A Saab Buyer May Not Be As Difficult To Find As Hummer

Breaking news: no one wants Hummer.

Well, it really isn't much news in the first place. When General Motors announced earlier this year that they would actively find a buyer for Hummer, their big niche sport/utility brand, analysts wondered who would want the brand. After all, when your most “fuel efficient” vehicle gets about 19 mpg on the highway, what value does the brand have when gas prices are north of $4 a gallon? Not much.

Yet, with gas prices in full retreat, dropping below $2 a gallon for premium unleaded – the fuel that Hummers crave – things might be different. Unfortunately, Hummer will likely remain unsold and will probably go the way of Oldsmobile into extinction as no one sees gas prices staying low nor do they see a fuel efficient Hummer model on the horizon.

Hummer isn't the only brand that GM is considering selling or closing down with Saturn and Pontiac named as brands who might not have much of a future along with GMC which could find itself replaced by Chevrolet Trucks. Saab, the company's Swedish brand is also on the market, but unlike Hummer would almost certainly survive, even thrive under the guidance of a different automaker.

Right now it is just speculation, but Saab could live on under one of the following scenarios:

BMW – Rumors have been flying that BMW is interested in the brand. BMW is in a heated battle with Mercedes for luxury car supremacy and Saab could help the automaker stay ahead for several years to come. Certain products being planned, such as the Saab 9-4X, could go forward with BMW and GM working out a few other product sharing agreements. GM would love to have BMW diesels.

Hyundai – The Hyundai Kia Automotive Group is now the fifth largest automotive manufacturer in the world, but they still lack a true luxury brand. Sure, the Genesis is now on the market, but it is a Hyundai product. Saab could add visibility and a “halo effect” for the Korean automaker, one more way that the company could expand its brand globally.

Sweden – Yes, Swedish lawmakers have talked about the possibility of nationalizing Saab (and Volvo) in a bid to keep the country's two automakers going. Though a source of national pride, Saab just doesn't have a priority with some Swedes who long ago realized that the company cannot survive on its owns. State owned companies rarely make a go of it and are usually sold off or closed down.

Much of what GM has been saying lately has been aired with a sense of urgency. Therefore, if a deal can be hatched fairly quickly, then Saab could be in someone else's hands early in 2009. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Hummer.