Saab is the Automotive Kiss of Death, Apparently

by Aaron Cole

Updated: December 31st, 2020 Published: August 18th, 2015

saab is the automotive kiss of death apparently

The resurrected Swedish automaker producing electric 9-3s with a Saab badge signed an agreement with Dongfeng Motor Corporation to help stay afloat, GoAuto in Australia is reporting.

National Electric Vehicle Sweden, the Chinese company that purchased the remains of Saab after its parent company Spyker went bankrupt, announced that it would distribute electric cars in China with automotive giant Dongfeng and add a production facility there, the report details.

In return, NEVS will supply Dongfeng with engineering standards to help it meet safety standards in Europe and North America.

It certainly has been a bumpy road for Saab.

State-owned Dongfeng has a slew of joint ventures with other automakers, including Nissan, Honda and PSA in China.

According to the report, Dongfeng will open a production facility in Tianjin, China to build the Swedish electric cars. Production of the electric 9-3s halted last year when Saab couldn’t pay suppliers.

Dongfeng is apparently unfazed by Saab’s record since the turn of the 21st century.

#Dongfeng #ElectricCars #NEVS #Saab

Aaron Cole

More by Aaron Cole

Comments

Join the conversation

5 of 10 comments

Bigtruckseriesreview @ Youtube on Aug 18, 2015

BOOOOOOOOOOOOORING cars. The designs are dull and boring.

Like Reply
GermanReliabilityMyth on Aug 18, 2015

Dongfeng, where is my automobile?

Like Reply
InterstateNomad on Aug 19, 2015

So it's been a few years, and GM no longer is worried about SAAB carrying some of its tech with them? I thought GM was against the sale of SAAB before.

Like Reply
- Heavy handle on Aug 19, 2015
  
  They were, but I doubt they have much say left. Ironically, I still think that Saab was GM's only chance to gain a foothold in the premium space. Buick and Cadillac have no credibility outside of the US (and none in the US either), Opel is a dead brand. They should have sold Opel and kept Saab instead of the other way around. For one thing, it would have saved them the billions they spend propping-up Opel every year. Contrary to popular belief, Saab was never a big money loser. They made decent money most years. GM played a shell game to keep from paying taxes in Sweden. It's all old news now. Let's just hope that another company manages to revive some of the legacy, like CV joints that last the life of a car, engines that show no internal wear at 500K, and safety systems that are years ahead of the competition.
  
  Like
HotPotato on Aug 22, 2015

Dear China, I would like an electric Saab 9-3 Sport Kombi with 200 mile range, 0-60 in 7 seconds or less, that lovely Saab parchment leather, and a price of $25,000ish after federal credit. I'll be over here patiently waiting...

Like Reply