So Far Sales are Down at Saab this Year Compared to 2003
General Motors is about to take its Swedish Saab division on a very different trajectory than Ford has directed rival Volvo. While Volvo has developed its newest S40/V50 compact sedan/wagon on a shared
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| Going in the opposite direction then rival Volvo, Saab has turned to its Subaru partner for the upcoming 2005 9-2x and GM's GMT360 platform for the new 9-7x. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
The integration of the two new models will double Saab's North American lineup, something Saab Cars USA Inc. President Debra Kelly-Ennis sees as a very good thing. Saab enthusiasts, however, are hoping this band-aid approach to boosting sales won't last forever, but instead help the brand along by diversifying its product line until new more Saab-like models replace them.
On this subject Saab is said to be pushing GM for a 7-occupant crossover SUV. Seeing as Cadillac won't share its Sigma-based
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| The 9-3 has been Saab's workhorse; recently redesigned and regularly winning kudos from automotive industry experts. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
But with a new compact Saab and a massive truck-based sport utility, what about the brand's core vehicles. While the 9-3 has recently been redesigned and is regularly winning kudos from automotive industry experts, the 9-5 will be in need of an update soon. Saab will reportedly give it a mid-cycle refresh inside and out, good for the next few years, but a full replacement is a long way off, with no indication of whether the brand knows just what GM architecture it will ride upon.