Dec. 31 deadline for Saab bids dropped, 9-5 production to start in Jan.

General Motors has officially taken away the Dec. 31 deadline for bids for its Saab brand and said that it will restart some production lines in January after a shutdown. Originally GM had given itself until the end of the month to consider bids for the loss-making Swedish brand as it moves forward with winding down the company.

Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller said yesterday that he is hopeful to win the bid for Saab. He said that Spyker has extended its bid until Jan. 7 and that he believes there are multiple bidders for Saab.

Shutting down Saab would eliminate around 3,400 jobs and affect 1,100 dealerships.

Saab spokesman Eric Geers said that the company will restart some production lines again in January for its new 9-5 sedan.

“We have the orders and we have to deliver them as usual. We also have the orders for the 9-3 and others. The factory has to continue again,” Geers said. “We are preparing the wind-down process. At the same time we are open to options, to bids that come in. Therefore the deadline has also been dropped,” Geers said.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Reuters