Koenigsegg buys Saab – Deal done!

KoenigSaab is official. We knew back in June that Koenigsegg had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy Saab from beleaguered GM. But in the last week or so there have been rumblings that the deal may be in trouble after one of Koenigsegg’s investors sold their shares. But this morning comes official confirmation that Koenigsegg has signed an agreement with GM to buy 100% of the stock of Saab. So, deal done.

But now the real work starts for Christian von Koenigsegg and his band of merry investors. Where do they take Saab? Back to the future is doubtless the plan, with a good dose of Koenigsegg innovation thrown in to the mix.

Saab always had a loyal following, who cherished the individual style and design of Saabs. Yes, Saab are going to be lumbered with GM platforms for the foreseeable future, but that’s no bad thing. Some of them are very good indeed. So in the short term it’s about rebuilding Saab as an independent car maker. And changing people’s perceptions of Saab. Take them back to the Saab that was; the innovators; the ‘Swedish’ way.

But it’s the medium to long term that is most enticing. We know Saab is making good cars, and we’re sure that the new owners will manage to turn perceptions of Saab around, but where do Koenigsegg take Saab from there? There is no doubt that Saab will be design-led, but it’s the innovations that Koenigsegg is known for that will set Saab apart. Koenigsegg are working on the Quant at the moment, which incorporates some innovative ideas like four wheel motors and solar paint. Expect a lot of these ideas to spill over in to Saab in the future.

What’s Christian’s next plan? Could it be that aristocratic Christian will turn out to be the rightful heir to the House of Bernadotte?

King Christian of Sweden?!