Saab resumes car production after Pang Da deal

Saab has resumed car production after a layoff of nearly seven weeks
caused by financial problems. Last week, China's Pang Da Automobile
agreed to buy 24% of Saab's parent company Spyker Cars and make an
upfront payment for 1,300 Saab cars. Saab says it now had orders for
more than 8,000 cars. The shutdown began after several parts suppliers
stopped delivering to the Trollhattan factory, saying Saab had failed
to pay its bills. The deal with Pang Da still needs to be approved by
the Chinese government, the European Investment Bank, the Swedish
National Debt Office and Saab's former owner General Motors. "We have
gone through a rough patch in recent weeks but Saab is back in action
again," said Spyker chief executive Victor Muller. "We will work hard
in the coming period to regain confidence and show our ability to
become a successful carmaker." Pang Da's chief executive Pang Qinghua
visited the Trollhattan plant for the first time on Friday.He met
Sweden's industry minister and the Debt Office on Thursday.
---------------BBC ONLINE