasgould@mac.com
(617) 965-4848

Photo Credit: Rally Ho! Motorsports

Rally Ho! Motorsports of Camden, Maine that I reported on back in 2006, are at it again, this time at the 2010 New England Forest Rally near Sunday River Ski Resort.

On July 16th & 17th, the team will be participating in not a Saab 99 as they previously used, but a 1984 Saab 900, fully outfitted to meet the needs of this international rally scene.

RallyHo Motorsports, have been in the Saab rally scene since the early 1990’s. RallyHo Motorsports consists of Mike White (Driver), John Groo (Driver), Jared Lantzy (Co-Driver) as well as Team Manager Suzanne Dunavent-White and Crew Chief Brett Rudolf.

With the experience, team size and expertise on hand, the RallyHo Motorsports team appears to have a bright future in the Rally Scene in New England.

If you are a Saab enthusiast that has not been to a rally before, I strongly urge you to make it to this year’s event to show your support. (don’t forget to bring your large SAAB banners to hold out proudly)

Here’s hoping as Saab starts their new era, they can begin to take on sponsorship of these events in their primary market in the United States to rebuild their visibility once again.

For more details on this rally and to see them in action, please visit this website directly.

New England Forest Rally
July 16th & 17th, 2010
Hosted at Sunday River Ski Resort
Newry, ME
GPS: 44d 28′ 25.21N
and 70d 51′ 22.28W

Photo Credit: Keith Coleman

Keith Coleman, one of the participants that attended the “SAVE SAAB” kickoff event in Detroit this past January, has kindly shared a photo for this week’s “Saab Sighting of the week” at Saab History.

Here’s his quote below describing the photo of the Saab 9-3 SportCombi and how he took it. It looks spectacular!

I was traveling in Spain and Scotland the past few weeks and enjoyed seeing a good amount of SAAB’s on the road. Here is a shot of one in Elgin, Scotland. I shot it on my infrared camera. Hope your well, keep up the great work. Thanks, Keith

However, with the recent details of the new 9-3 to arrive in 2012, that history of the hatchback, is expected to be continued.

The 28 year history of the hatchback began for Saab in 1974 with the Saab 99 Combi Coupe model and concluded in 2002 with the 9-3 model.

It is logical that Saab is choosing to offer the hatchback in their latest Saab 9-3 model, effectively picking up where they left off a decade ago, in a continuation of the same 9-3 model lineage.

I am very pleased to hear of this good news and look forward to seeing this model come to market in the near future.

How many of you will be interested in buying a hatchback once it becomes available? Please voice your opinions below.

Here are the known details of the new generation Saab 93, based on a new “Phoenix Architecture”

The following product segments will be available in this model which include a convertible, 3-Door Hatchback, Sedan and Sport Wagon. In terms of technical details, it should have an electrified turbo as we learned about at the Saab dealer conference in Boston, along with a hybrid powertrain option amongst its right-sized engine choices combined with an Interior & Exterior Designed by Jason Castriota

Saab will declare its independence as a carmaker with the launch of an all-new 9-3 in late 2012. Rebadged as the 93, the new model will also mark the reintroduction of a hatchback version reminiscent of the classic 900.

Saab is working on a new platform — known internally as the ‘Phoenix Architecture’ — that will underpin the next-generation 9-3 family as well as the eventual replacement for the latest 9-5, which has just been launched.

It’s expected that the first car based on the Phoenix Architecture will be the new 93 saloon, which is currently pencilled in for a 2012 launch.

Getting this new car into the showrooms is a priority for a company that badly needs to boost its sales and dramatically increase its cashflow.

A cabriolet and a three-door hatchback will follow hard on the saloon’s heels. The drop-top and hatch are closely related, being nearly identical to each other up to the doors and frameless window arrangement.

The 93 Sport Wagon will be the final model in the range, sharing the majority of its construction with the saloon.

Although the 93 hatch will be bigger than the Audi A3, it is expected to be priced at a similar level, starting at around £18,000. The new model should be Saab’s most credible driver’s car since the 900 Aero was launched in 1985.

