Koenigsegg to buy Saab?
June 4, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
With General Motors having all but finalised the sale of Hummer, Saab is next. Reports from Sweden today suggest the company has narrowed the potential buyers to two, supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg and US financier Ira Rennert (Renco Group).
Having recently visited the Koenigsegg factory to film the CCX, as well as interviewing owner Christian Von Koenigsegg, we can’t hold back our enthusiasm for the potential collaboration between Koenigsegg and Saab.
Koenigsegg is currently in the final stages of developing an electric car powered by technology that promises to revolutionise the electric car market. Any collaboration with Saab would mean a direct path to mass producing ultra efficient electric cars, a prospect that makes perfect sense.
How soon before we know? “This can go fast now and should absolutely be wrapped up in a maximum of two weeks” Saab’s chief executive, Jan-Ake Jonsson, told Dagens Industri. A letter of intent with a “serious buyer” is expected to be ready before mid-June.
It’s been reported that Italy’s Fiat is also in talks but is not a preferred candidate.
Saab troubles came to light earlier this year when it sought protection from creditors in February. The Swedish manufacturer currently has until August 20 to find a new owner and begin a restructuring process.
Do you think it makes sense for Koenigsegg to buy Saab?
Print it: 
It sounds like a bright future is on the horizon for this niche, novel brand. Hopefully some new interiors too :S
So does that mean in a couple of years we can expect to see the world’s fastest soft top cabriolet/convertible come from Sweden and not Germany
i dont think it makes sense for any one to buy saab,
they are a struggling brand in a very competitive section already!, they are not unique anymore anyway, so they should just shut up shop for good!! they sell less cars globally than even holden aus do!
Koenigsegg might be exactly what Saab needs, they’re always banging on about how ’sporty’ their cars are. So some real performance car company involvement might just do the trick to give Saab some flare….
at least its going to a chinese company.
i’ll be watching with interest, i love Saab’s i dont love their re-sale value though.
Agree with Ryan. Saab struggle to live up to their claims. Koenigsegg could be the boost they need to be taken as a serious sports-oriented car company. I mean, Saab have always prided themselves on being performance based with their trademark turbocharged engines – but their turbos are about as powerful as travel hair dryer. The idea of Koenigsegg buying Saab is exciting, and in these desperate times for the proud iconic Swedish company, a smart left-field move.
I always though Saab would do better making boats. Their body’s already look like they are designed to carve up the waves so the transition would be easy.
That would be a great collaboration. Koenigsegg need some mainstream product to complement the rest of their future product line. I hope Saab do continue. Whilst their lo blow turbos aren’t exactly eye wateringly powerful, they do provide the right amount of urge for corner carving without getting crazy. If only they were rear wheel drive.
At least this deal keeps Saab in Swedish hands. Koenigsegg is a supercar manufacturer and with Saab its going to go more consumer friendly cars. Hope they can revive its product lines.
in capable hands Saab has the potential to become just like Audi.
Hope they don’t try and put 600kW through the front wheels.
Makes perfect sense. One has technology and the other has the ability to produce quality cars. We could be looking at an Audi in the making.
Swedish car makers like Volvo and Saab were makers of good quality, honest-to-goodness cars, not mass production but in a somewhat niche market. Then come the giant automakers gobbling them up wrecking up this up in the process. Saab and Volvo need to return to their roots and focus on this philosophy. Porsche, Landrover, Rolls Royce and Lotus are some of the fine examples that you don’t need to be a mass market player to succeed in the auto industry. Somehow, as humans we all appreciate things that are well made with special touches here and there.
I’m excited about this prospect coz I’ve read about performance cars tuned by Koenigsegg. All the best to Saab.
Highly unlikely, I don’t know where Koenigsegg would get the money from. Sure their cars might be expensive but they sell limited numbers – nowhere near enough to make the type of profit required to buy SAAB. Pipe dreams.
This will eventually filter down and benefit the consumer. SAAB have a really nice 2.8l turbo through an AWD. they have good quality cars but they are a bit dated. Koenigsegg will also benefit as they can reach a new target market. Lets hope SAAB can get back to the sort of cars they use to provide to us.
Koenigseggsaab. Rolls off the tongue really…
I think Koeni-Saab sounds better or what about Saab-i-Segg?
Yea Captain,the world Fastest front driver is on the Horizon.
Porsche needs VW to meet its carbon quota, so I daresay Koenigsegg needs Saab for a similar reason – to lower the average emissions of its product.
In the case of Porsche, the equation works well because VW sells millions of small eco cars.
Does Koenigsegg sell so few cars that the super small volume of Saab would make the equation work for them?