Saab tradition preserve. New dare.
The last week was tough! Not just from Saab's point of view, and not alone because the Saab logos on the work disappeared. European friends announced that they would move out of the common house, Europe is (probably) shrinking, an important cultural nation would like to find its own way in the future.
No fear ! The blog is not going to be political, although I would like to. But I find that events hurt. It is above all European pain that hurts. As for Saab, what happened last week was to be expected. Since then, we - Mark and I - have been asking how our blog could go on. Actually, the project would be over if you remember the original goal. The factory is history, Saab as a car manufacturer, that was once.
The opportunity to get out would be now and here, but again we're letting it slip by. The new mission - to maintain the legacy of the great brand. Should we become a pure classic and youngtimer blog? At one point I realized that we wouldn't be good at just writing about the past. That is still true. Life is too short, the future too exciting, and we are simply too curious to just talk about history.
Saab in the heart, that's clear. The cars in the carport, in everyday life, after work short in the hangar for screwing. The pleasure of traveling with a Saab, the great turbos, meeting friends, talking to Saab. Driving Saab is fun. All this still remains.
In recent years, we had repeatedly considered establishing a second brand on the blog, in case the time came to the point that there would be no Saab comeback. We are now at exactly this point. I've had a few brands on my radar in the past, but on closer inspection they didn't turn out to be particularly exciting.
A new brand on the blog
The NEVS brand is fresh on the list. It's not a whole week old yet, and I could write now that, like so many things in Trollhättan, it is built on Saab foundations. Or that among the 820 employees who pour into the old Saab factory every day, there are important Saab personalities. Including people who launched the 9-4x and 9-5 NG.
All this would be constructed and would not hit the core. Mark and I have decided to continue accompanying NEVS with the blog. For very logical, unsentimental reasons. A newly born brand, an almost blank sheet of paper. The incredible opportunity to follow the development of a car brand, to be very close. Long before products are ready and entry into European markets takes place. Usually this opportunity does not exist.
Communication with NEVS has achieved a quality in the last few weeks that we have always wanted. If it turns out to be sustainable, this would indicate a good development of the corporate culture. It could be the prelude to a shared journey by readers and bloggers whose destination is unknown. Like the blog started more than 5 years ago, with no idea where the path should go. Anyone interested in cars, mobility and the future can experience with us how a new chapter is being opened in Trollhättan. Where does that take us? I don't know, and that's where the tension lies.
Saab tradition remains in focus
Everything has to change so that it can stay the way it is. NEVS will no longer be published under the tag “Saab”, but under “Nevs”. Otherwise nothing changes. Our blog remains Saab, our project cars like Paul and the 2015 Anna Projekt provide reading material, and with the support of Orio Germany, the new reader campaign will begin in a few days. Saab tradition will continue to star, with a regular look to the future of mobility. With NEVS we dare to do something new. I would be happy if the readers join us.
ahem,
Keep going is always a good decision. For the readers anyway.
When it comes to the second decision, I really hope it's a good one, but I'm nowhere near as sure as most of the previous speakers ...
Trailers of the SAAB brand experience a completely new agreement by concluding the brand history. Gone are the days when many a turbo-X driver might have smiled on bread, that his V6 come from the GM shelf.
No, these discussions are over. Everything from Trollhättan, which bears the name SAAB, is a true SAAB.
Meet today the Butter Bread Lubricator with his 9-3 2,0T Convertible and the Turbo X driver on a highway parking lot, just smile at each other and enjoy the sight of the other beautiful SAAB and maybe they say so too:
"Nice car!"
"Many thanks. And ditto! "
What will be a NEVS and if he ever comes to Germany? Nobody knows! It takes only a little bit of bad luck and at the end of a long accompanying phase by bloggers and readers is a bitter disappointment.
It takes a lot of luck and in the end there is a sensation from Sweden!
I think you made a good decision. It's (also) about the Saab people in Europe, especially in Trollhättan. The mind cannot simply have flown away just because gasoline is no longer flowing. And that's not the only challenge either. The much bigger one is digitization. Who are tomorrow's competitors? VW is currently squandering its “war chest” due to the criminal machinations. The topics will be different, but no less exciting.
Let us participate on the part of the Swedes!
Even if I still can't get used to the fact that SAAB should be history ... Your decision for blog, for NEVS is right and important in order to be there from the start. I'm curious and look forward to continuing to read your blog! Thanks for that!
A "NEVS" doesn't come into my house. If you think back, what hasn't the Chinese promised. If our Saabs can no longer “can”, others have to come here.
There are still good brands today. I will continue to visit the blog.
Clever move from NEVS to assure the blogs that way, I would not have expected that. If you carry on wisely, the SAAB legacy will grow into a new, strong brand. The coming years will be exciting, I'm looking forward to it!
