Saab needs help

The crisis of the US automotive industry is hitting Sweden hard. General Motors is considering closing down its Swedish affiliate Saab if the Swedish government does not step in, or if no buyer can be found. The country's Minister for Enterprise Maud Olofsson has a problem, Dagens Nyheter newspaper writes: "The government, and all of us, must look the truth in the eye. Saab is a make of car that no one is interested in, and that cannot be made interesting enough. That is painful for everyone who has worked with this car which originated in the aircraft industry. It is painful for everyone who currently works for Saab and for everyone who owns a Saab and has invested their feelings and money in their car. But a government that has divested itself of its shares in the profitable company Vin & Sprit [producer of alcoholic beverages] cannot dally around with an unprofitable company like Saab."

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