"Where's My Saab?" is back and the January photo has been posted. Can you guess where it was taken? Send your guess to photos [at] saabclub [dot] ca

Click here for more info and the high resolution version.

Follow on to the "We are many, we are Saab" meeting.
What is the current state of Saab? Is there any news?

What does this all mean for The Saab Club of Canada?

Also, we there will be copies of the January, 2012 edition of the Gryphon available for those on hand. Copies will be mailed out to anyone unable to attend. Included will be the latest version of the club discount list with updated vendors and discounts.

Date and Time: Wednesday January 18th at 7:30pm

Location: Katz's Deli in one of the meeting rooms at the rear. Address is 3300 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2T5 (West side of Dufferin, just South of the 401).

February Meeting Topic:

We are looking for ideas for this and future meetings. Please don't hesitate to contact Scott Hutchings or Fred Hopper if you have any thoughts or contacts who might be interested in speaking at a meeting.

Hello everyone,

As many have heard a few days ago of SAAB's bankruptcy, Aktive Motors would like to invite everyone who loves and believes in this iconic brand to join them in the, "We Are Many, We Are SAAB" worldwide meeting, Saturday, January 14, 2012 at noon. There will be food, drinks, and all things SAAB at this global gathering of SAAB owners and enthusiasts who remain loyal and dedicated regardless of SAAB's uncertain future. Let's show our support once again that we continue to believe and hope that one day the SAAB Phoenix will rise again.......

Please click on the link to the "We Are Many, We Are SAAB" worldwide meeting website:

http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/12/14-15th-of-january.html

http://www.outside-saab.com

Personal holiday greetings from Christian and family at Aktive Motors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLKwo6LImjI

Place: Aktive Motors
886 Winston Churchill Blvd
Oakville, ON LJ7X5
tel# 905-842-0017

Date: Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time: 12:00pm

Happy Holidays!

Regards,

Saxel

Dear Members,

It's been a difficult week for Saab enthusiasts in Canada and around the world. As Scott mentioned earlier this week, the recent events at Saab make the work of our club more relevant than ever.

As 2011 draws to a close we want to invite all members to send in photos and stories of anything related to Saab, for inclusion in our January newsletter. Without a full-time editor we are not able to publish as often as we would like to, but during the holidays we will be preparing a special edition which will celebrate Saab's proud history in Canada and in the lives of our members. We'll also be including an updated Discount List - one of the benefits of paid membership. This issue will be mailed out after our January meeting.

Please send your photos, stories and other contributions to the newsletter to editor [at] saabclub [dot] ca

We also want to wish our members a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to 2012.

Fred Hopper
Vice President, The Saab Club of Canada

Saab Club of Canada Members,

As most of you are probably already aware, Saab corporate yesterday announced that they have filed for bankruptcy. This is no longer protection from creditors, but rather full on closure.

While there has been no official statements yet from either the dealers in Canada or Saab Cars North America, it is very obvious that there will be an impact to them. Given that I haven't been around to see a car company go under like this before, I have no idea what is going to happen or what sort of issues this is going to cause for us Saab owners.

What I do know is that the Saab Club of Canada has never been more relevant than it is right now. Saab owners across Canada are going to need each other's support and help. I for one have over 215,000 miles on my 2005 9-5 Aero Sport Combi and I plan on driving it for many more years. To do this, I will need to be connected to the Saab community even more than I am right now. I think it is safe to say that most of us are in the same situation.

I encourage you to get the word out there that the Saab Club is not going anywhere and that we collectively, as one of the stronger "fan groups" will do what we can to help others out. Please, if you see someone with a Saab that you don't recognize, let them know about the club, let them know that we have ways to help them take care of their Saabs so they can get many more years of enjoyment from them.

And while I am not going to hold my breath on this, there is a very slim chance that this isn't the last we have heard from Saab.

Thanks,

Scott Hutchings
President, The Saab Club of Canada

Normally, I wouldn't post something like this on the front page, but this is not a normal situation.

The owner of the above mentioned Saab is looking for someone else to take care of his pride and joy.