The styling of the 93 family will build on that of today’s 9-5, but the company designers are likely to make more use of an aerospace-influenced, barrel-sided look for the 93.

Inside, the wrap-around dashboard theme will stay, but the expanse of bare fascia seen in the new 9-5 is likely to be watered down to avoid overwhelming the driver.

Saab engineers have the option of fitting the 93 with the sophisticated HiPer strut front and linked H-arm rear suspension systems that are already used on some versions of the new 9-5. The company’s highly regarded four-wheel drive set-up is also on the menu.

There’s still some mystery as to the source of the 93’s engines, but it seems highly likely that they will come from outside the General Motors family.

Sources say Saab might already have signed a contract with BMW to supply BMW-derived diesel and petrol engines that are set to make their debut in the forthcoming Mini Countryman.

The company is keen on what it calls ‘right-sized’ engines, which it can modify using its extensive experience in turbocharging and engine management technology.

Click here for more

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

New Design Director at Saab Automobile

* Former Pininfarina and Bertone designer joins Saab leadership team
* Will lead design for Saab’s product expansion program

Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile today announced the appointment of former Bertone and Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota as its new Design Director.

Castriota, 36, now takes the lead role in design at Saab, reporting directly to Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. He and his design company will be responsible for exterior and interior design and will lead the design activities at Saab as the brand renews and broadens its product range.

Announcing the appointment, Jan Åke Jonsson said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jason to our leadership team. He has an outstanding track record in automotive design and will help us take the brand forward. He will play a key role in expressing all that’s best in the innovative tradition of Saab design as we carry our brand’s roots into the future.”

“I’m greatly looking forward to joining such an iconic brand,” said Castriota. “Saab has a very strong and distinctive heritage which gives it great potential to develop. This is an exciting opportunity for me to help shape its future products.”

Victor Muller, Saab Automobile’s Chairman, added: “Bringing a young, highly-talented designer to Saab underlines the company’s determination to produce cars which stand out because of their unique aircraft inspired, Swedish identity. With Jason heading up Saab design, we will be making landmark cars for the foreseeable future.”

Castriota hails from New York and graduated from Emerson College in Boston before attending the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. In 2001, he left the college to join Pininfarina’s design studio in Turin, Italy. He took up the position of Director of Design at Stile Bertone in 2008 and then opened a design consultancy with offices in New York and Turin.

His recruitment is an important strategic step by Saab in its renaissance as a newly-independent carmaker.

Note to Editors:

Saab Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company) was founded in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer and revealed its first prototype passenger car 10 years later after the formation of the Saab Car Division. In 1990, Saab Automobile AB was created as a separate company, jointly owned by the Saab Scania Group and General Motors, and became a wholly-owned GM subsidiary in 2000. In February 2010, Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands, acquired the company from GM as an independently-run business.

Saab cars reflect the brand’s unique Scandinavian design ethic, which is fused with its aircraft engineering heritage. The company is a global premium car maker with a distinguished history of innovation. It is recognized for its pioneering role in turbocharging, as well as occupant safety and the introduction of flex-fuel technology through Saab BioPower. Saab Automobile AB currently employs approximately 3,500 staff in Sweden, where it operates world-class production and technical development facilities at its headquarters in Trollhättan, 70 km north of Gothenburg.

http://media.saab.com/

Contact:
Saab Automobile Press Office
Tel: +46 (0)520 279797

It has been recently indicated that Saab Automobile, as part of it’s global brand relaunch, will market using applications for Apple’s Iphone and new Ipad, according to BusinessWeek’s interview with Saab’s new Global Sales Director, Adrian Hallmark.

As Saab continues to emphasize it’s interest in being touted as the “Apple” of the automobile business, one cannot help but wonder if there will be future partnerships with the company.

Wouldn’t it be nice to receive a brand new Apple Iphone or Ipad with any new Saab purchase right at your local Saab dealer instead of having to pick it up at the Apple store itself?

