Interviewing Saab‘s managing director Jan Ake Jonsson at the Frankfurt motor show was enlightening. Not because of how positive he was about the brand’s future – you’d expect him to exude confidence – but for two other reasons.
Firstly, the speed with which things will change once the funding is in place was nothing short of amazing. To set up a UK sales operation separate from GM in a matter of months is incredible, not to mention ambitious.
The second stunner was the attitude to new, green technology. Despite Saab having only limited capacity to invest in new cars, Jonsson was definite in his opinion that it was vital for Saab to have either a hybrid car or full-electric car as soon as possible.
This view of the future of motoring was echoed around the Frankfurt show halls with almost every mainstream car maker present showing either a hybrid or a fully electric car.
All that needs to happen now is to work out which technology will win through, as no fleet wants to be left owning a Betamax when the rest of the world has chosen VHS.