If anyone is interested or knows someone who might be interested, please contact me directly and I will pass the information along.

Please see the attachment for a nice, hi-res photo of the Saab.

President @ SaabClub . ca

Apparently our Mark Marcon has been schlepping in Trollhatten. See this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1vTGbePF4w&feature=player_embedded
His part is in English.

by TimR (SaabsUnited)on July 30, 2011

CHRISTER GERLACH, a journalist and writer has published the following article in DN.se (original article here: http://www.dn.se/debatt/med-lite-hjalp-pa-vagen-har-saab-chans-att-overleva) which bring up many of the points and issues that we as a community have been trying to make for such a long time. This is a google translation that I’ve tried to clean up as much as possible, I hope enjoy the reading!

The good conditions for Saab are more than you might think. It is not just a disadvantage to be small. There are small manufacturers who survive in the global competition. Jaguar / Land Rover, Suzuki and Rolls Royce are just some examples and Saab could be one of them. Brilliant engineering has given Saab excellent engines and the world’s safest cars. The model program is broader than ever and Saab has some of the world’s most interesting designers. The company has several new partners in the pipeline. A temporary state involvement would dramatically increase the Saab’s ability to survive, writes Christer Gerlach.

Saab Automobile is in crisis. You can recognize headlines like: Crisis, shock, bankruptcy, billions, desperate hunt for money …

But the misery is another reality that gives hope – but no guarantees – for the future. It’s time to take a look at the good conditions – there are more than you might think.

Small car manufacturers survive in global competition. It is repeated as truth, but is it true? Here an example: When Ford sold Volvo it also sold British Jaguar / Land Rover. Indian mega-firm Tata bought Jaguar / Land Rover, which then together produced about 250,000 cars a year. Far fewer than the Volvo. Jaguar alone produced around 50,000 cars – about half as many as Saab in a “normal” year.

But then Tata took over the Jaguar / Land Rover sales increased by 24 percent. In three years, Jaguar / Land Rover hired 1500 new employees and now needs another thousand engineers. Jaguar / Land Rover is now making hefty profits, and Tata will invest 50 billion over the next few years.

• Saab’s new partner Chinese Pang Da with 1100 retailers can be the key to recovery for Saab. Assume that each dealer sells a car a week. That means 57,000 cars a year and a half of a normal Saab Production.

• The Russian billionaire Antonov hope to make Saab into Russia. Local production means that Saab get past high import tariffs and access to a market that will be Europe’s largest 2014th

• Saab was first to adapt the turbocharger for passenger cars. Saab is associated in a unique way with the turbo and strengthens the brand.

• Saab has one of the strongest eco-diesels. Thanks to a unique self-dual turbo able to squeeze out 180 horsepower from a diesel of just 1.9 liters, which emits 119 grams of carbon dioxide. It is a brilliant piece of engineering.

• Saab builds the world’s safest cars. Within three weeks of crash-testing of two new Saab models the American Road Agency gave both the highest rating, and appointed them to the best choice.

• Saab now has a wider range of models than they have ever had. The new 9-5 is already for sale. 9-5 wagon is ready for production. SUV 9-4X has begun shipping in the U.S.. An all-new 9-3 – Saab’s most important model – launched next year in at least two body versions. Saab engineers are sketching on a smaller model that will be called 9-2 or 9-1. There is already a developed concept for a small SUV.

• Saab still has a modern, rational and efficient factory with skilled workers and employees.

• Saab has multiple partners at once. It has a contract with BMW for the purchase of engines. Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Youngman, who wants to invest in Saab, a combined deal with Pang Da could be crucial to success.

• Saab has today one of the car world’s most interesting designers Jason Castriota. He has designed concept car Phoenix that shows how future Saabs might look like.

