Editing Saab Automobile (section)

===General Motors (2000–2010)===
[[File:2002 Saab 9-3 Aero 5-door hatchback (2012-09-01) 01.jpg|thumb|left|Saab 9-3 Evo]]

GM exercised its option to acquire the remaining Saab shares in 2000, spending US$125&nbsp;million to turn the company into a wholly owned subsidiary.

The new close relationship yielded its first product in 2003's all-new 9–3. The new model, marketed as a sport sedan, dropped Saab's iconic hatchback in favour of a more conventional four-door approach. The model shared a co-developed platform (GM's "global Epsilon 1 platform") and some other components with the Opel Vectra again, but the relationship was much more of a joint engineering effort than before.

Under GM's direction, the [[Badge engineering|badge-engineered]] [[Subaru Impreza (second generation)#Saab 9-2X|Saab 9-2X]] (based on the [[Subaru Impreza]]) and [[Saab 9-7X]] (based on the [[Chevrolet Trailblazer (Mid-size SUV)|Chevrolet Trailblazer]]) were introduced in the American market in 2005 with the hope of increasing sales. Both models were a critical and commercial failure and were cancelled a few years after production began. GM also delayed the 9-3 wagon by three years, shelved a hatchback derivative of the 9-3 sedan, stalled plans for all-wheel-drive capabilities in Saab models until 2008, cancelled a 9–5 replacement in 2005, and announced a planned shift of production away from Saab's historic home in Trollhättan to [[Opel]]'s factory in [[Rüsselsheim]].

[[File:Saab 9-3 SportCombi II 1.9 TiD Facelift front 20100509.jpg|thumb|[[Saab 9-3]] sport combi]]

Owing to fading fortunes across its entire business due to a slowing economy in 2007, GM announced that the Saab brand was "under review" in December 2008, a process which included the possibility of selling or shuttering the car maker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caradvice.com.au/20431/gm-struggles-to-sell-saab/|title=GM struggles to sell SAAB|date=9 January 2009|first=Matt|last=Brogan|website=www.caradvice.com.au|access-date=23 May 2020|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805200922/https://www.caradvice.com.au/20431/gm-struggles-to-sell-saab/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As the talks progressed, GM's support receded, and Saab went into [[Administration (law)|administration]], the Swedish equivalent of America's [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]]. Saab's managing director [[Jan-Åke Jonsson]] said that this was "the best way to create a truly independent entity that is ready for investment".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7901027.stm |title=Saab aims to survive without GM |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 February 2009 |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] |location=[[London, England|London]] |access-date=21 February 2015 |archive-date=23 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223224433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7901027.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> For its part, the Swedish government was reluctant to become involved, with [[Maud Olofsson]], industry minister, stating: "The Swedish state and taxpayers in Sweden will not own car factories. Sometimes you get the impression that this is a small, small company but it is the world's biggest automaker so we have a right to make demands."<ref name="Times Online">{{Cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article5757562.ece|title=Saab may go bust in 10 days, warns GM|access-date=18 February 2009|newspaper=The Times (Online)|location=London|first=Robin|last=Pagnamenta|date=18 February 2009|archive-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612111911/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article5757562.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Saab Aero-X Concept Car (195993839).jpg|left|thumb|[[Saab Aero-X]]]]

On 16 June 2009, [[Koenigsegg]] announced its intention to purchase the brand from GM.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8102432.stm |title=GM agrees Saab sale to Koenigsegg |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 June 2009 |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] |location=[[London, England|London]] |access-date=21 February 2015 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903090218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8102432.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The bid was backed by a group of Norwegian investors and the Chinese car maker [[Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co Ltd]] (BAIC). The following month, both parties announced that GM had consented to the deal. There were outstanding financial details, but a loan from the [[European Investment Bank]] was expected to cover them. The loan was approved in October, but on 24 November 2009, Koenigsegg announced that it had "come to the painful and difficult conclusion that it could no longer carry out the acquisition"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/forsaljningen-av-saab-avbryts-1.1001491 |first=Kent |last=Johansson |title=Saabaffären avbryts |trans-title=Saab deal is canceled |work=Dagens Nyheter |access-date=24 November 2009 |language=sv |archive-date=25 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125184250/http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/forsaljningen-av-saab-avbryts-1.1001491 |url-status=dead }}</ref> much because of the constant delays and the difficulties coordinating the involved parties: GM, the European Investment Bank, the [[Swedish National Debt Office]] and BAIC.

