Saab Automobile Appoints New Portuguese Importer

• Saab restructuring continues with appointment of new importer in Portugal  
• Lisbon-based Hipogest Group established operator in automotive sector
• Development of new Saab international sales organization on track  

Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile is continuing to restructure its international sales organization with the appointment of a new importer for the Portuguese market, Hipogest Group.

Effective from 1 September, Hipogest’s automotive division will take over all marketing, sales and distribution responsibilities from General Motors Portugal, following the purchase of Saab Automobile by Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands five months ago.

Lisbon-based Hipogest is a Portuguese company with many years experience in all areas of the automotive business and will be responsible for supplying and maintaining a national network of dealers in Portugal.

Announcing the appointment, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson said: “We are delighted to welcome Hipogest to our organization. The company has a solid track record and shares our vision for success through an absolute focus on customer service and a long term approach to business partnerships.

“The Portuguese market is an important part of Saab’s representation in southern Europe and we look forward to enjoying a long and fruitful relationship with Hipogest. With the introduction of the new 9-5 sedan and other new products imminent, we are at the start of an exciting product offensive for Saab. It’s a perfect time for Hipogest to be joining our new organization.”

Hipolito Pires, Chairman of Hipogest, said: “Hipogest are delighted to represent Saab in Portugal. We are joining the sales organization at the beginning of a new chapter in Saab’s history and greatly look forward to supporting the company’s development as an independent business backed by a great brand and new products.”


Note to Editors:

Saab, or Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company), was founded in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer and revealed its first prototype passenger car 10 years later after the formation of the Saab Car Division. In 1990, Saab Automobile AB was created as a separate company, jointly owned by the Saab Scania Group and General Motors, and became a wholly-owned GM subsidiary in 2000. In February 2010, Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands, acquired the company from GM as an independently-run business.

Saab cars reflect the brand’s unique Scandinavian design ethic, which is fused with its aircraft engineering heritage. The company is a global premium car maker with a distinguished history of innovation. It is recognized for its pioneering role in turbocharging, as well as occupant safety and the introduction of flex-fuel technology through Saab BioPower. Saab Automobile AB currently employs approximately 3,800 staff in Sweden, where it operates world-class production and technical development facilities at its headquarters in Trollhättan, 70 km north of Gothenburg.

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