Here’s the quote below from Saab Automobile’s new Sales Director, Adrian Hallmark.

The marketing will feature “all media platforms” and include applications for Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPad, Hallmark said.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

In the next month or so, Saab Cars North America is expected to launch an all out marketing blitz as part of the launch of the all new Saab 9-5 in the United States according to Business Week.

“There’s a huge wave of media and communication” that will start in Sweden when the 9-5 goes on sale June 19, Adrian Hallmark, executive director of sales, said in a phone interview. Saab will spend more than $150 million on marketing in the second half of 2010 after spending “nothing” on promotions since the sale by GM, he said.

Edmunds Inside line have recently secured some photographs of the latest version of the 2012 Saab 9-4x that is still under development for the past 3 years.

This is good news as this vehicle must have a hybrid, but also must have a true hatch, so if we can continue to refer to the Saab 9-2 as a “Hybrid Hatch”, then we’ll see some significant demand for this long awaited segment. This vehicle has additional reasons to be promising as it will be the first official Saab model to have 100% Spyker and 0% GM influence!

Here’s the piece below by Autoblog’s citing Autocar.

The decision to green light the 92 will be made within the next 100 days. If the 92 gets the go, a hybrid model will definitely be available. The design for the 92 is all but finalized, as are the specs and dimensions of the vehicle, though Saab’s keeping this info under wraps. As Muller tells Autocar, the company targets 30,000 to 60,000 units per year at a price of “Mini plus 10 percent” with a release date of late 2013 or early 2014.

For more details, read below and click here for the orignal posting on ManPower.

Saab Automobile AB is now looking for Hybrid EV & Safety Manager

Location / service advertised in:
Sweden, Västra Götaland County

Saab Automobile AB is a brand new company, but with more than 60 years long history. We are approximately 3,000 employees in Sweden and most of us are working at the main plant in Trollhättan. We manufacture premium cars with new innovative technology to customers in more than 60 markets around the world. We work with the entire process from concept, design, development and production of analysis, testing and marketing.

We are currently seeking an experienced Hybrid EV & Safety Manager to work directly at Saab Automobile, Technical Development in Trollhättan.

Saab Automobile AB has its roots in Trollhättan and in a strong tradition of innovation and design. The result is breakthrough technology and versatile car that combines driving pleasure with respect for the environment

In this recruitment cooperate with SAAB Manpower Professional.

Manpower Professional is Sweden’s largest recruitment companies. We are located at some 50 locations and has over 15 years experience in recruitment.

Job Description
We are now looking for a person to the department Hybrid & EV integration, which is a small team with specialist skills to support other organizations in the development of this new technology area. Work areas within the team and project management – Coordination and expertise in feature development, energy storage and high-voltage applications.

Your tasks will be to manage and plan the development of functional safety and electrical safety. This project involves support for the application of ISO26262 and review specifications and designs from an electrical safety point of view.

Who are you?
We are looking for someone who has a genuine SIDELINE, is enthusiastic and is inspired by problem solving and working in a team. Results Focus, accountability and integrity are other qualities that are highly valued. You must have good knowledge of English, both orally and in writing. B license and under high voltage power ABL Electrical Safety Board is a requirement. We look extra happy female applicants.

We offer an exciting service in a team that likes to deliver high performance in a growing and in demand technology. We give you the chance to develop both professionally and personally. In addition, you get good working conditions and an employer who takes good care of its employees.

Location: Trollhättan

Contact
Welcome to seek registration with CV via the link below.
For questions please contact recruitment consultant Hakan Aberg at Manpower Professional, Tel: 0730-77 49 64th Search as soon as possible when the selection is ongoing.
However, by June 27th.

