Saab to Return to Canada for 2011 Model Year
By Chris Haak
Swedish automaker Saab, just months from staving off death, is returning to Canada after being out of that market for the past few years. According to a report in SaabsUnited, 20 dealers so far have indicated willingness to offer the 2011 Saabs in Canada. The cars will be distributed by International Fleet Sales, a company that has been distributing Saabs elsewhere in the world for the past several years, including shipping the now-departed Chevy Trailblazer-based Saab 9-7x to the Middle East.
Models to be sold include the new Saab 9-3x crossover wagon, the 9-3 sedan, 9-3 sportCombi, 9-3 convertible, and the well-regarded all-new 9-5 sedan. Once the dealer network (hopefully, eventually, larger than 20 dealers) is up and running, those dealers will provide warranty work for Saabs already on the road in Canada.
Saab’s press release can be found after the jump below. This should be seen as good news for Saab-philes everywhere, not just in Canada, although sales volumes will likely be very small for a while. But from a geographic and climate standpoint, Saabs are a perfect fit in Canada, particularly the new all-wheel drive models like the 9-3x.
Press Release: New Start for Saab in the Canadian Marketplace: 2011 Model Year Vehicles To Be Sold in Canada
- International Fleet Sales to provide distribution services
- Potential of 20 retail dealers to support network
- All-new 2011 model year vehicles to land in dealership showrooms in the fall of 2010
Saab Cars North America (SCNA) and International Fleet Sales (IFS) announced today the return of Saab to the Canadian marketplace. SCNA and IFS are developing the process necessary to import and distribute new Saab vehicles throughout Canada beginning with 2011 model year vehicles. Approximately 20 dealers have already expressed interest in the opportunity to sell the luxury brand.
“Saab Cars North America is proud to have successfully reached a memorandum of understanding with International Fleet Sales to begin providing high-quality, stylish and trendy Saab vehicles into the Canadian marketplace,” said Mike Colleran, President and COO, Saab Cars North America.
“International Fleet Sales has experience distributing Saabs since 2005 when we exported the Saab 9-7X to Europe and the Middle East and now we look forward to working with SCNA to provide Saab vehicles to the Canadian marketplace,” said Mike Libasci, President of IFS. “We also look forward to receiving new product from Sweden in the fall of this year.”
An exciting line-up of Saab vehicles will arrive later this fall in dealer showrooms throughout Canada. The vehicles will maintain their rich Swedish heritage and premium engineering, styling and performance capabilities. An all-new Saab 9-3X premium cross-over has been added to the Saab line-up ? the 9-3 sport sedan, 9-3 sportCombi and the 9-3 convertible as well as the all-new 9-5 sedan. Vehicle pricing will be released in the coming months. Once the Saab dealer infrastructure is finalized, warranty work will be fulfilled through this network.
