Robert J. Sinclair
Robert J. Sinclair | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | May 10, 2009 (aged 77) Santa Barbara, California, United States |
| Other names | Bob |
| Alma mater | Lafayette College |
| Occupation | CEO of Saab-Scania of America (1979–1991) |
| Successor | Sten Helling |
| Spouse | Anne Sinclair |
Robert J. Sinclair, born on March 17, 1932, and passing away on May 10, 2009, was a prominent figure in the American automotive industry. He held the position of Chief executive officer at Saab-Scania of America from May 1979 through September 1991. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in boosting the appeal of Saab vehicles by persuading the parent company to produce models featuring upscale options such as turbochargers and a convertible variant of the Saab 900, tailored specifically to attract the American market.
Biography
Sinclair entered the world in Philadelphia on March 17, 1932. His youth included assisting in his father's grocery store and attending Haverford High School located in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. It was here, during a performance in an operetta, that he met his future wife. Initially aspiring to become a concert pianist, his ambitions were curtailed after sustaining a hand injury caused by a meat slicer accident at his father's shop. He pursued higher education at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, followed by employment in medical equipment sales.
Career with Saab
In the late 1950s, Sinclair began his association with Saab USA as a sales representative. After briefly working for both Volkswagen and Volvo, he returned to Saab and ascended to the presidency of its American division in 1979. By 1983, under Sinclair's leadership, Saab's U.S. sales reached 25,833 units—a remarkable increase of 42% over the previous year's record figures. Rather than accepting the standard allocation of 1,000 two-door economy-model sedans, Sinclair advocated for producing vehicles outfitted with premium features such as fuel injection, turbocharger, a five-speed gearbox, and notably introduced a convertible style—an option other manufacturers had largely abandoned due to anticipated safety regulations. The convertible model debuted in 1986 and achieved considerable success. Over the following twenty years, approximately 250,000 units of the Saab 900 convertible, including the NG900 generation, were sold. Reflecting on his strategy in a 2007 interview, Sinclair explained that Saab aimed to "add content, add performance, add sparkle and luster to the brand" to elevate its market positioning in the United States while maintaining a "no-frills market" focus within Europe.
In 1984, Sinclair launched an initiative to manufacture buses at a facility near Saab's headquarters in Connecticut; however, this venture was discontinued due to unprofitable conditions stemming from "low bid" contracts.
During the 1980s, King Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden honored Sinclair with the title of Commander of the Order of the Polar Star, recognizing his significant contributions to Sweden's economic and cultural landscape—an accolade reserved for distinguished non-heads of state.
Personal
Following his retirement from Saab in 1991, Sinclair made his home in Santa Barbara, California. He passed away there at the age of 77 on May 10, 2009, after battling cancer.