NEVS completes Saab purchase

National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS) has completed the purchase of the assets of Saab, but can’t use the Griffin logo.

It looks like the Chinese, Japanese, Swedish Consortium NEVS has finally completed the process of acquiring the assets of bankrupt Saab, but it hasn’t quite got all it wanted.

We reported last week that the process of acquiring Saab had been delayed as there were still issues over the rights to the Saab log, a logo owned by Scania and Saab Aerospace.

But a compromise has been reached with Saab Aerospace and Scania that will allow NEVS to put the Saab name on its cars, but they will not be allowed to use the distinctive ‘Griffin’ logo. Seems reasonable.

NEVS now plan to push ahead with their plan to build electric cars using the underpinnings of  the Saab 9-3 and a development of Saab’s Phoenix platform. Interestingly, former Saab owners Spyker claim rights to the Phoenix platform and are planning to build their own range of cars based on it.

Karl-Erling Trogen, NEVS Chairman, said:

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.

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.

All of which is better than seeing Saab disappear altogether, and is certainly good news for Trollhattan – home of Saab – even if the numbers employed will be far lower than previously and it will be eighteen months before Trollhattan are actually producing new Saab EVs.

Source: SaabsUnited