Subject: Saab
From: Scott Hutchings
Date: Sun, December 20, 2009 8:30 pm
To: Ed Whitacre

Sir, I write to you as a passionate Saab owner and as the President of one of the longer standing Saab clubs around the world.

“Passionate Saab Owner” - This was the phrase that Magnus Hansson had printed on shirts used by myself and my club members when representing Saab at the Toronto International Auto Show when he was the head of Saab Canada. Our goal at the show was to simply to talk to people about Saab. We weren’t trying to sell them a Saab, but we were trying to sell them on Saab.
Saab to us is not just a car, not just an appliance to get you from point A to point B and back again.
A Saab is about making a choice.
A choice for something different, something better.
We attempted (and succeeded in many cases) to get this message across to them.

I drive a Saab first and foremost because it is one of, if not the, safest car on the road today.
I also drive a Saab because it is fun to drive, but at the same time, one of the more economical cars out there.
Saab uses a phrase; “Responsible performance”.
That just about sums it up for me.
Saab has never been about extremes. They take the concept of an average car and make it better.
Saabs are safer, more fun to drive, more ergonomically sound, much more fuel efficient than their competitors, and they make the best seats in the industry.

Saab is also a company with a vision driven by passion.
They have always been at the forefront of technology and innovation and I have confidence, given the opportunity, they could be there again in no time.
There is talk of over production in the automotive industry. There is additional talk that because of that, Saab should be left to die.
But I ask you, without Saab, would the automotive world be the same as it is today?
Would we have headlight washing systems to ensure that we can see where we are going? Would cars today have ABS systems as advanced? Would BMW, one of the premiere auto makers, be pushing turbo charging technology? Would we have heated seats? Would we have cabin air filters? Would we have active read restraints to help prevent neck injuries? Would we have ventilated seats?
Today Saab has the most advanced AWD system on the road in the XWD. Saab has the safest complete line up of cars of any manufacturer. One of Saabs safest vehicles today is the 9-5, a car that started its life more than 12 years ago … and yet is still able to lead the industry in safety. Saab has one on the Top 10 engines in the world available in the 9-3 Aero.
The list goes on.
Saab has made a significant mark on the automotive industry even with the few vehicles they sell every year.

I would ask you to look at the recent history of Saab.
During this last calendar year, Saab has spent most of it fighting for their life.
Yet during this, they have been able to bring the latest Saab, the 2010 9-5, to the verge of hitting the street.
This is a Saab that has already done more than any other Saab ever … it has won the praise of the automotive press around the world.
The management team in Sweden has also managed to trim the company down significantly.
All while trying their damndest to save the company they love so much.

Given all of this, plus a customer and fan loyalty second to none in the automotive industry, strike that … second to none in any industry, I ask you, can their not be a better end to the GM / Saab relationship than for Saab to close up shop?
The world has lost some really good companies recently.
With the interest that exists in Saab, you have an opportunity in front of you to save one of them.

As opposed to closing the brand and putting additional financial burden on General Motors (not to mention the US and Canadian tax payers), I implore you to go that extra mile and find a way, any way, to work out a deal to sell Saab to someone willing to help them get back on their feet and back to a leadership position among the automotive elite.

Thanks,
Scott Hutchings
President, The Saab Club of Canada