Bernie to buy Saab? (The company, not a 99!)

[VIVA GT]

I heard this on the radio news headlines this morning:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle6980377.ece
Interesting to see it's a Joint Venture with the new owners of the Renault F1 team, Genii Capital which makes me think about wheels within wheels...
(Why is it that I always feel there's a hidden agenda with anything that Bernie does?)

[Adam43]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8447365.stm

Bernie may buy SAAB! So it is only natural... Only one thing left to say: FACT!

For interest here is the SAAB thread in road car: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120090

[Adam43]

Threads merged. The discussion on the car manufacturer is here: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120090

As for Bernies hidden agenda, it isn't hidden. He just thinks it may be a good investment and that will make him some money. Simples.

[old man]

The guy never ceases to amaze me, perhaps he will ask Flavio to run it for him?

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by old man

The guy never ceases to amaze me, perhaps he will ask Flavio to run it for him?

Thanks old man, looks like we're on the same wavelength here...

[Marbot]

Flav will then hire Piquet Jnr to be a 'crash test dummy'.

[neiltb]

badum...ching

[icemachine]

I had heard Spyker was going to put together a bid for Saab, seems there first offer fell short of what GM expected. They have refreshed their bid so hopefully things keep rolling for Trollhattan

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/spy...k=MW_news_stmp

[p261brm]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

(Why is it that I always feel there's a hidden agenda with anything that Bernie does?)

Strange that. an upright honest pillar of society, if a little verticaly challenged,should have that aura of not being quite what he seems, particularly amongst those who have an interest in motor sport.

[MrTTraces]

I hope a buyer is found soon as GM have said they'd close SAAB if they didn't like any of the bidders (i.e. rivals).

Ahhh the old Saab 96 Monte Carlo


Is Bernie the right man?

[JeremySmith]

In this case, the man with the money is the right man...

[Chiefy]

I hope this goes through. Bernie Ecclestone says and does some funny stuff but he's got money and he knows how to do business - so hopefully he can make it an exciting and profitable company again.

[Yannick]

Maybe this is a first sign that Bernie is moving his interests out of the sport?
Remember what happened when he found FOM more interesting than his own Motor Racing Developments?

[chunterer]

There's a bigger picture to this (isn't there always when he's involved...)

It's not just a car manufacturer they're after but a platform to promote new automotive linked web technology which another business to do with Genii or Mangrove is developing.

Badging the Enstone F1 operation as Saab may be a way for them market this stuff globally and may not cost them in sponsorship if they already own the businesses involved!

[d.rocky]

guess the boys at renault wont be too pleased about what might happen in the future...
saab f1? not something id want to see, just a bit too dull?

[Marbot]

I wonder if the F1 cars will go around the track with those little 'running lights' on them? Or maybe they'll have the rear light flashing all the time?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by d.rocky

guess the boys at renault wont be too pleased about what might happen in the future...
saab f1? not something id want to see, just a bit too dull?

If commodities, cars etc are considered dull then entering a big time high tech marketing vehicle like F1 is a particularly good way for them to change that perception.

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by Marbot

I wonder if the F1 cars will go around the track with those little 'running lights' on them? Or maybe they'll have the rear light flashing all the time?

or going back to their aviation roots, put the rear wing on the front and vice versa.

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by Woolley

or going back to their aviation roots, put the rear wing on the front and vice versa.

An excellent Aerospace reference!

[Parramatta_Power]

Originally Posted by icemachine

I had heard Spyker was going to put together a bid for Saab, seems there first offer fell short of what GM expected. They have refreshed their bid so hopefully things keep rolling for Trollhattan

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/spy...k=MW_news_stmp

Yeah, GM I think at once labeled it enough to be unconvincing... According to Wikipedia, GM have started to liquidate assets belonging to the Swedish Marque.