Saab financially absorbed the failure of the Cadillac BLS

News like this one gives a bit more explanation of the dire financial situation Saab was in and, of course, shows the good management General Motors carried out at the Swedish firm (read with irony), because according to Autoblog, the well-known Cadillac BLS, which has already disappeared from the European market, was developed with Saab funds.

The Cadillac BLS sold only 7,365 units, which is hardly surprising, especially considering that it was a Saab 9-3 poorly disguised as a Cadillac and that anyone who knows a Saab realised at once that the Cadillac BLS had the badge and little else. Obviously, the plan to get Cadillac better received in Europe was not very successful; only 10% of the expected sales were achieved.

Yes, the entire development of the BLS, some 100 million euros, was charged directly to Saab’s accounts. To be clear, the initial idea of sharing elements between a Cadillac and the Saabs made sense: both brands were premium, and Saab had a lot to offer, but there is a big difference between handing over engines or sharing chassis or components and simply re-badging a model.

The only conclusion I always draw when I read news of this kind is that Saab has at least been lucky, because the giant has swallowed too many brands, and given the management it has carried out in this regard, Saab surviving has been a matter of luck.

Via | Autoblog en español