As Spyker released 2010 sales and production figures for its Saab subsidiary, Spyker’s CEO and Saab Chairman Victor Muller has voiced confidence on the fledgling independent carmaker’s prospects.
Saab produced some 32,048 cars in 2010, up 53% on 2009’s low-point – when the firm was offered up for sale by then owner GM and came close to being wound up at the end of the year – of just 20,950 units. Global sales (wholesale) in 2010 were put at 31,696 units. Annual retail sales amounted to just 28,284 cars last year.
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In a statement, Spyker said that both full-year sales and production last year were heavily influenced by events at the beginning of 2010, as Saab Automobile emerged from liquidation and restarted production at its Trollhättan-based plant at the end of March after a seven-week standstill.
As the year proceeded, Saab Automobile ‘continued to see sales momentum increase quarter by quarter in several key markets’ the statement said.
Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars N.V. and Chairman of Saab Automobile, said: “These figures show that Saab Automobile is firmly establishing itself as an independent car manufacturer and reflects the tremendous tenacity shown by all our employees and dealers in what has been an incredibly eventful year for Saab.
“One of the largest challenges in 2010 was to restock our dealers around the world to normal levels again, especially in a market like the United States, where you need dealer stock in order to be able to sell cars. For instance, when we acquired the company in February 2010, there were a mere 500 cars left on the ground in the United States. Normal inventory levels in this market should be at 6,000-7,000 units.
“In 2009, Saab Automobile sold 39,800 cars, but built only 21,000. As a result, inventory levels were depleted by almost 19,000 units. In 2010, we only filled the pipeline with less than 4,000 units. All in all, with all the accomplishments made so far, I am very confident that the foundations for delivering on our business plan are in place.”
Saab Automobile President and CEO Jan Åke Jonsson added: “I am very happy with all our achievements since Saab Automobile embarked on its journey as an independent car manufacturer. While exciting new cars like the 9-4X crossover vehicle and the long-awaited 9-5 SportCombi will go on sale this year, we also continue to expand our distribution network into important growth markets such as China and Russia.
“Furthermore, we will see the full effect of markets we entered in 2010, such as Japan, Canada, Portugal and Australia. I am confident that we can keep up the current sales momentum as we continue to enhance our offering with the biggest-ever product offensive in Saab Automobile’s history.”
Saab Automobile’s financial results will be published on 25 March 2011, as part of the annual results report of Spyker Cars N.V.
