Saab Says Warranty Coverage Indefinitely Suspended on All North America Cars

Just yesterday, we were telling about the benefits but also the dangers of buying a new Saab car in the U.S. after the company filed for bankruptcy on Monday. Today we learn that Saab suspended warranty coverage on all of its new vehicles sold in North America effective from December 19, while the company also informed dealers that they must sell any remaining cars "as is", without any coverage whatsoever.
Automotive News reports that Saab Cars North America issued the following statement on the matter:
"Warranty coverage is suspended indefinitely for all new Saab vehicles sold. During this period, the warranty booklet must be removed from the owner information packet. For any vehicle sold or leased during this period, the customer should be affirmatively advised that the vehicle does not carry any warranty coverage and is sold 'as is.' "
The Swedish automaker also told the news outlet that it has put off the processing and payment of all types of claims "including but not limited to":

• New-car warranties
• Powertrain warranties
• Emission warranties
• Parts warranty
• Safety belts, airbags
• Towing
• Recalls and campaigns
• Certified pre-owned coverage
• Goodwill
• No charge maintenance

Since it is not clear yet if the company will reimburse dealers in the future, Saab stated that "owners should be advised to keep receipts of all related warranty work done or services performed until further notice."
The company sold 5,340 new cars in the U.S. this year, which were covered by a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty that included free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
We'll remind you that while General Motors was responsible for Saab's sales and warranties through February 2010, the Trollhattan-based firm was sold to Swedish Automobile AB, a Dutch company formerly known as Spyker Cars led by Victor Muller.
Update: Carscoop emailed Saab to ask what the firm's bankruptcy means for the status of warranties on vehicles that were sold in the United States before and after GM sold the brand to Swedish Automobile AB in February 2010. Here's what Michele Tinson from Saab USA told us:
"All Saab warranty reimbursements have been temporarily suspended (regardless of the vehicle model year) until further direction from Saab Autmobile AB."

Court Rejects Saab’s Administrator Resignation, GM Rejects Any Chinese-Related Plan…

There are so many turns and twists in Saab's road to salvation or closure on an everyday basis, that it’s very easy to lose track of what's actually going on with the Swedish automaker. On Monday Guy Lofalk, the court-appointed administrator who proposed the termination of the carmaker’s restructuring process, quit. Two days later Saab announced the appointment of another administrator, Lars-Henrik Andersson.
On Thursday, after Andersson turned down the job, Saab said that Lofalk would eventually be replaced by Lars Soderqvist.
Now we learn via Autonews that on Friday, the Vanersborg court, which will decide on Monday if the process will continue or be terminated, effectively closing down Saab, announced that Lofalk couldn’t quit his post just days before the hearing, despite his and Saab’s requests.
"With regard also to the short time remaining until the matter will be tested ... the district court assesses that there are insufficient grounds to immediately dismiss Lofalk", read the court’s statement.
Meanwhile, General Motors said that it could not support the latest investment and loan proposals to save Saab.
"Saab's various new alternative proposals are not meaningfully different from what was originally proposed to General Motors and rejected", said GM spokesman Jim Cain.
"Each proposal results either directly or indirectly in the transfer of control and/or ownership of the company in a manner that would be detrimental to GM and its shareholders. As such, GM cannot support any of these proposed alternatives”, he added.
Either way, Monday’s court hearing may put an end to the whole saga for better or for worse. But we wouldn't hold our breath - just yet…

Audi A6 Ties with Infiniti M37 in Consumer Reports’ Premium Sedan Test, Saab 9-5 Flunks

Up until now, Consumer Reports' [CR] number one choice in the mid-size luxury sedan segment was the Infiniti M37. Not anymore as after evaluating the redesigned 2012 Audi A6, the M37 has to share the top spot with Ingolstadt's premium saloon.
The new Audi A6 received an “Excellent” rating with an overall score of 93 points. This is a huge improvement over the previous model's 79 points.


“The redesigned Audi A6 is an impressive car and a joy to drive”, said senior director of CR’s Auto Test Center. Consumer reports says that the significant improvement is attributed to the revamped model’s combination of strong acceleration, agile handling and comfortable ride as well its high-quality and quiet interior.


Other models included in CR’s mid-size luxury test were the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec, the Infiniti M35h hybrid and the new Saab 9-5.


The diesel-powered, 210HP Mercedes, received an “Excellent” road test score and is the new fuel economy leader in the class with 26 mpg beating the hybrid M35h that managed 25 mpg.


The M35h also got an “Excellent” overall test score, thanks to its quick acceleration and fuel economy, but received some criticism over its non-linear power delivery and the fact that handling and braking are inferior to the regular M37 version.


"The gas-electric system helps deliver quick acceleration and fuel economy that's on par with some four-cylinder family sedans, but its power delivery tends to be jerky and abrupt and its handling and braking are not quite up to that of the conventional M37," said Consumer Reports.


Unfortunately for the ailing Saab brand, its new 9-5 didn’t score that well on CR’s test. It did receive praise for its interior’s excellent fit and finish and nimble handling, but its noisy engine, stiff ride, restricted visibility and slow acceleration resulted in Saab’s new model failing to receive a “Recommended” tag.


"The redesigned Saab-9-5 is disappointing in this rarified class. It shares a platform with the Buick LaCrosse and Regal, its former GM cousins, but the 9-5 doesn't measure up well to those models or its competitors," said CR. "Overall, it doesn't score high enough to be recommended."

AUDI A6

INFINITI M35H

MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUE-TEC

SAAB 9-5