Saab getting back to business, moving headquarters to Royal Oak, Michigan

With the sale of Saab to Dutch sports-car manufacturer Spyker complete, the company is starting to come back into its own, as they are in the process of establishing themselves in a location away from GM headquarters and assembling management teams for the U.S. and Europe.

The company will make its new home in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, and is expected to employ 160 in four years; they now employ 60. Saab was granted tax incentives by various government agencies to stay in Michigan.

The company has recruited some premium talent, including Adrian Hallmark as its new sales chief. Hallmark previously worked for Lotus, Volkswagen, and Bentley, and will now be headquartered in Sweden. He will also report directly to president and CEO Jan Ake Johnsson and be responsible for the global relaunch and overseeing the introduction of the new 9-5 sedan, 9-5 Sport Combi wagon, and 9-4X crossover over the next year and a half.

Earlier this month, Saab announced a 2010 North American pricing plan as the factories in Sweden gear up to build vehicles again, after GM started to wind-down the brand. All 2010 models are expected to be on showroom floors later this month. All 9-3 models have seen price reductions from 4 − 12% from 2009.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: AutoObserver