A good and wise decision that points towards the future. Classic SAABs are what we drive today and what we can still enjoy today. Whether our children will take over our old boxes in 20 or 30 years, or whether we want to leave our classic treasures to them or bequeath them - we don't know. Even if we don't want it, the number of SAABs and SAABists today will inevitably decrease. That is why NEVS, as the legitimate successor with SAAB genes, is the logical and courageous step into the future. Brave - because nobody knows what will become of it. The news in recent times gives hope and great expectation.
During the transition from the 2- to 4-stroke engine, the old DKW brand was carried to the grave and the traditional AUDI brand was revived. Maybe you can see it similarly. Admittedly, today's conditions are different and the comparison is certainly not very good. But from this point of view, too, it makes perfect sense to deal with NEVS. It is also an extremely exciting story - no matter what happens to it.
@ Tom and Mark: please urgently secure the address “nevsblog.net”. It is still available.
You have made a good decision. Looking forward to your insights. (I apologize for using English — dumb American)
Let's do that Tom and Mark. I love my Saabs, but I'm also open to new things.
Great decision, Tom and Mark. I am looking forward to reading your blog and reading about Saab as well as about NEVS what you find difficult elsewhere.
Hallo,
It's nice to welcome a second brand on the blog!
In addition, NEVS also fits wonderfully, as it is also virtually untouched in terms of blog technology and NEVs bears the legacy of SAAB.
Have fun writing
Andre
NEVS is the legal successor to Saab. So they stand in continuity. Now do not stop with such a name, ts. All good.
Otherwise it would be insufficient - after all, you want to know in the future what the trolls are up to! So it's definitely a good decision.
I myself would be particularly impressed if NEVS did come with hybrid vehicles at some point. Similar to the PRIUS - of course with a nicer design and also with more power. Just like I'm used to from a vehicle from Trollhättan.
Even if I say it more from the intellect and less from the heart: yes, tracing NEVS is a good thing ... if NEVS means honestly with us. If all of this turns out to be soap bubbles (again), then, trolls or not, this great blog should turn away.
But, listen, uh, read my words, if Brexit was just a bizarre event in the past and banks are paying interest to customers again, then Saab will rise and behind it there will be a company that is very different from NEVS, Saab for Saab's sake needs ... I hope for Volvo, Jaguar, Toyota or Mahindra.
Also, I am pleased that the blog is fed with new information about NEVS.
Sure, it's exciting to be “up close” when the phoenix emerges from the ashes ... 😉
I'm open to e-mobility, but I'm wondering
whether and how it should be possible to equip millions (!!!) of cars with batteries ...
whether the massive individual traffic actually brings us further ...
like the “oil / diesel use” in trucks and Small trucks should be changed ...
whether the public Local transport should not be expanded to the maximum (!!!) ...
or whether other traffic concepts / drives would be beneficial.
With you boss bloggers on board / accompanying NEVS has a great lead in public perception. May the new owners be smart to use this blog too!
If the timing from Trollhättan also works, the timely information is almost certain ... 😉
Thanks, a good decision! 🙂
A good decision. NEVS builds cars in the place where Saabs originated. While the white sheet paper situation is best described, NEVS does not have any real fans yet, but the desire to produce vehicles in Europe and revive a traditional factory is very valuable in today's fast paced world. I'm curious what else will happen in Trollhättan ...
The world keeps turning, the only right decision!
I think it's a more than logical decision. Thanks for going on!
Who is NEVS fan? But the decision is right, maybe we will still be friends, NEVS and me. Great that you continue!
The decision for Hello NEVS is a good decision for the bloggers and the readers, because in the next few years there will be a lot of e-cars. Thousands of people work and billions are invested there. I hope that our bloggers look beyond Saab and NEVS. Then the usual blog can become something very big.
Thank you :).
I am glad that it continues. And I'm also curious how things go in Trollhättan. I also hope for the region that something will develop again in the medium to long term with the new brand.
I had to hand in my Saab (company vehicle) at the beginning of the year and now drive Hyundai. Quite nice, but you suddenly notice which - often small things - the Saab had that you used, and which are not considered there at all.
I hope that NEVS will improve and that in a few years' time you will also get decent cars there - even if they are no longer called Saab - for Europe, but that reflect the spirit of the area. Then I would certainly be about to include this product in a new vehicle.
I hope you continue the blog and I hope you get more information from the NEVS area in the future.
Hello.
Even if I haven't been / am not a big “NEVZ” fan so far, I think it's such a very good decision for you!
... I'm a bit curious about the development ...
... and of course I still don't want to do without my "Saabige" morning reading with an espresso!!! 😉