F&I Management & Training

If niche supercar maker Spyker can persuade GM to sell it Saab, some franchised dealers could see both brands sold from the same locations.

Spyker chief executive Victor Muller recently said in an interview: "We have our own distribution through Bentley and Lamborghini dealers, but there is no reason why high-end Saab dealers couldn’t sell Spykers.”

Muller, the CEO of Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker NV, is trying to meet General Motors’ Jan. 7 deadline to sell or close Saab.

GM extended the deadline after it became clear that the negotiations wouldn’t be wrapped up by Dec. 31.

Spyker would stick with Saab’s plans to rebuild the brand around the 9-3, the 9-5 and a 9-4X crossover based on Cadillac SRX mechanicals, while a proposed 9-1 small car will go on hold.

It would keep Saab's headquarters, engineering and production in Trollhattan, Sweden. Trollhattan would produce all Saab cars except the 9-4X, which would be produced by GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico.

GM would continue to produce engines for Saab. And Saab would use GM parts in vehicles like the 9-4X and 9-5 sedan. Saab’s relationship with General Motors “would last for years,” Muller told AOL Autos. “It’s a very good relationship, too.”

Spyker also could expect to benefit from the deal. Muller says his sports car company could use Saab’s all-wheel drive technology, plus other components from Saab’s parts bin.

Muller declined to indicate whether Saab can break even on sales of 100,000 units by 2011 or 2012, as had been previously reported.

Saab sold 93,295 units in 2008, and sales this year could dip as low as 60,000 units.

DATED: 07.01.10

FEED: AM