Saab Announces Its First SUV: the Saab 9-7X
17 Dezember 2003 - 3:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Saab Announces Its First SUV: the Saab 9-7X NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 17
/PRNewswire/ -- Continuing the biggest product offensive in its
history, Saab Automobile AB announces its latest new model and
first sport utility vehicle, the 2005 Saab 9-7X. Featuring standard
all- wheel-drive and two engine choices, the mid-size SUV will fill
Saab's need for an entry is this rapidly growing market segment.
The Saab 9-7X will make its world debut at the 2004 New York Auto
Show in April 2004, and will go on sale about one year later.
Initially, the 9-7X will be produced specifically for the United
States and Canadian markets. "We are pleased to continue to expand
our product line in the North American market, which is critical to
Saab's success," commented Peter Augustsson, President and CEO of
Saab Automobile AB. "With the Saab 9-X and 9-3X concept vehicles,
followed by the award-winning Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan and Convertible,
the 9-3 Sport-Hatch concept and the dynamic new 9-2X, we are
exceeding our commitment to introduce one new vehicle each year for
five years." "Saab is currently the fastest growing European brand
in the U.S. market, and the Saab 9-7X will be the perfect addition
to our model mix to continue our momentum," said Debra Kelly-Ennis,
President and COO of Saab Cars USA. "We have found that as many as
28 percent of customers who left the Saab brand bought an SUV in
2003. We must position ourselves to recapture many of those lost
sales and continue to broaden our brand's appeal to new buyers. The
9-7X allows us to join the growing mid-luxury SUV market with a
unique, premium vehicle offering European style and the kind of
all-wheel-drive versatility that we have never had before."
Kelly-Ennis noted that the mid-luxury SUV market is growing at a
rate exceeding most other market segments. "We need a product like
this to continue to grow our brand -- and to fuel our product
development program," she emphasized. The new model marks Saab's
first product collaboration with GM of North America. The new 9-7X
will be built at GM's Moraine Assembly plant in Ohio, beginning in
the first quarter of 2005. Saab Cars USA, based in Norcross, GA, is
the importer and distributor of Saab 9-3 and 9-5 automobiles, and
soon the new 9-2X and 9-7X vehicles. DATASOURCE: Saab Cars USA
CONTACT: Kevin Smith, +1-770-279-6360, Colin Price,
+1-770-279-6362, Dan Prescott, +1-619-749-8900, all of Saab, or
+1-800-GET-SAAB Web site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/
http://media.saab.com/
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