Saab 9-3 Production Restarts in Trollhättan. Cars Going to China

Posted on 2 December 2013 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com

The electric car based on the Saab 9-3 launches in 2014, with China as the first market.

National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB has started production of the Saab 9-3 Aero Sedan equipped with a gasoline engine. The initial production rate by the Chinese-owned consortium formed by Japanese, Swedish and Chinese investors is boutique level at 10 cars per week, gradually increasing if demand appears. The company said that over time it would expand into more markets where there is potential for growth and profitability.

Sales are initially in China with a small number of vehicles sold directly to Swedish customers via the NEVS’ website. The aging 9-3 design, introduced in 1992, comes with a 220 horsepower, 2-liter turbo, the traditional high-performance engine of the Saab cars. NEVS, formed partnerships with 400 suppliers needed for the sedan. In total, the restart of production engage around 2,400 companies globally through the suppliers.

The electric car based on the Saab 9-3 launches in 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 of the 9-3 gasoline model in Sweden, via NEVS’ website, will start on Tuesday 10 December. The price is ~$43,290 (279,000 SEK) with manual transmission and $43,900 with automatic transmission. Additional specifications and delivery conditions are due at the start of sales.

“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.

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About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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