Saab, the Swedish car brand that just refuses to die, will have a new pure-electric model based on the underpinnings of the 9-3 on the market by the end of 2013 or early 2014, according to the company’s new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS).
NEVS was specifically established by a consortium formed by Japanese, Swedish and Chinese stakeholders to acquire Saab assets including Saab Property AB, which owns the company’s production facility in Trollhattan and Saab Powertrain AB.
It also owns some rights to the 9-3 and the company’s incomplete Phoenix platform architecture but not the 9-5 sedan/station wagon and the 9-4x crossover that remain the intellectual property of General Motors.
From what we understand, NEVS will keep the Saab name, though we’re still waiting for more details on this matter.
As previously noted, the first vehicle to come out of this new relationship will be a car based on the current Saab 9-3, which will be modified for electric drive using advanced EV technology from Japan.
This won’t be the first time that the 9-3 has been converted to run on electricity as China’s BAIC, which has acquired the right to use the hardware from Saab’s older generation 9-5 and 9-3s, has presented an EV version of the premium sedan model (see here).
In a statement to the press, NEVS said that in parallel with EV conversion of the Saab 9-3, it will also work on all-new model based on “additional cutting-edge technology from Japan”.
The company said that while marketing and sales will be global, the initial focus will be on China, as it is projected to be the largest and most important EV market in the world.
“China is investing heavily in developing the EV market, which is a key driver for the ongoing technology shift to reduce dependence on fossil fuels,” said Kai Johan Jiang, founder and main owner of National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd, the majority shareholder of NEVS.
“The Chinese can increasingly afford cars; however, the global oil supply would not suffice if they all buy petroleum-fueled vehicles. Chinese customers demand a premium electric vehicle, which we will be able to offer by acquiring Saab Automobile in Trollhättan,” he added.
NEVS said it aims to become a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles and will begin the recruitment phase immediately to bring skilled engineers to the Trollhättan site.
“I am delighted that we can build on Saab Automobile’s skills in vehicle design and production to start a new future-oriented venture in Trollhättan, where world class manufacturing facilities are available,” said Karl-Erling Trogen, Chairman, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB.
“We will match Swedish automobile design and manufacturing experience with Japanese EV technology and a strong presence in China. Electric vehicles powered by clean electricity are the future, and the electric car of the future will be produced in Trollhättan.”
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