Saab To Announce Buyer This Week; Volvo Will Own a Fraction?

Rumors, speculation, "inside reports" of who exactly is buying Saab will (hopefully) be put to rest once and for all with Saab's official announcement of a new buyer this week. Fiat, Magna, various investment groups, an "unnamed German bank", China's Geely have all been in the running to purchase the brand and now one will be selected. Spokeswoman Gunilla Gustavs was quoted as saying "I think that during this week, chances are good. It could be anytime now."

With announcements and negotiations for GM's brands being announced and completed, it seems like at least some of the tumult is dissapearing and that will be good for everyone. I think we've had enough, ahem - "excitement" in the industry for a while.

Koenigsegg has emerged as the front-runner and likely buyer for Saab, after signing a "letter of intent" with General Motors to buy the brand. It supposedly has the backing of wealthy Norwegian investors, and that is where it's getting the financial werewithal to purchase such an mainstream (comparatively) company. They're probably going to need it; Saab's sale includes everything;  r&D Facilities, the Trollhattan plant, new products like the 9-4X.

In them midst of all that though, there is something interesting to point out. Things like this happen when everything gets so interconnected and complicated. Volvo and Saab have always been arch-rivasl to the core, right? 

They both hail from Sweden and have similar operating philosophies. In addition, they were both bought by competing American automakers who once were each other's biggest foes. In other words, the competition between the two runs pretty deep.

Swedish news is reporting that Volvo owns 3,750 shares in Koenigsegg that it received in return for letting the tiny automaker use it's windtunnels. Interesting exchange! Koenigsegg got the better end of the deal. Anyways, the 3,750 shares are such a small holding that even Volvo's Swedish spokesman was unaware of their ownership. It's find it funny though that, however small of a share, Volvo potentially will hold a tiny bit of ownership in Saab.