Saab Could Resume Production By Year-End

Saab Automobile's new owner tells Automotive News Europe the company is "practically ready" to relaunch production of the Saab 9-3 small sedan late this year.

Saab 9-3: Ready for a comeback?

Saab went bankrupt in 2011. Its assets were acquired a year ago by a Chinese consortium, the National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB.

The group originally planned to relaunch the Saab brand next year with an electric car based on the next-generation 9-3. But the company has since decided to first produce a conventionally powered model to help fund the EV program.

NEVS says its first model will be a variant of the 9-3 that Saab stopped making in 2011. The company intends to sell the cars in Europe and China and wants to eventually return to the American market.

Future Saab models, including the EV, will use a new platform Saab developed shortly before its financial collapse. The consortium says the new chassis can be modified to carry a wide variety of vehicles.

NEVS tells ANE it will modify the platform to replace about 20% of its components that otherwise would be sourced from Saab's former owner, General Motors Co. GM has vehemently opposed allowing any of its technology to be used by the Swedish company's new owner.