Saab's Aero X Concept. Image: IFCAR
Last week, we brought you news that the deal between China’s Hawtai Motors and Spyker, parent to Saab, had fallen apart. Rumored at the time was that Spyker CEO Victor Muller had been in dialogue with multiple Chinese companies. It looked like that rumor would prove to be false when China’s Great Wall Motors denied any contact with Spyker’s CEO, but this morning brings news of a possible deal between Spyker and China’s Pangda Automobile Trade Company, Limited. Pangda, according to Reuters, is the largest distributor of cars in China, and they’re offering as much as 110 million Euros in support of the struggling automaker. Pangda would pay 30 million Euros up front, for Saab vehicles destined for the Chinese market. That amount, according to Spyker CEO Muller, is sufficient to repay existing supplier debt and restart Saab production.
I wouldn’t break out the aquavit and lutefisk just yet, since this deal still needs approval of the Swedish government, the European Investment Bank and the Chinese government. In Spyker’s favor is that Pangda is a distributor and not a manufacturer, which potentially circumvents some of the roadblocks to the Hawtai deal. Since the Chinese government still approves acquisitions and overseas investments, there’s still a good chance that this week’s deal won’t be finalized, either.
Should the deal get the green light from all involved parties, Pangda would ultimately invest some 65 million Euros to buy a 24% equity stake in Spyker. By Muller’s own calculations, that would be enough for the automaker to survive for the remainder of the year. Long term, the deal would include a manufacturing partnership between Pangda, Spyker and an unnamed third party to build vehicles (including some under the Saab brand) in China.
Source: The Torque Report
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