[[File:2011 Saab 9-5 UWS.jpg|thumb|Second generation [[Saab 9-5]]]]

It was announced on 14 December 2009, that the Chinese car manufacturer would acquire the intellectual property rights and production equipment for the previous generation Saab 9-3 and Saab 9–5 in a deal worth about US$197 million, which was enough for the company to run for three months.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/business/global/14saab.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&fta=y&adxnnlx=1264683735-klBHZSxkj3IFz79enPtTRQ |title=Chinese Company Seeks to Make Old Saab Models |access-date=28 January 2010 |newspaper=New York Times |first=Nelson D. |last=Schwartz |date=14 December 2009 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701090833/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/business/global/14saab.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&fta=y&adxnnlx=1264683735-klBHZSxkj3IFz79enPtTRQ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="www.reuters.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BD2E920091214|title=BAIC paid $197 mln for Saab assets – paper|access-date=28 January 2010|work=Reuters|date=14 December 2009|archive-date=29 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729203850/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BD2E920091214|url-status=live}}</ref> BAIC expressed its intention to create a new brand around the purchased technology and admitted to the purchase of "three overall vehicle platforms, two engine technologies and two transmission systems."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE5BM00Z20091223?type=marketsNews |title=UPDATE 3-BAIC in overdrive to develop brand with Saab tech |work=Reuters |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=23 December 2009 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308153253/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE5BM00Z20091223?type=marketsNews |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the collapse of talks with Koenigsegg, GM announced that the brand would be eliminated in 2010 if it failed to secure a buyer before the close of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ef4cd388-df2f-11de-be8e-00144feab49a.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ef4cd388-df2f-11de-be8e-00144feab49a.html |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-status=live |title=Dutch sports car maker in Saab talks |first1=John |last1=Reed |first2=Andrew |last2=Ward |newspaper=Financial Times |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=21 February 2015 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> As talks with several firms failed, including the Netherlands-based boutique sports car maker Spyker, GM formally announced its intention to wind down the Saab brand.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8421007.stm |title=GM to 'wind down' Saab business |work=BBC News |date=18 December 2009 |access-date=18 December 2009 |archive-date=19 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219052551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8421007.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Undeterred, a new offer round materialised. Earlier bidders Spyker and Merbanco revised their offers and were joined by a submission from Luxembourg-based [[Genii Capital]], which boasted the support of F1 chief [[Bernie Ecclestone]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8447365.stm |title=Bernie Ecclestone joins bid to buy Saab |work=[[BBC News]] |date=8 January 2010 |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] |location=[[London, England|London]] |access-date=21 February 2015 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903090218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8447365.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> GM continued accepting bids until a self-imposed deadline of 7 January 2010. Acknowledging that the chances of reaching a deal with any party were very slim, they pledged to evaluate each offer with due diligence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/spyker-makes-new-offer-saab-general-motors-will-evaluate |title=Spyker makes a new offer for Saab; General Motors will evaluate |first=Paul |last=McVeigh |work=Autoweek |date=19 December 2009 |access-date=21 February 2015 |archive-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222003406/http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/spyker-makes-new-offer-saab-general-motors-will-evaluate |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSAT00829120100108|title=Saab wind-up begins, GM still reviewing bids|access-date=9 January 2010|work=Reuters|date=8 January 2010|archive-date=25 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525012828/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSAT00829120100108|url-status=live}}</ref>