Saab's Russian Salvation Approved by Sweden

Finally, a break for the automaker that has striven so much in recent years to save itself from GM's bankruptcy, the crisis and evil suppliers: the Swedish National Debt Office announced it will allow Vladimir Antonov to become a shareholder in Spyker, Saab's owners and, most likely, single-handedly save Saab.

Antonov, the man who wanted to become a Saab shareholder from the get go, was the man GM didn't want to hear about when it decided to sell Saab to Spyker. Now, the wheel has turned and the Russian businessman/soccer team owner (true to the definition Russia's rich have gained recently, Antonov bought Portsmouth FC‎ last week) will be the man that will save Saab, Spyker and all the hopes of those Saab fans that claimed the media is to blame for the car maker's money issues.

The big news, obviously, is not that Antonov will be the driving force that will pull Saab out of the ruble. He was, after all, Saab's best chance at saving anything of their huge plans announced earlier in the year. The big news is that Saab confirmed it was talking to several Chinese companies for “equity and debt financing and/or technology licensing.” (This is another weird twist in the Saab saga, as several Chinese companies wanted Saab when it was for sale in 2009, but GM turned them all down).

For those who like to jump to conclusions, all of the above doesn't mean Saab is back in action, kicking and screaming. The company still needs a lot of dough that can only be generated by selling the real estate properties of the company. And the European Investment Bank is key to that. A key that refuses, for now, to unlock any doors.