Saab Establishes New Unit to Manage Oz, NZ Operations

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Saab Establishes New Unit to Manage Oz, NZ Operations

By Alan Harman

WardsAuto.com, Oct 6, 2010 9:10 AM

Sweden’s Saab Automobile AB says continuity of customer service is assured during its transition as it establishes Saab Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary responsible for operations in Australia and New Zealand.

In the coming months, the new company will assume all marketing, sales and distribution responsibilities from GM Holden Ltd. following the purchase in February of Saab from General Motors Co. by the Netherlands’ Spyker Cars NV.

The new subsidiary will be responsible for supplying and maintaining national networks of dealers – including existing Saab dealerships, as well as new outlets – in Australia and New Zealand.

Saab says the existing dealer network will continue to serve customers during the transitional period.

Executive Director of Sales Adrian Hallmark says the change represents the start of a new chapter for Saab as an independent auto maker in the two Oceania markets.

“After evaluating a number of different business models, we believe having a Saab-owned subsidiary is the best way for Saab to optimize its great sales potential and to best cater (to) current and future customers in these markets,” he says in a statement.

Hallmark says the new company is looking forward to the re-launch of the Saab brand in the two countries next year with the new 9-5 sedan, 9-4x and 9-5 SportCombi.

New 9-4X to help re-launch Saab brand in Australia, New Zealand.

link:

http://wardsauto.com/home/saab_oz_operations_101006/

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

SAAB ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL RETURN TO AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND

By Andrew Ganz

Slowly growing back to life (or rather quickly last month in the U.S.), Swedish automaker Saab has announced a new sales organization and distribution chain for Australia and New Zealand, two markets that had not been serviced while former owner General Motors attempted to jettison the brand.

Saab Australia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saab Automobile, will distribute vehicles in both countries. Over the course of a brief transition period, Saab Australia will take over all marketing, sales and distribution responsibilities from GM's Australian division, GM Holden Ltd.

Saab says that its existing dealership network will continue, although some future additions and subtractions from the network are possible. The automaker plans to distribute all of its models in Australia and New Zealand, including the 9-5, 9-4X and 9-5 SportCombi.

link:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/saab-announces-official-return-to-australia-new-zealand.html