Northern Territory News, CARSguide Saturday, November 28, 2009 11

PU

B:

NT

NE

WS

DA

TE

:2

8-N

OV

-20

09

PA

GE

:3

11

CO

LO

R:

CM

YK

5 Star ANCAP Safety Rating 16 alloy wheels Cruise control Spacious & versatile interior Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)

$26,990Driveaway*

Metallic colours $495 extra.

DUALIS ST Manual Hatch

NO REPAYMENTS UNTIL

2011 THATS THE

BOTTOM LINE

^

ous & versatile interiorle Dynamic Control (VDDC)

nissanoffers.com.au

SHIFT THE WAY YOU MOVE

All Nissan vehicles come with 3 year / 100,000km warranty and 3 year 24 hour roadside assistance. Nissan reserves the right to withdraw, vary or extend any offer.

INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE

KERRYNISSANPh 8980 801017-25 Stuart HwyStuart Park

^To approved applicants of Nissan Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd ABN 70130046794. Offer ends 31st December 2009. Only at participating Nissan Dealers. Minimum Deposit of 35%. First repayment is due January 2011. Interest applies for entire loan period. Terms and Finance conditions apply. Offer excludes Rental Fleet buyers.

Is your business eligible for the Federal Governments Investment Allowance? Check your eligibility with your tax advisor as you may be able to claim a tax credit of 50% on new or demo vehicles purchased for your business before 31 December 2009.

* Private and business fleet buyers only. NS

D0

33

9/N

T

$40,888Driveaway*

Metallic colours $495 extra.

Navara ST 4x4 Dual Cab Manual

126kW turbo diesel3,000kg braked towing capacity

Bluetooth handsfree phone system 6-stack CD Cruise control

For ABN Holders

Available late November.

$16 , 990Driveaway*

Metallic colours $495 extra.

Micra 5 Door Auto Dual front airbags ABS brakes MP3 player input

SAAB ZERO: Australian sales have dipped 34 per cent this year

SAAB NEARS

END OF ROADWarranties will continue to be honoured, servicing arrangements remain unchanged

By NEIL McDONALD

ONE of Europes most respected

carmakers Saab is on the brink of

collapse.

Its future is in doubt after suitor,

Swedish sportscar maker Koenigsegg

cancelled plans to acquire the strug-

gling brand.

Scott Whiffin, a spokesman for Saab

Australia, which operates under GM

Premium Brands locally, said the com-

pany and the 14 local dealers were still

digesting the news.

It wasnt something that was being

anticipated, he said.

Whats happening now is that the

General Motors team at the pointy end

of this process have said theyll take a

couple of days to work it through.

So we wont see any next-step type

developments until at least next week.

Whiffin said the local operations

would continue business as usual.

Warranties will continue to be

honoured, servicing arrangements re-

main unchanged and there will be no

issues with receiving spare parts, he

said.

The decision by the Koenigsegg

Group AB has shocked GM executives.

US reports are suggesting that when

GM meets next week the 60-year-old

brand will be wound down.

Were obviously very disappointed

with the decision to pull out of the Saab

purchase, GM president and chief

executive Fritz Henderson said.

Many have worked tirelessly over

the past several months to create a

sustainable plan for the future of Saab

by selling the brand and its manufactur-

ing interests to Koenigsegg Group AB.

Given the sudden change in direct-

ion, we will take the next several days to

assess the situation.

Koenigsegg head Christian von

Koenigsegg said delays in completing

the deal have led to risks and

uncertainties that prevent us from

successfully carrying out our business

plan for Saab Automobile.

Saab has struggled globally and

locally, with sales plummeting in recent

years.

Local sales have dipped 34 per cent

this year with the company selling just

653 vehicles.

Globally it sold just 93,300 cars last

year with Europe accounting for the

bulk of sales.

Along with Saab, GM has been

offloading its underperforming brands.

In September a deal to sell its Saturn

division to the Penske Automotive

Group fell through and GM axed the

brand.

It has decided to hold on to its

European Opel group but the sale of

Hummer to Chinese heavy-equipment

maker Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy In-

dustrial Machinery Co is still pending.

GM acquired a 50 per cent stake in

Saab in 1989, buying up the balance in

2000.