Saab CEO Jan Ake Jonsson will retire from Saab on May 19th, with the 59 year old executive leaving Saab during a tumultuous time. Saab Chairman Victor Muller will act as interim CEO as a search for a replacement gets underway.

Jonsson, who was reportedly planning to retire regardless of the situation, will assist with the personnel changes and be available to Saab until September 1st.  Jonsson, who worked for Saab for nearly 40 years, released a statement, that read”The last three years have of course been very demanding and forced me to focus on one thing only — my work. Now it is time for me to also spend some time on other things that had to stand back for my duties to Saab.  I am convinced that Saab is on the right track toward replacing the entire product portfolio by October 2012 — when the next generation 9-3 will be launched — as well as creating a stand-alone company with a financially sound business model.”

Saab sales were up 15 percent in 2010, and parent company Spyker expects the division to be profitable by 2012.

[Source: Automotive News]

With an eye on emerging markets, as well as the growing small premium segment, Saab execs have made it clear that an entry level model designed to take on the Aud A1 and BMW 1 Series is on their radar. Now comes word that a small premium Saab, likely named the 9-1, could arrive sooner than expected thanks to platform sharing with another automaker.

In a recent interview, Saab CEO Jan Ake Jonsson commented that while a subcompact isn’t in the brand’s current production plans, there’s a possibility that the underlying platform could be donated by or shared with another automaker. Jonsson even went so far as to say that several other automakers have already come forward looking to partner with Saab on different technology aspects.

Platform sharing is becoming increasingly popular in a post-recession auto industry, where automakers are forced to work together to reduce costs and share emissions technology. The tie-up between Fiat and Chrysler is set to include considerable product sharing, while recently Mercedes parent company Daimler announced a partnership with Renault and just yesterday we heard the first rumors of the love-child between Volkswagen and Suzuki.

Jonsson didn’t go so far as to name any potential partners in the auto industry, but several smaller automakers, including Mitsubishi and Mazda, are in need of world-wide partners as well.

[Source: Drive]

After having never turned a profit under General Motors, Saab is looking to break even next year. According to company CEO Jan Ake Jonsson, the automaker is in good shape now thanks to loans and cash obtained by selling the rights to the old 9-5 model to China’s Beijing Auto. According to Jonsson, the turn-around is expected to occur in the second half of 2011 and Saab intends to hit the break-even point with sales of just 80,000 to 85,000 units – down considerably from the 98,000 units it sold in 2008.

Jonsson even commented that the Swedish automaker sees the possibility to sell as many as 125,000 units annually – which would generate significant profits for the small automaker.

To achieve the break-even goal Saab is planning drastic cost cutting measures but Jonsson didn’t comment on what those might entail.

The automaker is also looking to boost sales, particularly in the United States. Saab Cars North America CEO Micheal Colleran divulged that Saab is once again leasing cars and that the company plans to begin marketing its products once again – using not only traditional print, but also social media and online outlets.

As for vehicle sales, the new 9-5 model has already launched in Europe with plans for it to be on sale in the U.S. this July. Colleran also commented that come 2012, the new 9-5 will be the oldest vehicle in the Saab lineup.

In addition to the U.S. market, Saab is also looking to begin expanding into developing markets like China, Brazil, Russia and India. “You could see the day when there are more Saabs sold in China than in the US,” Jonsson said.

[Source: Drive]

General Motors has officially announced it has reached a tentative deal to sell its Swedish Saab brand to a group of companies lead by Swedish supercar-maker Koenigsegg.

The deal will see the Koenigsegg group receive $600 million in funding from the European Investment Bank, which has been guaranteed by the Swedish government.

GM will provide Saab with platform and powertrain technology for an undisclosed period of time, while Saab is set to begin production of the next generation 9-5 in the near future at its plant in Trollhättan, Sweden.

“The proposed agreement will enable us to maximize the brand’s potential through an exciting new product line-up with a distinctly Swedish character.  Today’s announcement is great news for Saab’s current and future customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe, said Jan Ake Jonsson, Managing Director of Saab.

“This is yet another significant step in the reinvention of GM and its European operations,” said GM Europe President, Carl-Peter Forster.  “Saab is a highly respected automotive brand with great potential. Closing this deal represents the best chance for Saab to emerge a stronger company.  Koenigsegg Group’s unique combination of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and financial strength, combined with Koenigsegg’s proven ability to create world-class Swedish performance cars in a highly efficient manner, made it the right choice for Saab as well as for General Motors.”

Koenigsegg’s acquisition of Saab is expected to be completed by the third-quarter of this year.

Official:

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It seems like there is a new update in the Saab and Saturn sell-off every day… so why stop now. Yesterday we reported that the list of Saab buyers was down to three and now that list has been shortened to just two suitors.

Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson told Swedish business paper Dagens Industri that there are now just two parties in the running. He also said that the final negotiations could happen as early as this week.

“This can go fast now and should absolutely be wrapped up in a maximum of two weeks,” he said in a report.

Fiat has recently denied rumors that it was interested int he purchase of the Saab brand and so that leaves Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg and the U.S.-based Renco Group.

[Source: Reuters]