Union representatives:
For Graduates’ Association: John Tärbo, tel. 0520-851 55
For the Union: Anette Hellgren, tel. 0520-841 25

Share

Number of persons: 1
Company: Manpower Professional
Applications to: Hakan Aberg
Phone:
Fax:
Mailing address:
Website: www.manpower.se / Professional
Deadline for applications: As soon as
Publication Date: 2010-06-09
JobId: 664 204
Accepted answer types: Application of registered CV
Company Description:
Occupation: industry, production
Quality and Environment
Technology, Science
Keywords:
Not specified

Saab Automobile’s new Chairman, Victor Muller of Spyker Cars has recently spoken to Just Auto about his slightly different take on the future of EV’s in the automobile industry.

While Saab continues to develop it’s new era of independence, it must maintain it’s continued vision and passion for sustainable transportation solutions as a historical leader in technological solutions within the automotive industry.

It’s important to indicate that partnerships with companies such as Boston-Power, are just the beginning of this process.

As Saab Automobile emphasizes it’s interest to be a leader in this space, it will need to ensure that these products become a reality for consumers just as other manufacturers are doing, so that this global smart grid infrastructure powered by sustainable energy sources, can begin to take shape.

Muller is also skeptical about full electric cars, although he said Saab will run an electric test fleet when it launches the new 9-3.

“I lose sleep over electric cars – they are a contradiction in terms. They are only as good as the grid they get their electricity from.

“In Stockholm EVs are truly zero emission because the country has nuclear and hydro-electric power stations. You can’t say the same for New York because the car might have an electric motor but 500 miles away someone is shoveling coal into the generating station.

“We have to look at where the electricity comes from. There is a long way to go before EVs can be truly classed as zero emission. I see the future for now in hybrids, smaller, high performance internal combustion engines aided by electric solutions.”

Saab Automobile Settles with Creditors

Trollhättan, Sweden. On June 17, 2009, a creditors’ meeting was held by the District Court of Vänersborg where Saab Automobile made a proposal for a composition with its creditors to write down by 75% unprioritized debt that had accrued prior to the company’s reorganization. The proposal was approved by the District Court and, in accordance with the terms of the composition, payment of the composition dividend was to be made on June 17, 2010. All creditors with an undisputed claim, and who have submitted their payment details in accordance with the letters sent to them by Saab Automobile, will be paid on this date.

Jan Åke Jonsson, CEO of Saab Automobile, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank those loyal suppliers who have supported Saab over the past year – they have contributed significantly to the creation of an independent Saab. We aim to build on these partnerships as we roll out a new range of exciting cars starting with the new Saab 9-5 this summer.”

Contact:
Saab Automobile Press Office
Tel: +46 (0)520 279797

Saab Automobile Appoints New Nordic Region Director

• Key appointment to lead restructured Nordic organization
• Provides central support for independent branch offices

Trollhättan, Sweden. Saab Automobile today announced the appointment of Magnus Hansson as Regional Director Nordic, responsible for sales, marketing, aftersales and business development in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

Hansson takes up this newly-created position from 1 August. He assumes direct responsibility for the Swedish market, while Country Directors at Saab’s branch offices in Denmark, Norway and Finland will also report directly to him.

This new role is part of a series of key management appointments being made at Saab Automobile as the company establishes a new organization to take it forward as an independent business.

Announcing Hansson’s appointment today, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson said: “Our home market in Sweden is a crucial component in the success of the company and we are delighted to have Magnus onboard. His new role will enable us to create and benefit from synergies with the other Nordic markets. Their offices have been set up as lean, independent operations and Magnus’s team will also provide dedicated marketing and business support.”

Hansson, 35, who will report to Adrian Hallmark, Executive Director, Sales, is currently Global Product Manager at Saab and brings a broad range of international experience to his new role during 10 years with the company. He is a former Country Manager in Canada, where Saab achieved record sales during his tenure.

Hansson will be succeeded as Global Product Manager by Christopher McKinnon, currently a group leader within the department. Johan Palmér will continue as Acting Director of Sweden with full operational responsibility until 1 August.
Contact:
Saab Automobile Press Office
Tel: +46 (0)520 279797

Photo Credit: Saab History

This week’s Saab Sighting of the week depicts yet another Saab sighting at an embassy, this time a red Saab 9-3 Convertible in front of the Embassy of Nicaragua in Washington, D.C. taken this past weekend.

