Email from NEVS I got, SAAB is BACK!!!

"Godspeed11- I own a SAAB" (Godspeed11)
12/02/2013 at 07:55 • Filed to: None

Production of Saab 9-3 Aero Sedan has started in Trollhättan
National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB has started production of the Saab 9-3 Aero Sedan with a petrol engine. Sales are initially focused in China with a small number of vehicles being sold directly from Nevs to Swedish customers via the Nevs’ website

National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB has started production of the Saab 9-3 Aero Sedan with a petrol engine. Sales are initially focused in China with a small number of vehicles being sold directly from Nevs to Swedish customers via the Nevs’ website.

The car that is produced is a high-spec Saab 9-3 Aero Sedan with a 220 hp 2.0-liter turbo, a previously recognized high-performance engine of the Saab cars.

“I am very proud of the dedication and the focus that Nevs management and employees have demonstrated over the year that has passed since we became owners of the plant in Trollhättan, and who have made this possible. Swedish expertise along with Japanese technology around batteries and new lightweight materials and our Chinese group’s focus on green technology is our strength for the future”, said Kai Johan Jiang, Nevs founder and main owner.

“It is truly a complex mission to start a car production process which has been still for two and a half years. It is very pleasing that we have embarked on a journey where we want to and will make a difference with our partners and customers. Our electric car will be launched next year, and already today we can offer Saab cars with continued high, proven performance and quality”, said Nevs’ President Mattias Bergman.

Nevs’ customers will be offered a first class and engaging customer experience. They will also be offered the opportunity to come to the heart of the Saab car brand in Trollhättan to take delivery of their vehicles. While doing so, they will be invited to visit our highly efficient factory with experienced and competent workers and the Saab Car Museum where they can get a flavor of our brand and vehicles.

To ensure a solid ownership experience we intend to offer service and parts distribution in partnership with Orio AB (formerly known as Saab Automobile Parts AB).

In less than a year, the purchasing organization has built partnerships with the suppliers to the Saab 9-3. Nevs now has partnerships with all around 400 suppliers needed for the Sedan model. All in all the Nevs’ start of production engage around 2,400 companies globally through the suppliers.

“It's been an intense year committed to ensuring Nevs’ start of production. I see our established partnerships as a trustful beginning of the long term and strategic relationships we want to build together with our subcontractors”, said Nevs’ Purchasing Director Per Svantesson .

To ensure our high quality and the supply chain functions, the production rate will be very modest, about ten cars a week initially, and then gradually the pace will be increased to meet customers’ demand.

The electric car based on the Saab 9-3 will be launched in spring 2014, with China as the first market. Nevs’ partner and part owner Qingdao has initially placed an order for a pilot fleet of 200 electric cars with delivery starting in spring 2014.

Sales in Sweden, via Nevs’ website, will start on Tuesday, December 10. The price is 279 000 SEK ($42,477 USD) with manual transmission and 289 000 ($44,000 USD) with automatic transmission. Additional specifications purchase and delivery conditions are presented when the sale starts.

Over time we will develop our customer base to expand into more markets where we see potential for growth and profitability.

Nevs’ vision is to shape mobility for a more sustainable future. Our aim is to be a front runner in the automotive industry, with focus on electric vehicles, where China is our initial main market. The pace of change towards cars powered by fossil free fuels will increase and China currently has the most ambitious efforts for electrification of the vehicle fleet.

For more information about Nevs: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Mikael Östlund
Public Relations Officer

DISCUSSION (12)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Godspeed11- I own a SAAB
12/02/2013 at 08:01

Are they able to start making the new 9-5 again? Those things were gorgeous.

Godspeed11- I own a SAAB > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/02/2013 at 08:07

So far they only have plans for the 9-3. They are going to start making the full electric 9-3 mid 2014 for China and maybe after that they will start expanding the lineup. As of yet they are focused primarily on starting up production and getting everything with suppliers sorted before they go all out.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/02/2013 at 08:15

They don't have the platform rights, GM does.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
12/02/2013 at 09:36

Bummer.

I've said this enough before, but fuck GM.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/02/2013 at 09:38

They didn't want the Chinese getting their latest FWD platform, so I can see why they did what the did.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
12/02/2013 at 09:50

Yeah, it makes solid sense from a business point of view.

They could have used it as a toe-in though. Ford has done rather well by nurturing the various marques it auctioned off, and retaining a decent share. Volvo, and especially JLR have flourished since being sold off, and some of those profits are going to Ford.

GM's tactics have been a little different, but I suppose their situation has been a little different too.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/02/2013 at 10:04

Ford didn't use any new platforms with Volvo and JLR, just old ones and used the old Volvo platform for the Taurus/Flex/Edge/Freestyle/Five-Hundred/Explorer/Lincoln Equivalents.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
12/02/2013 at 10:51

True, but what has GM done with the platform since then? Nothing, as far as I can tell.

That seems like a colossal waste of their investment when they could have sold it to a company that could do something with it (maybe with a stipulation that they couldn't use it to build any cars that directly competed with other GM products), and retained stock in the company to reap any rewards of its success.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/02/2013 at 10:55

Impala, XTS, LaCross

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
12/02/2013 at 11:10

Ah gotcha. None of which are major players outside of the US. The LaCross' biggest market is in China, which would be a major sticking point, but it's not unworkable.

Sell the platform under licence. Charge a royalty for each car produced. You get a whole 'nother revenue stream for zero extra investment, and with Buick a very popular premium brand in China I doubt they'd lose much market share. Any market share they do lose would be partially compensated for by the royalty payments.

Furthermore, GM is doing horrendously in Europe. Chevrolet and Cadillac are marginal players, I'm not sure Buicks are even sold here and Opel/Vauxhall is failing somewhat.

If NEVS sold a licenced version of the 9-5 in Europe (or whatever market they please that GM is absent in), GM would get profit for zero investment on their part.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
12/02/2013 at 11:23

Also the Insignia/Regal and the Malibu

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
12/02/2013 at 11:32

The platform for the Insignia and Regal was altered by Saab so comprehensively for the 9-5 that they're very nearly different platforms altogether. That's part of the reason Saab weren't profitable under GM. They were fairly crap at economies of scale.

The 9-5 is also a class higher in price and size than the Insignia/Regal, so wouldn't be directly competing. Not sure about the Malibu. I've never even seen one.

I know it's wishful thinking, but it's not beyond the scope of reality.