Swedish car industry. The anger of the old man.

It's been more than a year since Volvo legend Pher Gyllenhammar gave a fire speech at a Swedish car industry event. The nation has recklessly abandoned one of its key industries, with long-term implications for the country.

Swedish brands should be Swedish. Or?

Swedish car industry in strange hands

One could have made it easy for oneself and mistaken Gyllenhammar's speech for the anger of the old man who, disappointed, sees his life's work in the hands of strange owners. Frustration born out of a situation that presented itself in depressing colors in 2015. Scania from Södertälje became 100% owned by VW after a tough but ultimately unsuccessful defensive battle between Swedish pension funds. Volvo Cars completely in the hands of the Chinese and Saab (automobiles) in fact also.

The last remnants of Swedish pride at that time consisted of a small series manufacturer in Ängelholm and the weakening Volvo truck production.

Sweden is benefiting greatly from the investments from China, the labor market is at its limit, the housing market in Gothenburg is exhausted, and construction is going on all over the country. The boom goes all the way to little Trollhättan, which is becoming a sleeping city for Gothenburg. And yet there was dissatisfaction and frustration with unchecked globalization. Pher Gyllenhammar had said what many thought - but until then hardly anyone said.

Then came the Wolfsburg Dieselgate and with it the hope of revenge. Since then Sweden has been hoping to buy Scania. The pension funds repeatedly signal readiness, in the hope that the ailing VW Group needs funds for its restructuring. The matter has been simmering since then, the last line has not yet been written.

Volvo Cars on the stock market?

Saab, as we know, did not become Chinese then. In the summer came the decision; Saab AB is about as Swedish today as it was 1947 before cars were built in Trollhättan. In the city you are not really unhappy about it. Especially in Saab veteran circles, confidence in foreign investors is not particularly pronounced. And that is diplomatically formulated.

At Volvo, since the Gyllenhammar speech, the idea of ​​taking the company public has been taking shape. The topic comes up again and again in the press, and in May and November, the manufacturer successfully placed a bond on the free capital market. A step towards self-financing, away from Chinese pots of money whose access is becoming increasingly difficult due to difficult capital account rules.

Last week reported Dagens Industri about the upcoming decision to list Volvo on the stock exchange. The media coverage was enormous. The Expressen, as always very close to the people's soul, wrote about a dream that was coming true, and then the message got over Reuters denied. The Stockholm listing and the option to make Volvo Swedish again have been postponed.

Til today. Volvo cars places preference shares worth 5 billion (about 513 million) at 3 institutional Swedish investors. A conversion into ordinary shares and an initial public offering 2017 are not excluded. A historical step. Volvo Cars has, for the first time since 17 years, part owner from Sweden.

The auto industry is at the beginning of a radical change. Alternative drive vehicles are less complex to develop and produce than conventional ones. Their maintenance costs are lower and distribution channels over the network revolutionize distribution and save double-digit percentage costs.

The chance of small manufacturers
The view back, and this time into the future. Bloggers back mirror

The upheaval is a threat to the big players in the industry and could also be the comeback for small, innovative manufacturers. Sweden's auto industry has always been something special. Typical of the country, with a very special flair. And even Volvo was never really a big player, at least not in international comparison.

Gyllenhammar's speech, the old man's anger, could be seen as a prelude. A well-respected, award-winning veteran, speaks plain language. Since then, things have been moving and nothing has to stay as it is.

Times have become restless and unfriendly. Not only globalization blows an increasingly rough wind in the face, also the military expenditure rises. In this uncomfortable environment, the Saab AB earns magnificent and will do so in the next few years. At the same time, there is a lot of money worldwide for institutional investors looking for investment opportunities.

Against this background, a return of Saab in the automotive industry in the coming years can not be ruled out.

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Martin
Martin
7 years earlier

I'm just as angry about the defenselessness with which the Swedes have given away their key industries (also applies to Siemens and the German solar industry). There is no need for a straightforward, strategically fit old man with a broad back, behind which one has to hide for an open word.

saab_owl
saab_owl
7 years earlier

Are we (in Germany) doing better? KUKA sends its regards ... ;-(

TT
TT
7 years earlier

Volvo will also remain virtually 100% Chinese. In fact, far fewer percentages are enough to control what's going on, see former Daewoo today GM Korea. What the Chinese once had in their hands they do not give anymore and use everything, see Baic with the Saaberbe

Chris 82
Chris 82
7 years earlier

One should never never say. There will be a reason why SAAB and NEVS could not reach an agreement? At Volvo, I thought they stay 100% Chinese forever.

EF-moose
EF-moose
7 years earlier

This is a report that speaks to me so much from the soul. Could (actually) never understand that the Swedish state is not doing anything against the automobile “sell-out” in its own country, as I said “actually”! There it was again the not always logical separation of state and free economy 🙁
Was employed “at / for” SAAB for 23 years, experienced ups and downs (the latter unfortunately), but it was still the best time of my professional life so far ...
Since 1 1 / 2 years now working for SCANIA, learn daily how many parallels there are still in both brands, you can feel very clearly (positively) when you're in Coblenz with SCANIA, personally as before at SAAB Germany in Frankfurt or Bad Homburg.
Was in Södertälje in autumn for the New Generation presentation - events 1: 1 like years ago in Trollhättan. Beautiful memories are awakened.

And then there are alleged parallels, where one hopes that it will not become real;
MAN will probably soon be installing SCANIA transmissions... Technology Transfair – or what was it like at GM!?!?

Anyway, first wish the blog team and all the fans a merry Christmas and maybe the old man in the red coat meets us and the Swedes still our biggest wish

Lg. From Thuringia

Michael
Michael
7 years earlier

If the Swedish state should have intervened, then already at that time as GM Saab took over, because at this time for me already clearly the Saab of this company was only uutscht u. then let go, which happened. It would not have changed with the Chinese u. I am very happy that the name Saab stays in Sweden. Never will I drive a NEVS car even though Saab genes should be included. Of course Saab Automobilie would be able to bring back to life if the Saab AB AND for me the Swedish state could do something here. I would be ready at any time a financial Obulus in determined 5-digit amount to control. For once Saab always Saab u. that since 1978 continuously. A dream or future ???

Franc troll
Franc troll
7 years earlier

Extremely exciting and absolutely right! A lot of money is looking for a investment opportunity. Who would have thought that Volvo could become Swedish (in parts)? 5 billion crowns are already a huge sum, impressive.