The All New Saab 9-5 has been launched to the media over the past few weeks. There have been approximately 250 international journalists and bloggers that have attended the event. The video above depicts this experience from a behind the scenes perspective.

Experience the launch of Saab’s new 9-5 from a journalist’s perspective with a 24 hour programme condensed into just a few minutes. Behind the scenes footage including presentations, factory tours and test driving.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The reviews of the 2010 Saab 9-5 begin to arrive from the international press. If you know of reviews that are not listed here, please add them below in the comments.

United States

Automobile Magazine – “My, how you’ve grown”

Auto Critical – “Ready for take off!”

Autoblog – “Skål!”

Car & Driver – “Retro Cues, Not Retro Design”

The Detroit Bureau – “Worth the wait…and more’s coming.”

Racer – “This is by far the best Saab ever made”

Auto Week - “Competent? Absolutely. Exciting, maybe not so much.”

Popular Mechanics – “The new 9-5 is a worthy also-ran in an incredibly competitive class”

United Kingdom

MSN U.K. “It’s certainly something different and it’s decent”

The Telegraph “Blame GM for its shortcomings”

Car Magazine – “Is the new 9-5 going to rip up the rulebook? Hardly.”

Auto Trader – “The new Saab 9-5 is a tremendous statement of intent”

Auto Express U.K. – “If you are looking for the ultimate driver’s machine, this Saab clearly isn’t it.”

What Car – “The 9-5 is a stylish, unfussy car”

France

Auto Info – “It remains only to wish that this new Saab model is that of the new era.”

Motor Legend – “Sophisticated equipment”

Caradisiac – “car of renewal”

Sweden

TTELA – “The car sits glued to the road. It is quiet and comfortable,”

Expression – “You can not ignore “the new Saab”

E24- Pure “saabismina”

Italy

Motori24 – “Saab back on track with the new 9-5″

Singapore

The Straits Times – “Saab has a real shot at success with this one.”

The first all new Saab 9-5 promotional video has just arrived, please let me know what you think!

“The film ‘Introducing The New Saab 9-5 ‘ was produced in mid May. It will be the intro to the new 9-5 section on the Saab website. It was done in Saab’s photo studio in Vänersborg and location shots in central Gothenburg. Art direction and project management has been done by Saabs agency Valentin & Byhr and film production by Edit house, both located in Gothenburg.

Henrik Gustafsson, Art Director, Valentin & Byhr
Niclas Bergman, Film Director, Edit House
Jens Jansson, Photography, Edit House”

Just three months after its sale by General Motors, Saab Automobile is hosting 250 of the world’s top media at its state-of-the-art production plant at Trollhattän in Sweden. They are hearing about what has been achieved so far, test driving the all new 9-5 sedan and receiving updates on the company’s future plans.

The two men responsible for Saab’s renaissance – Victor Muller, Saab Automobile Chairman and Spyker Cars CEO, and Jan Ake Jonsson, CEO of Saab Automobile – give candid assessments of progress and talk about their expectations for the success of the all new Saab 9-5.

Journalists attending are the first in the world to drive Saab’s much-anticipated new flagship model, which arrives in dealerships this summer. Unusually for a car manufacturer launching a new product, Saab chose to host the event at its own factory, underlining the company’s commitment to its Scandinavian roots.

Saab pins hopes on new 9-5 after Spyker rescue

* First model since Saab take over by Spyker

* Goal is to “rebuild confidence and trust”

* Entire line-up to be overhauled within two years

By Reed Stevenson

TROLLHATTAN, Sweden, June 1 (Reuters) – Saab is launching its first new car, the flagship 9-5, as it hopes to restore buzz and sales to the iconic Swedish brand after its rescue earlier this year by Dutch luxury carmaker Spyker (SPYKR.AS).

Amid anaemic demand — global auto sales sank 13 percent in 2009 to a seven-year low — Saab is aiming to more than double yearly sales to 85,000 by 2012 to avoid losses. Last year, it sold nearly 40,000 cars.

