Rearview mirror. Only the name changes.
Saab Parts AB changes its name to Orio AB. One may think the naming successful or not. More important are the facts that concern us all. And the questions that the name change raises. Obviously, two companies in the Saab world, which we understand belong together, are developing in different directions.
Nothing changes for us, the Saab drivers and also for the Saab partners. Saab Parts AB, in a few weeks it will be operating under the name Orio AB, will continue to be the supplier of Saab original spare parts. In yesterday's announcement to Saab partners, CEO Lenhart Stahl wrote “We remain sole supplier of original Saab parts and will work with Saab more closely than ever in the short and medium term.“That should be seen as a promise. The Saab Helpdesk in Trollhättan will also remain available for our workshops. In addition, the company remains under state ownership, which guarantees stable development.
A background of the name change is the extension of the product range. With Orio a neutral name was chosen, which will not be an obstacle in the expanded distribution business. Because in Nyköping you will not only sell original Saab spare parts in the future; There are more brands added. This broadens the customer base and puts the company future-proof on further pillars. Realistic, because the distribution of Saab spare parts should have reached its peak in the meantime and slowly but continuously decline in the future. In Sweden, one assumes an annual decline of 6%, which makes thoughtful. For on the one hand inevitably decreases with increasing age, the number of everyday vehicles, in return, more and more Saabs reach the old- or Youngtimer status.
Everything about older vehicles has been booming for years, and more and more dealers are realizing that living in this niche, which has long since ceased to be one, can live comfortably. In Nyköping, this trend has not yet been recognized. Spare parts are in need of improvement, and as old Saab 99, 900 and 9000 become more popular, you just look away. A classic section would be an investment in the future and a long-term one.
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In the case of English classics with long-lost manufacturers, the supply of spare parts works excellently; small companies and fans organized themselves here. This should be seen as a warning example in Sweden. If you leave open gaps, the reproduction and sales will be taken over by resourceful third-party companies. Lenhart Stahl promised yesterday "More Saab than ever". Maybe then you will take care of our old treasures.
The name change casts a significant light on the situation in Trollhättan. In early summer we were still full of hope that there would grow together what, according to logical understanding, belongs together. Nyköping has the sales network in North America and Europe, and we thought NEVS would have the product for it. The product, a Saab for Europe and the US, is missing, and NEVS has focused on China for the Saab 9-3 Revival. Without a product, NEVS doesn't need a sales network, at least not at the moment. The development suggests that it will take a while longer than hoped until we will see a European version of the new edition of the Saab 9-3.
In Nyköping you couldn't wait for a product to be ready for series production at NEVS. The time to act had come, and letting the opportunities slip by would have been negligent. That is the reality, whether we like it or not! Lenhart Stahl said yesterday in an interview with TTELA about the relationship with NEVS "..we have a normal customer-supplier relationship ..". Saab Parts AB is a logistics service provider for NEVS, nothing more, nothing less.
The drifting apart of both companies does not have to be a development for all time. But it reflects the current situation. Let's see the positive things! There is a dedicated team in Eschborn who takes care of our spare parts. The crew has a lot of Saab in their blood, no matter what name the company bears. And let's focus on what we have and what we enjoy every day. Our vehicles ! With or without a griffin, with the Saab or the Saab - Scania lettering on the hood. Great cult vehicles from southern Sweden ...
Text: tom@saabblog.net
Image: saabblog.net
If NEVS is not up to speed, Saab Parts has to look for a new source of income. Just how is that supposed to work when Mr Stahl announces that more Saab will ever be inside in the future. Except for NEVS, there is currently nobody who could stand for the continuation of Saab Automobile. The aircraft manufacturers are unlikely to start again with vehicle production. For NEVS Europe and America are apparently unimportant and negligible. Slowly, if something should happen with New Saab, something should come up that makes Saab present in people's minds again. For most people, Saab is settled and gone. Except for the Saab drivers, hardly anyone wastes a thought on Saab. For me that means: the Saab name will be hawked in China in the future, and when my current Saab is “worn out” I won't be able to buy a new Swedish car because it no longer exists with us. There's still a Volvo, but it's not my thing, and if I change, then I have a bit of a patriotic German touch, and if I take a closer look at my Saab I find many parts that have the Made in Germany label on them.
... or Made in France (Valeo, headlights), or Made in Spain (Bosch fuel filter, GM rearview mirror frame).
Otherwise I agree - NEVS sometimes gives me the impression that it is a thin program by saying “There is much more to come soon!” wanting to overplay. I dare to doubt whether this is due to the China-heavy market orientation, after all, one hears even less in that direction. You should also keep in mind: The Chinese like to buy cars that are popular in Europe and America, or that seem to be popular in their eyes: Buick, VW, BMW. And even if it is the upper-class manufacturers who are popular in China, it would be an argument for the Chinese market if NEVS could at least establish the SAAB brand as an exclusive niche product in Europe and America.
In this context I notice that Orio as a company name is pretty meaningless - just like the names of some Chinese parts manufacturers (“Top Up Industries Ltd.” - makes switches and buttons for electrical appliances).
The first batch should go to China, according to NEVS, so it has been stressed again and again. And of course your concerns are right, but we are sitting
Unfortunatelyonly on the audience bankI thought that China should prefer electric cars built on the basis of the 9-3, which is now in production. Or have I misunderstood that? That comes probably from bad press work.
I agree with the sentence with the audience bench - except for the “unfortunately”. Indeed, I can't remember a successful “customer buyout” ... and to be honest, I can't remember a successful management buyout either ...
Today I am generous and hereby cancel the “unfortunately”. Because in real life that wouldn't have been for us. Have a nice holiday!
In that case, I also see this more pragmatic: as long as my 900er brings me anywhere and I can find the parts somewhere, they can call themselves because they want.
One thing is clear: Saab is a cult and that will not change after such superficial discussions.
@ Detlef: Quite my opinion, the car can drive quietly longer than to the first Zipperlein
It makes sense to drive old vehicles for a while longer, if possible, than to switch to new products at the first few zips. This is particularly true from an ecological point of view - but also increasingly applies to the purely financial side (see new car prices compared to even expensive repairs).
Logically, it is a stroke of luck that the required new vehicle sales are largely on the Chinese market - where there is a lot of catching up to do with automobiles.
In the long term, the takeover of Orio AB by NEVS is likely to take place, of course, because there will also be a lot of money to be made there - actually a smart move to let the state do the expansion of the business areas and then strike later.
Despite all the expansion plans, you should of course not lose sight of the old and young timers - if only for marketing reasons: A well-preserved old vehicle can hardly be outdone and therefore a great figurehead for the respective manufacturer!
So the whole process makes sense. Actually, I do not care what the hot, as long as the parts supply works. Our SAABs can run like this for a long time, but as a company, they obviously have to look around for other legs if NEVS does not come to grief.
In our increasingly pronounced throwaway society - this now also applies to cars - some are slowly starting to rethink and it is smart to include different brands in the range.