Saab, GM reach deal on warranty service in U.S., Canada
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DETROIT -- General Motors and Saab Automobile Parts North America said they have reached an agreement on warranty service coverage for Saab owners in the United States and Canada.
The agreement says SPNA will provide warranty administration and related services for 2009 vehicles and prior Saab vehicles still covered under GM's limited warranty, the companies said in a joint statement released today.
"Our agreement with General Motors is an important step in supporting Saab owners in North America and ensuring they have access to Saab Genuine Parts, service programs and technical support for years to come," Tim Colbeck, CEO of Saab Automobile Parts North America, said in the statement.
Saab will carry out the services through its network of warranty service providers. The transition of warranty services from GM to SPNA began Dec. 17, the companies said.
Those covered under the agreement can take their Saab vehicles to any of SPNA's 179 warranty service providers to have work done.
"This should be seamless to the customer. It's important because we want to honor our commitments to our customers," said GM spokeswoman Pamela Flores.
The companies also agreed to establish a North America Customer Assistance Center and a Technical Assistance Center.
The technical center, staffed by SPNA experts, will aid warranty service providers with technical issues.
This month the Swedish National Debt Office took ownership of Saab Automobile Parts AB, a unit of bankrupt carmaker Saab.
"[Saab Automobile] Parts is an independent and solid company that currently provides Swedish spare parts for Saab passenger cars. The Swedish government will be a stable owner aiming to develop the company further," Bo Lundgren, chief of the National Debt Office said in a statement on Dec. 5.
The debt office became the largest creditor in the bankruptcy estate of Saab after the carmaker filed for bankruptcy in December 2011. The Swedish automaker spun off from GM as part of GM's 2009 bankruptcy reorganization. But the company failed after several attempts to rescue it, including a deal with Chinese investors.
Automotive News Europe contributed to this report.
You can reach Vince Bond Jr. at vbond@crain.com. -- Follow Vince on 