• Saab’s latest models receive great reviews by the foreign press. Europe’s largest motoring magazine, Auto-Image German wrote about the new 9-5: “Seldom, Saab has been so attractive as now.” The American Road & Track wrote about the new suv 9-4x: “All in all, looks and feels new, the 9-4x as a true Saab, and do well against competitors like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. ”

• It is not only disadvantages of being small. When it says BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus and Volvo in every driveway in the German, American and Chinese neighborhoods, there is room for architects, lawyers and dentists who want something different – then there is a chance for a Saab.

• There are several small or medium-sized auto plants that are successful: Mini, Suzuki, Dacia, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Subaru. They are all different niche with unique profiles: sporty, four-wheel drive, luxury, cheap, small cars … That is where Saab should position themselves.

• When GM decided to close Saab there were demonstrations in countries like Germany, USA, Australia and Sweden: Save the Saab! Saab has a core of devoted fans such as Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. Saab is a very strong brand – an icon.

• Saab still has talented and resourceful engineers. Despite scarce resources, they have developed excellent diesel engines, made bold interior in the new 9-5, developed the new SUV 9-4X, adapted and refined the four-wheel drive from the Swedish Haldex.

Finally: Should states buy shares in car manufacturers? What is the situation in the rest of world?

U.S. government saved General Motors from bankruptcy with a loan of 350 billion and became the owner of approximately 60 percent of the company. Today, GM is profitable again and has now started to pay back the loans and the ownership is now down to 30 percent.

Even Chrysler got state aid and thus created the conditions for Italian Fiat to buy Chrysler paid back the loan.

The U.S. government is also via GM, shareholder of Korean Daewoo, Holden Australian, German Opel and Vauxhall UK.

German state of Lower Saxony owns 13 percent stake in Volkswagen and has 20 percent of the vote. The oil-rich emirate of Qatar owns 17 percent.

Via Volkswagen, Lower Saxony and Qatar owns parts of Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, Japanese Suzuki and Scania.

French state owns 15 percent of Renault and is therefore also part owner of Volvo Trucks, Japanese, Nissan, German Daimler / Mercedes, Romanian Dacia, Samsung and Korean Russian Avto / Vaz.

A temporary state involvement in the Saab would dramatically increase chances for Saab to survive and increase confidence among foreign investors.

How much money does Saab need to get by during the worst crisis – that is until when you can start selling the new models? Five billion, seven billion? Now needs to get money quickly so that Saab can pay their suppliers and begin production of the approximately 20,000 components of a modern car.

Without these parts – no production of the Saabs, no sales and no revenue.

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Please add your comments at Saabs United here: http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/07/with-a-little-help-saab-could-flourish.html#comment-147720

The Saab Club of Canada has many styles and colours to choose from at our on-line clothing store.

If there is something you would like to see but don't, please don't hesitate to let us know.

We are also looking for someone to manage this for the club.
If you are interested (or know someone who might be), please don't hesitate to contact us.

My Shop

Editor Position is currently open:

The Saab Club of Canada is looking for an Editor for our monthly newsletter, the Gryphon.

Applicants need not have any publishing experience (although it wouldn't hurt). Previous project management experience would come in handy.

Must be able to manage tight dealines, work well with others, and be creative.
The Gryphon is currently running January to November at 16 pages.
However, as the Editor, you would be responsible for determining the current and future direction of the Gryphon.
We have been experimenting with on-line publication but would expect to continue with hardcopy publishing for the near future.

Web Content Manager is currently open:

The Saab Club of Canada is looking for someone to manage our on-line presense (not to manage our site, but the actual content).
This role is not just limited to the club web site, but also sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, as well as ensuring that we are connected to the various other Saab sites and forums around the world.

While experience in social networking is preferable, we will be happy to look at those with an interest to help out.

Marketing Manager is currently open

The Saab Club of Canada is looking for someone to manage our marketing activities.

This includes, but is not limited to, promoting The Saab Club of Canada, Enhanced Driving Synergy, Saab Canada and the dealers across the country.
You will have to work closely with the Board.
Your primary goal will be to improve the branding of this club and its driving schools.
Must also be comfortable managing and promoting a line of logoware for the club.

Anyone interested in learning about more any of the above open positions can contact the President directly, either by e-mail or phone.