Ralph Millet

Ralph Millet (August 21, 1917 – December 20, 2002 [ [http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/dec02/112_021224_saab Motor Trend: News ] ] ) was an American automobile executive. He was responsible for introducing Saab cars to the United States. He also advised the United States government on automobile safety after his tenure as president of Saab-Scania of America, the importer of Saab cars to the United States.

Early life

Millet was a native of Boston, Masschusetts. He attended the Boston Latin School. In 1940, he received a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served in the Army Air Corps attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E2DD103CF935A15751C1A9649C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/D/Deaths%20(Obituaries) Ralph Millet, 85, Dies; Spurred Saab Sales in U.S. Market - New York Times ] ]

He married Elsie Johnston, who died in 1959. Later, he married Gunlog Jansson. He had three sons and two daughters, though one, Ralph, Jr., was murdered in Washington, D.C. while he was painting landscape in a park. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E2DD103CF935A15751C1A9649C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/D/Deaths%20(Obituaries) Ralph Millet, 85, Dies; Spurred Saab Sales in U.S. Market - New York Times ] ]

Career with Saab

After World War II, Millet was an importer of aviation parts. He also acted as the U.S. purchasing agent for Saab aircraft manufacturing. At the time, Saab was developing automobiles to complement its aircraft production, which was declining after the war. Saab’s first car was peculiar in that it was small, had front wheel drive, and a two-stroke engine. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E2DD103CF935A15751C1A9649C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/D/Deaths%20(Obituaries) Ralph Millet, 85, Dies; Spurred Saab Sales in U.S. Market - New York Times ] ]

The car was displayed at the 1956 New York International Auto Show and received commitments from dealers to order the car. Prior to the car’s importation into the United States, he discussed producing Saab cars in the United States with Willys Overland Company, the company that developed the Jeep. [ [http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/dec02/112_021224_saab Motor Trend: News ] ] The first American built Saab [ [http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2007-saab-9-7x.htm 2007 Saab 9-7X - Consumer Guide Automotive ] ] was not to happen until the production of the Saab 9-7X in the 2006 model year. [ [http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/11/16/148345.html 2006 Saab 9-7X Arc Review ] ] The newly formed Saab Motors, Inc., which Millet was president, began importing Saab cars to the U.S. [ [http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/dec02/112_021224_saab Motor Trend: News ] ]

Eventually, the importer was renamed Saab-Scania of America, Inc. and imported Scania trucks and buses as well. The Saab car company is now owned by General Motors and is imports cars in the United States through Saab Cars USA, Inc.

Industry work

"He was always very gentlemanly, which was why everyone supported him for the Automobile Importers of America presidency," said Graham Whitehead, a longtime friend. [ [http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-878846_ITM Ralph Millet, who brought Saab to U.S., dies.(Obituary)(Obituary) - Journal, Magazine, Article, Periodical ] ] He was president of that trade organization when it was founded in the late 1960’s. [ [http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/dec02/112_021224_saab/index1.html Motor Trend: News ] ]

During his tenure with Saab, he emphasized the car’s safety as a selling point. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E2DD103CF935A15751C1A9649C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/D/Deaths%20(Obituaries) Ralph Millet, 85, Dies; Spurred Saab Sales in U.S. Market - New York Times ] ] When the U.S. federal government started seeking advice in automotive safety in the 1960’s, Millet was appointed as one of the first automotive industry representatives to the Highway Traffic Safety Advisory Council of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [ [http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/dec02/112_021224_saab/index1.html Motor Trend: News ] ]

Late life

After retirement, he continued to visit Saab dealer events, new model debuts and owner conventions. [ [http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/dec02/112_021224_saab/index1.html Motor Trend: News ] ] He died at the age of 85 of heart disease. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E2DD103CF935A15751C1A9649C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/D/Deaths%20(Obituaries) Ralph Millet, 85, Dies; Spurred Saab Sales in U.S. Market - New York Times ] ]

References