TROLHATTAN, Sweden -

While attorneys contest that six parties are considering buying Saab Automobile, the road ahead may be difficult for any potential suitor, given what is occurring with Saab’s dealer base, says Bloomberg in a recent report.

Bloomberg indicates that the number of Saab dealers choosing to close up shop during the last two years is roughly 200 (internationally).

Many of the others are turning to competing automakers to land franchises as Saab’s fate worsens, the report said. In fact, Saab National Dealer Council leader Kurt Schirm said each of Saab’s 188 U.S. dealers is considering other brands.

Take Guildford Saab general manager Tom Backes. Bloomberg shared the story of this Connecticut dealer who has courted both Maserati and Mitsubishi.
“I’ve reached out to quite a few brands,” Backes was quoted as saying. “Some have said, ‘We’re not expanding,’ and others have said, ‘We’ll take a look at it.’ It’s a slow process.”

But Saab dealers may take heart in what Garel Rhys – who heads up the automotive industry research center at the University of Cardiff – had to say.

“Often these dealerships have a loyal clientele who might switch brands,” Rhys said. “They’re often in very good locations and well-established. So I’m quite optimistic about the prospects of Saab dealerships”

What’s more, Saab’s demise is not necessarily certain, Bloomberg suggests.

Citing attorneys who have been charged to manage the bankruptcy in Sweden, the news outlet reports that six parties have expressed interest in buying the company, including Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile and private-equity firm Brightwell Holdings BV.

For more information, see Bloomberg’s story at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-12/saab-dealers-driving-to-maserati-with-unfolding-bankruptcy-cars.html.