Saab Cars USA has launched two new initiatives as part of Saab Automobile AB’s global strategy to be more market-driven and better serve its customers and dealers. Saab Cars USA has recently introduced the interactive, full-visibility car administration system (CAS-E) in the U.S. market, which has allowed domestic Saab dealers to take advantage of an improved vehicle order-to-delivery process, previously granted only to dealers in Europe. This system is now used globally. Dealers can search for a car with a specific configuration and make trades at any stage in the process, from production line to dealer lot. Another benefit is that dealers can change the product configuration up to as little as two days before the start of assembly date, as well as add options at the U.S. port. Since the system is linked to the production line, a dealer can receive an estimated arrival date within 20 minutes of placing an order for a new car. Another initiative to complement the CAS-E system is the opening of a third port for importing Saabs to the United States. In addition to two East Coast ports, Brunswick, GA, and Newark, NJ, Saab Cars USA will also now import through a facility at Port Hueneme, CA, beginning in the second quarter of 2001. This port will allow Saab vehicles to be shipped directly from Sweden, rather than arriving via rail from an East Coast import site.