The Swedish government, along with the chief and unions of General Motors Co’s loss-making Saab unit, on Tuesday lauded GM’s announcement of “expressions of interest” from potentials buyers for the brand.
GM said in a press release on Tuesday it had received interest from buyers and would evaluate the potential bids before the end of this month.
“We naturally think its a good thing that we have succeeded in convincing GM it should try out interested [buyers],” Swedish Enterprise Minister Maud Olofsson told Swedish news agency TT, adding that “we hope this will lead to a good end result.”
Saab chief Jan-Aake Jonsson told TT GM’s announcement was “the best decision one could hope for,” shortly before flying home from Detroit, Michigan, where a meeting had taken place between representatives from Saab, GM and the Swedish government.
“What we are going to do during December is evaluate the potential candidates we have,” Jonsson said.
Joeran Haegglund, the Swedish state secretary at the enterprise ministry who was also at the Detroit talks, told TT he was “very happy that Saab’s board considered our standpoint” on Saab, and that it was good “GM gave a clear answer” on the nameplate’s fate.
GM said it may end the brand if it fails to find a suitable buyer.
Neither Jonsson or Haegglund would comment on the potential buyers, but both confirmed they knew who they were, TT said.
Union representatives, who held an improvised press conference in Saab’s hometown Trollhaettan, were also delighted at the news.
“It was an important answer we received today. It shows GM is looking at future possibilities for Saab with a new owner,” said Annette Hellgren, the head of Saab’s Unionen union.
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
SELF-DETERMINATION: German lawmakers add earth to an art installation in front of the Reichstag to show that the face of a nation lies with its people, Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan’s future should be decided by Taiwanese, German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Till Steffen said yesterday, while giving former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) a tour of the German parliament building. Tsai arrived in Berlin on Sunday and the following day delivered a keynote speech at the Berlin Freedom Conference titled “Threats facing democracies: Taiwan’s experience defending freedom.” Tsai yesterday attended a tea gathering at the Bundestag, joined by former friendship group chairman of 15 years Klaus-Peter Willsch, German defense affairs specialist Roderich Kiesewetter and Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Brand. Noting that the
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
RSS