Many people want to hear the story about how Saab managed to survive and when we get our agreed interview , the location of the meeting has not been better selected.

On the top floor of the office that fronts the Saab factory in Trollhättan we settle down to visit the couch and thinking while on who else stepped through those doors the last two to three years.

"The calendar is packed "says Jonsson initially. I'm too nice, quite simply, he continues, laughing. But it's great that demand exists, continues Jonsson.
In principle every day or week is fully booked with seminars, speeches and meetings that require Jonsson's participation. And this goes beyond regular duties.

Jan Ake Jonsson's smile has made him world famous. With an inexhaustible enthusiasm, he has been around in Detroit, Rüsselsheim and Stockholm and talked in Saab's interest.
"There will be many trips and I have given priority to remove myself a lot in recent years."

Besides travel Jonsson Stockholm has home address, but also an over-watering apartment in Gothenburg.
"But my favorite is the summer home of Oxelösund " says Jonsson.
I guess this is the place where Saab's strong man pulls away to find new energy.

Jonsson is basically Saab personified. The feeling of it is definitely not for construction, even as a newly graduated 18-year-old started his career in Data Saab, an offshoot to the airline operations whose main industry was the computer development. The first car to Jan Ake was, of course - a Saab.
He was long an anonymous Saab-sphere, where his duties have grown with the years of employment. In the early 1990s, he was responsible for public relations and marketing for Saab in the key U.S. market. Between1997-2002 he worked at GM Europe, Between 2002-2005 manager for Europe and Asia. The MD-place, he took over after Peter Augustsson in March 2005.

A quick look back shows us that the last two years have been hectic for Jonsson. When General Motors announced that Saab is in the large and rapid financial crisis , in autumn 2008 they were actually for sale was the inner circle in Trollhättan already staked out its own agenda. One of the main theses was that the production volume is not the only goal, it was more important to achieve the agreed business plan, which include the launch of the already mature Saab 9-5 and 9-4X.

- Journeys to Rüsselsheim and Detroit was relieved of meetings with prospective buyers on the spot here in Trollhättan. The fight for the Saab was strong, with all our employees, "says Jonsson. It was Saab for Saab, GM to GM.
In a secret locked hallway right next to the Saab museum there are full-scale models of the Saab 9-5 Saloon and Estate, 9-4X and the latest concept 9-X Air Concept..
Jonsson explains the situation at the time as "it was bit messy at the moment". On 18 December 2009 General Motors made a final decision to dismantle the entire Saab structure.
"It was tough one of my heaviest days", describes Jonson.

To give the Saab staff GM's final statement was a difficult task. But persevering to win and behind the scenes continued sales discussions with Spyker . In January 2010 announced that the first financing solution for the parties was clear and that it was ready to take over responsibility for Saab from GM.

We are fascinated by Jonsson's solidarity with the Saab, and to some extent, General Motors, but it is evident that the burden of past American ownership no longer exists.

It has published two books about the so-called "Saab affair". Have you managed to read them? we asked him." One I've read. The content provides an accurate overall picture of what happened."

In the current situation Saab doesn’t make more cars than it sells. This sounds like common sense, to adjust supply to demand, but the Saab is relatively new. Although annual production does not lift to the desired volumes - the first goal for 2010 was 80 000 cars produced, but that case is now written down to about 35 000 cars.

"Deep diving commercially the global financial crisis is almost over, the new 9-5 is phased in, it will be better!" Is the future of the description.- 2010 has been an achievement for all employees. New owner, download and start production of the new 9-5 from Rüsselsheim and 9-3 from Graz, the launch of the 9-5 this summer and premiere of the 9-4X in the winter. But now we are ready with trimmed production line and a business plan that looks bright, "says Jan Åke Jonsson.

New powertrain supplier in the form of BMW and their 1.6-liter engines is only the beginning. According to rumors from Trollhattan is much more in the pipeline. For this spring's Geneva Salon rumored that on both new technologies and design concepts.

- Finding solutions is just as creative and interesting as ever, continues Jonsson and certainly shines a young new recruit a systems developer in Datasaab still feed through to chief executive.
And we are struck by how well he seems to like behind his modest desk on the third floor office.

Please note that this interview was done just before the end of last year.

Facts

Saab CEO
Name: Jan Ake Jonsson.
Age: 59 years.
Occupation: CEO, Saab.
Family: Wife, two children and three grandchildren.
Location: Stockholm, overnight apartment in Gothenburg.
Everyday use: 9-5 Turbo6 XWD.
Career: Started as a software developer at Saab 1971st
Hobbies: Summer cottage in Oxelösund, sports, long-distance running.

That you did not know if Jan Ake Jonsson:
He was a cook in the military service and can cook for 150 people.

Merit list Saab:
2005 - Managing Director Saab Automobile.
2002-2005 Marketing Manager, Europe and Asia, Saab Automobile.
2002-2002 Responsible Officer, GM Europe.
1997-2002 Director, GM Europe.
1995-1997 Responsible program manager for Saab (9000/9-5).
1993-1995 Quality Saab Automobile.
1991-1993 Marketing Saab Cars USA.
1990-1991 Head, aftermarket, Saab Automobile.
1985-1990 Manager, Information Systems, Saab-Scania, USA.
1973-1985 Various details within the Saab-Scania.


(Source: http://www.teknikensvarld.se)