GM Extends Saab Deadline To January 7, Spyker To Make Final Bid

IN THE ONGOING saga of Saab's life and death, GM has reportedly set a new deadline of January 7 for Spyker to submit a third and final bid for the Swedish carmaker.

Speaking with AOL, Spyker CEO Victor Muller said this week that the company will look to reinvigorate Saab with the 9-4X crossover, a new 9-3 and the upcoming all-new 9-5 sedan and wagon.

Under Spyker's plan for Saab, the carmaker would maintain its existing headquarters, engineering and production facilities at Trollhattan. Except for the 9-4X, which would be built at GM's Mexico plant, all Saab models would be built at Trollhattan.

Should Spyker succeed in its bid, the two companies - GM and Saab - would maintain a close relationship. GM engines and components would be used in the 9-4X, which shares its platform with the Cadillac SRX, and the upcoming 9-5.

Muller was reluctant to offer details on his company's final bid for Saab, telling Reuters  than Spyker has been given time "for a final offer" and that "nothing has been rejected".

Paul Akerlund, a union representative at Saab, told industry paper Automotive News this week that while GM had extended its deadline, the process of winding down Saab's operations will continue for now.