At Saab’s headquarters in Trollhattan, where thousands of employees gathered in January to cheer Spyker Chief Executive Victor Muller’s gutsy $400 million deal to buy Saab from General Motors [GM.UL], Saab’s chief executive promised to restore the brand and the company at a launch event on Tuesday.

“The biggest challenge we have right now is to rebuild confidence and trust,” Saab CEO Jan Ake Jonsson said.

“We have a workforce that has an extremely high motivation level,” said Jonsson, who took the helm in 2005 while Saab was still owned by GM.

The Opel platform-based 9-5, which replaces a 13 year-old line, is mainly aimed at buyers of Audi’s A6 and making it distinct from the smaller 9-3. One criticism leveled at Saab was that its older 9-5 and 9-3 models were far too similar in size.

With a base price of around 35,000 euros ($42,520), the 9-5 finally brings Saab’s flagship model up to par with rivals, with lower emissions, features such as keyless entry and active four-wheel drive, and luxury comforts.

“For Saab, this is the most important product,” said Muller, speaking at the launch event. “It means we are alive.”

Jonsson said newer Saab models will reflect more of Saab’s heritage, particularly its distinctive styling and turbo-driven engines, that has attracted affluent and design-conscious customers.

Despite its hopes, the company is keeping expectations in check, saying that it plans to sell 50,000 cars this year, compared with yearly sales of over 130,000 just five years ago.

Saab hired Adrian Hallmark from Volkswagen this year to be its chief salesman with instructions to rebuild the company’s global distribution.

Saab is nearly done with replacing GM’s distribution network in 23 countries, either by buying existing intermediaries or building out its own, positioning it to sell cars directly to dealerships instead of through an intermediary which should help improve the profit margin on each car, said Hallmark, who left a position heading up Volkswagen Asia to join Saab.

Saab’s sales organisation will be completely separated from GM by September, and by the end of the year Saab is also planning to launch or re-launch in China, Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Mexico.

Here’s a video of the 2010 Saab 9-5 undergoing product development and production at Saab’s headquarters in Trollhattan, Sweden

Photo Credit: TTELA

Saab Automobile has invited 250 international journalists to Trollhättan today to test drive the all new 2010 Saab 9-5 Sedan.

Here’s a snippet from the Local that are reporting on it as well as a link to Trollhattan’s own TTELA who also have reviewed it.

After many months of waiting, 250 foreign journalists visited Trollhättan on Monday to test Saab Automobile’s new flagship vehicle, the new second-generation Saab 9-5.

The verdicts of the journalists will be a crucial test of Saab’s efforts to convince the world that it has a future. Since the 9-5 was first unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, the company has been fighting for its survival.

During its darkest days in early January, it looked as if the fully developed car would never reach the market. It was only after the last minute success of Spyker Cars’ bid to buy the company from General Motors that the future of the model – and the brand as a whole – were secured.

The first cars are expected to reach dealers the week before Midsummer in mid-June. On Monday, Saab started the big launch, inviting 250 journalists from different countries to visit Trollhättan to test drive the car.

For Saab’s future, it is crucial that the car does not flop. The smaller Saab 9-3 model continues to sell the most units for the brand.

The price of the new 9-5 is deliberately set higher than its 13-year-old predecessor. Prices start at 311,000 kronor ($40,000) and rise up to about 600,000 kronor depending on engine and equipment.

“The price means that the sales volume is expected to be slightly lower,” said Peter Hallberg, CEO of Saab’s dealer network.

Saab’s turbulent times are not yet over. There are still companies that do not allow their employees to buy Saabs as company cars simply because of the lingering uncertainty surrounding the company.

Finance and leasing companies have set very low residual values, or how much the cars are estimated to be worth in three years, on Saab vehicles. However, Saab dealers have agreed to provide a guaranteed residual value for the vehicles.

“We guarantee a value on par with our competitors,” said Hallberg. “This means around 50 percent for volume models. We hope that will eliminate the worries of fleet car buyers.”