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Dopo le informazioni sulla VW ecco le ultime notizie sulla OPEL/VAUXHALL/SAAB

Il CEO General Motors Europe ha annunciato che se non ci saranno aiuti dai governi europei nel secondo trimestre le casse saranno vuote.
GM è pronta a liberarsi anche della Opel.

GM ready to give up control of Opel, European operations almost out of cash
John Revill
Automotive News Europe
March 3, 2009 15:37 CET

GENEVA -- General Motors Europe will run out of money in the second quarter unless European governments come quickly to the company's aid, Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said.

Henderson also said GM is willing to give up majority ownership of Opel, the German brand it has owned since 1929.

"There are no options off the table. We have to be open to legitimate interest," Henderson said at the Geneva auto show.

GM Europe 'months away' from deciding on factory closures
John Revill
Automotive News Europe
March 3, 2009 15:12 CET

GENEVA -- General Motors Europe is considering closing factories in Europe but is months away from a decision, the carmaker's top European executive said.

GM Europe president Carl Peter Forster said: "We have massive over-capacity in the industry in Europe and we have to adjust and take some of that capacity out. Closing a plant is a logical solution, but we have agreed with labor representatives to look at alternative routes."

GM Europe lost $1.6 billion last year and needs 3.3 billion euros ($4.16 billion) in aid from European governments to survive. It cannot count on help from its U.S. parent, General Motors, which lost nearly $31 billion in 2008.

GM has said cost cuts could include "several possible closures or spin offs" of manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Media reports have cited production sites at Antwerp in Belgium and Bochum in Germany as endangered, along with Saab's plant in Trollhattan, Sweden. Industry insiders asked about the most vulnerable of GM Europe's factories have consistently mentioned Antwerp.

"In the next weeks and months we will look at an alternative solution for Antwerp and other plants," Forster told Automotive News Europe here.

Forster said that the ease with which a plant could be closed was not the most important factor taken into account when considering its future. Rather he said it was a case of looking at which plant could be substituted and which could produce alternative vehicles.

"We have to base our decisions on facts, not on which plant is easier to close," Forster said. The consultation process would take months, he added.

Forster said there was still hope for the factory in Antwerp, which builds the Astra lower-medium car, but added that industry conditions were very serious.

Said Forster: "I have never seen anything like it. The whole industry has to adjust, it is tough times, very tough times."

On February 27, GM Europe unveiled a plan to set up a legally independent company for Opel and Vauxhall. GM will keep a 50 to 75 percent share in the company but will look for partners or investors.

Il distacco di Opel da GM oramai è una quasi certezza, un'alleanza risalente a esattamente 80 anni fa, passata attraverso la crisi del '29, il regime nazista, la seconda guerra mondiale, ma non sopravviverà a questa crisi.

ultime notizie su SAAB

Saab boss says 5 potential bidders for brand as Chinese carmakers deny interest
John Revill
Automotive News Europe
March 4, 2009 09:28 CET


GENEVA -- Saab aims to identify a new owner for the brand within two months, Managing Director Jan-Ake Jonsson said.

"There are about five we want to talk to. There are a couple more we are also looking into,” Jonsson told Automotive News Europe at the auto show here. "We should see which candidates are serious in the next week and a half,” he said

Jonsson did not specify which parties are interested in buying Saab.

China's Geely Automobile and Dongfeng Motor Group today denied that they are interested in Saab after sources had told Reuters that the two companies are among several potential bidders.

A senior Geely executive said that his company had not held any talks on the Saab brand and the carmaker is not interested in pursuing foreign brands.

Media reports have also said that Geely is in preliminary talks with Ford Motor about the sale of the automaker's Volvo car unit, although a Geely spokesman said his company had no plans to buy Volvo.

A spokesman from Dongfeng said the company had not held internal discussions about a possible bid for Saab, adding he is unaware of any interest by his company in bidding for the brand.

Reuters said private equity firms and representatives of retired Swedish workers have also expressed interest in Saab.

Jonsson said Saab is working with advisors from Deutsche Bank this week to identify a buyer.

Saab is speeding up its search for a new owner after General Motors said it will end its ownership of the brand on January 1 2010

“I hope in a month or two we will have at least some agreement with somebody,” Jonsson said.

He added: "The Swedish government wants to know what the future ownership structure is and General Motors wants to sell Saab. We have to accelerate the process."

GM has not yet begun an official auction for the Swedish brand but expects to have preliminary financials for Saab ready in a few weeks, according to Reuters sources.

Saab sought protection from creditors last month to survive the current economic downturn and buy time to find a new owner.

GM Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said in Geneva on Tuesday that the automaker has already funded the development of two upcoming Saab models, the 9-5 and 9-4x.

Henderson said GM was not willing to retool Saab's Trollhattan plant in Sweden for 9-5 production.

Sweden's government has offered to consider loan guarantees for Saab if the brand can find a new owner to underwrite its business plan.

GM bought 50 percent of Saab in 1990 for about $700 million. It paid $125 million and assumed debt for the remainder of the unit in 2000.

Saab sales fell 35 percent in 2008 -- any likely buyer is expected to take over the brand at a heavy discount.

Saab said it lost about $340 million in 2008 and projected a similar loss this year due to slack demand, an ageing vehicle line-up, overcapacity and high costs.

io spero che la comprino davvero i cinesi come testa di ponte verso il mercato occidentale almeno avranno il coraggio di rinnovarla, per vederla conciata come è ora è meglio che fallisca.