Saab dealers in Canada -- and the U.S. -- will soon get the new 9-4X crossover.
Saab Cars North America is mounting an ambitious effort to get back into the Canada as soon as possible.
General Motors decided to sell Saab as it emerged from bankruptcy, last year, and then, initially, began to ramp down operations when it failed to find a buyer for the Swedish brand. Saab was eventually sold, in February 2010, to Spyker Cars of the Netherlands. But in the interim, production operations were halted and GM closed all of the Saab dealerships in Canada.
Victor Mueller, Spyker chief executive officer, tells TheDetroitBureau.com there are still a lot of Saab enthusiasts in Canada and passionate dealers. Saab Cars North America (SCNA) has now reached agreement with International Fleet Sales to return Saab to the Canadian marketplace as quickly as possible.
SCNA and IFS are developing the process necessary to import and distribute new Saab vehicles throughout Canada beginning with 2011 model year vehicles. The launch date for the revived operations is August 1. Approximately 20 dealers have already expressed interest in the opportunity to sell the luxury brand.
Mike Colleran, SCNA President and chief operating officer, said he sees “An exciting line-up of Saab vehicles (which) will maintain their rich Swedish heritage and premium engineering, styling and performance capabilities. An all-new Saab 9-3X premium cross-over has been added to the Saab line-up – the 9-3 sport sedan, 9-3 sportCombi and the 9-3 convertible as well as the all-new 9-5 sedan, he said.
International Fleet Sales has experience distributing Saabs dating back to 2005 when it helped what was then a GM subsidiary export the 9-7X sport-utility vehicle to Europe and the Middle East, noted Mike Libasci, President of IFS.
“We also look forward to receiving new product from Sweden in the fall of this year,” Libasci said, referring to a range of new products that Saab intends to bring to market, including the delayed 9-5 sedan and 9-4X crossover.
(For more on Saab’s plans to expand its product line-up, Click Here.)