Saab News: Svenska Dagbladet Interview with Victor Muller
Svenska Dagbladet has proven to be a fair source in the Saab Crisis in recent weeks and has always reported as objectively as possible. Reporter Daniel Kederstedt met Saab boss Victor Muller at the New York Auto Show and interviewed him. Read the interview and discover a Victor Muller from a whole new page.
Kederstedt met another, unknown, Victor Muller in New York who looked depressed and could read the worries from his face. Most of the time Muller was invisible in a small room on the booth, mostly with his mobile phone on his ear. The Saab rescheduling, the entry of new shareholders, the tug-of-war with the EIB, the lack of approval from GM, all of this takes the man visibly with him. And one thing is clear, Victor Muller is frustrated.
“We have to fix this situation - quickly. All systems are stopped, Saab loses money every day. I'm more worried than ever before, ”Victor Muller begins the interview. When do you expect EIB approval, the reporter asked. “Approval must be available on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. It has to be quick, we lose money every day we don't produce cars. ”
How concerned is Victor Muller not to get EIB approval? “I'm always worried, but in this case more than usual. We just don't get an answer from the bank. If we have solved this problem, we will ensure that this can never happen again. The situation as such is almost absurd. The bank (EIB) does not risk anything, it has the AAA security of the Kingdom of Sweden. There is no better guarantee than that of the Swedish state.
What does he say to the employees at home in Sweden, when can they go back to work? “We have daily telephone contact with Sweden so that the employees are as well informed about what is going on. I promise to work 24 hours a day to solve the problems with the same passion as in February 2010.
While Saab is struggling to survive, sources say there are discussions with Chinese manufacturers. It's about technology transfer and possible production in China. Muller does not want to say anything concretely, but admits to the reporter that there is progress.
“We have been looking for a potential partner for several months. China offers us enormous opportunities. Saab is an attractive bachelor who wants to marry an equally attractive woman in order to father attractive children in China. (Interesting comparison) In the future we will have a partnership with a Chinese manufacturer. It is important that we choose it well. The right partner must understand how Saab works and at the same time have the right contact to the authorities. If you decide to get into a partnership, everything has to work because China is a very complicated country where you need a lot of permits. ”
Text / Translation: svenkatom / saabblog.net
Source: Daniel Kederstedt