Local Saab store closed
Sales could resume at another GM site
Sales could resume at another GM site
Saab of Charleston has ended its more than eight-year run on Savannah Highway, but the Swedish carmaker and General Motors subsidiary eventually could wind up matched with another local GM dealership.
The West Ashley store closed Jan. 31. Saab customers were notified ahead of the move, said Brad Davis, who heads Hendrick Imports in Charleston. Saab was part of Hendrick's import group that also includes Volvo, Mini Cooper, BMW and Honda.
Declining market share has hurt the carmaker recently. Saab sales in the United States dipped 25 percent in January from the same period a year before.
"It was a difficult decision for us, as we had a lot of wonderful customers for many years," Davis said.
He said the Hendrick auto group was able to place the six Saab employees in other positions.
The Charleston outlet opened in September 1999, and, according to Davis, the Hendrick ownership group first explored selling Saab. It found an interested buyer, but General Motors decided to exercise its right of first refusal on the proposed sale and bought back the franchise, he said.
The carmaker is now looking at whether to keep things as they are or to reopen Saab with some other GM dealer in the Charleston area, officials said.
The Hendrick group has interests in two GM franchises in the Charleston area: Hendrick Chevrolet and Saturn of North Charleston. Recent automotive media accounts said the world's No. 1 automaker wants to group Saab with Hummer and Cadillac. Locally, McElveen has the Hummer franchise and Miller has the Cadillac dealership.
Jan-Willem Vester, spokesman for Saab, said he could not comment on the matter because he did not have the particulars on it.
Davis said GM has worked out at least a temporary arrangement for warranty business handled at Saab of Charleston to be performed at another local dealership.
The Saab building will become a service and parts annex for Mini Cooper, which is outgrowing its structure after 2 1/2 years, he said.
Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.
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