Saab owners, employees rally in last-ditch effort to save brand
Chicago area residents who drive, fix and sell Swedish-built Saabs converged Sunday in the parking lot of Swedish-owned home goods retailer IKEA in Schaumburg in a last-ditch effort to save the brand.
General Motors, which owns the company, has been trying unsuccessfully to find a buyer, and in lieu of last-minute bids, is moving to shut the manufacturer down.
Frank Tornabene, coordinator of the rally, said a buyer for Saab could mean the preservation of 5,000 jobs in the United States and 20,000 jobs worldwide.
After assembling in formation for a group photo, the drivers took their cars on a four and a half mile loop in the Northwest suburbs.
Saab owner Sorin Ciesierski of Chicago signs a large sign during a gathering of Saab owners in the parking lot of IKEA in Schaumburg, to rally in support of the soon to be orphaned car company. After the gathering the group went out for a four and half convoy around Schaumburg.
Mark Black | Staff Photographer