Sweden’s National Debt Office says it is working “early mornings and late nights” to secure a resolution to Saab’s funding crisis that has seen the automaker send its staff home yet again today (12 April).
Saab owner Spyker earlier said it had requested the Debt Office release its pledge in the manufacturer’s automobile property and use this to secure further finance, although the government body declined to confirm the procedure.
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“It is continuous work, early mornings and late nights, we don’t have a deadline,” a Debt Office spokeswoman in Stockholm told just-auto. “We are well aware of the impact of Saab in the Swedish economy.
“We are working on finding solutions to financing, but we will not get into specific details about how it is going to be solved.”
Speculation has centred on Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov taking up to a 30% stake in the troubled automaker, but the Debt Office confined itself to noting receipt of his request.
“There is an application from Mr Antonov – it is being processed…concerning ownership,” the spokeswoman said. “All the work we are doing is continuous and all aspects of Saab are being worked on simultaneously. We are professional and we keep on working – this is our job.”
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By GlobalDataSaab union IF Metall chairman confirmed earlier today to just-auto that workers at the Trollhattan plant had been sent home with a further halt in production slated for tomorrow (13 April).
Spyker noted should it find extra funding to solve its outstanding supplier payment issues, production could start within a week of that finance being received.
