GM-chefen till Saab-anställda: "Behåll lugnet!"
Pär Brandt - 2008-12-05 12:08 , senast uppdaterad 2008-12-05 21:02Chefen för GM Europe, Carl-Peter Forster, har skickat ett mail till de Saab-anställda där han ber dem behålla fokus och vara positiva, även om det är oroliga tider. Modellanseringarna kommer som planerat, nya 9-5 hösten 2009 och 9-4X året därpå.
Carl-Peter Forster försöker lugna de Saab-anställda och manar dem att hålla ut, trots oroliga tider. Efter krisen är Saab ett starkare företag, det är hans övertygelse.
Det brukar skojas om Carl-Peter Forster, chefen GME (General Motors Europe) i Trollhättan och man benämner honom som "Saabs bästa vän". Anledningen till det är att Forster är en riktig bilnörd och var en av de första inom GM:s ledning som verkligen förstod sig på Saab och dess potential.
Sedan Carl-Peter Forster tillträdde som europachef har han målmedvetet lobbat för att Saab ska kunna bygga de bilar man vill (inom de ekonomiska ramarna) och sett till att resurserna funnits. Men det är långa ledtider inom bilindustrin och resultatet av allt arbete bakom kulisserna kommer först med nya 9-5. Den delar mycket av tekniken med Opel Insignia, men har ändå fått en helt egen karaktär, design och framför allt typisk Saab-inredning - sägs det! Vi på auto motor & sport har inte fått se bilen ännu, tyvärr.
Carl-Peter Forsters engagemang i Saab har nu lett till att han skickat ett gruppmail till de anställda. Och det tog inte lång stund innan vi också fick en kopia, förstås. Mailet i sin helhet finns på engelska, i rutan nedan.
Kortfattat kan man säga att Carl-Peter Forster beskriver situationen i USA och den "strategiska översyn" som görs av Saab. Innebörden av det är mera sannolikt en ny typ av finansiering än försäljning, även om det senare inte utesluts. Forster försäkrar att de nya modellerna ska lanseras som planerat. Trots de osäkra tiderna ber han de Saab-anställda att fortsätta jobba fokuserat och se positivt på situationen. Enligt Carl-Peter Forsters övertygelse är det ett starkare Saab som kommer ut ur krisen.
December 3, 2008
Dear colleagues,
As you are aware, on December 2, General Motors Corp. submitted a plan to use Federal bridge loans to create a leaner, more competitive company, one that is profitable and self-sustaining for the long term. Please know that this is a plan for the US. Of course, it is important for all GM employees around the world, not in the least because the plan needs to convince the US Government to grant GM bridge loans to ensure our mother company has sufficient liquidity to work its way through the financial and economic crisis.
In the plan it is also stated that GM will immediately undertake a global strategic review of the Saab brand. A 'strategic review' means GM will evaluate all options for the Saab brand. This could include anything from modifications to the current product line-up and sales distribution to a partial or complete sale of the brand. I understand that this announcement creates a lot of uncertainty, especially for everybody working with the Saab brand here in Europe, but it's essential that we evaluate all of our options. Saab is a very desirable brand globally and we believe in it's future, but we need to develop a solid plan to fund our product portfolio renewal and expansion in this uncertain environment so this study makes sense. In the next 12 to 18 months, Saab is planned to launch multiple new products. Those products remain in the product portfolio today and we expect to go forward with the launches as recently announced with a 9-5 sedan toward the end of 2009 and the 9-4X in mid-2010. We will of course keep you closely informed.
This is how the US plan impacts us. And of course, we have to continue executing our own measures here in Europe in an even weaker market. I realize it is sometimes tough to remain focused with all the uncertainty and speculation. It's hard for all of us, but please stay positive and confident. I have full belief that we will come out of this as a stronger company.
Carl-Peter Forster
Dear colleagues,
As you are aware, on December 2, General Motors Corp. submitted a plan to use Federal bridge loans to create a leaner, more competitive company, one that is profitable and self-sustaining for the long term. Please know that this is a plan for the US. Of course, it is important for all GM employees around the world, not in the least because the plan needs to convince the US Government to grant GM bridge loans to ensure our mother company has sufficient liquidity to work its way through the financial and economic crisis.
In the plan it is also stated that GM will immediately undertake a global strategic review of the Saab brand. A 'strategic review' means GM will evaluate all options for the Saab brand. This could include anything from modifications to the current product line-up and sales distribution to a partial or complete sale of the brand. I understand that this announcement creates a lot of uncertainty, especially for everybody working with the Saab brand here in Europe, but it's essential that we evaluate all of our options. Saab is a very desirable brand globally and we believe in it's future, but we need to develop a solid plan to fund our product portfolio renewal and expansion in this uncertain environment so this study makes sense. In the next 12 to 18 months, Saab is planned to launch multiple new products. Those products remain in the product portfolio today and we expect to go forward with the launches as recently announced with a 9-5 sedan toward the end of 2009 and the 9-4X in mid-2010. We will of course keep you closely informed.
This is how the US plan impacts us. And of course, we have to continue executing our own measures here in Europe in an even weaker market. I realize it is sometimes tough to remain focused with all the uncertainty and speculation. It's hard for all of us, but please stay positive and confident. I have full belief that we will come out of this as a stronger company.
Carl-Peter Forster
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