Owners of Saab Assets Can’t Use “Saab” Name

The post-bankruptcy owners of Saab Automobile’s assets cannot use the Saab brand on the vehicles they make.

The National Electric Vehicle Sweden group acquired the assets of bankrupt Saab Automobile in 2012. But NEVS lost rights to the name and logo from aerospace company Saab AB two years ago when it sought its own bankruptcy protection.

Last month NEVS announced it had landed two big fleet sales of electric cars based on the Saab 9-3 sedan, which will be produced using the tooling and other assets it acquired. The two deals, reportedly worth a combined $13 billion, involve delivering a total of 170,000 electric cars in China—along with other products and services—by 2020.

The NEVS announcement included photos of its EV adorned with a modified Saab logo and nameplate. The company says it is coming up with a new name and branding plan for the vehicles.