If you’re asking who makes the Saab car today, the answer is complex. Production of new Saab automobiles ceased after the Swedish brand’s assets were purchased by National Electric Vehicle Sweden. This marked the end of a long and innovative history for the carmaker, leaving many to wonder about its past makers and future possibilities.
This article explains the entire story. We will cover the original manufacturers, the turbulent ownership changes, and the current state of the Saab name.
You will get a clear timeline and understand what happened to this iconic brand.
Who Makes The Saab Car
To understand who makes a Saab, you need to look at different eras. The company’s history splits into distinct chapters, each with a different “maker” in control. From its aerospace beginnings to its final struggles, the story is one of innovation, corporate mergers, and eventual collapse.
No single entity has been the consistent maker throughout. The brand’s identity evolved with each owner, though a core spirit of Swedish engineering and safety always remained.
The Original Maker: Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget
Saab’s story starts in the skies, not on the road. The company was founded in 1937 as Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aeroplane Company Limited) to build aircraft for the Swedish air force. After World War II, the company sought to diversify its operations and applied its aviation expertise to a new field: automobiles.
The first prototype car, the Saab 92.001, was revealed in 1947. It featured a streamlined, aerodynamic body shape directly influenced by aircraft design. This focus on efficiency and safety became a Saab hallmark. For decades, Saab Automobile was a division of the larger Saab-Scania conglomerate, a maker of trucks, aircraft, and spacecraft.
- Key Fact: The first production Saab 92 rolled off the line in 1949 in Trollhättan, Sweden.
- Legacy: Early models were known for their durability, front-wheel drive, and two-stroke engines.
- Corporate Structure: For most of its early life, the car division was part of the industrial giant Saab-Scania.
The General Motors Era Of Ownership
In 1989, a major shift occured. The struggling car division was restructured into an independent company named Saab Automobile AB. In 1990, General Motors (GM) purchased a 50% stake, gaining half ownership. By the year 2000, GM acquired the remaining 50%, becoming the sole owner.
This period brought financial resources and global platform sharing. Saab models like the 9-3 and 9-5 were developed using GM architectures. While this provided economies of scale, many enthusiasts felt it diluted Saab’s unique character. The cars began to share more parts with other GM brands like Opel and Subaru.
- 1990: GM buys 50% of Saab Automobile AB.
- Mid-1990s: Models like the Saab 900 NG (New Generation) are launched on a GM platform.
- 2000: GM becomes the 100% owner of Saab Automobile.
- 2000s: The GM-influenced 9-3 Sport Sedan and second-generation 9-5 are launched.
Challenges Under GM’s Stewardship
Despite GM’s investment, Saab consistently failed to turn a profit. The brand’s sales volume was to low to justify the high costs of unique engineering. GM attempted to integrate Saab more deeply to save money, which often frustrated loyal customers who valued its quirkiness.
The global financial crisis of 2008 was the final blow for GM’s ownership. As GM itself faced bankruptcy and a government bailout, it put Saab up for sale in early 2009 to shed unprofitable brands.
The Short-Lived Spyker Cars Chapter
In January 2010, after a year of uncertainty, GM sold Saab Automobile to Spyker Cars N.V., a small Dutch manufacturer of luxury sports cars. The new owner was a surprising suitor, but it promised to restore Saab’s independence and innovative edge.
Spyker’s CEO, Victor Muller, had ambitious plans. He aimed to launch new models, like the Saab 9-4X crossover and a redesigned 9-5 SportCombi. However, Spyker lacked the deep financial resources needed to revive the brand. The company struggled to pay suppliers and meet payroll almost from the start.
Production was stop-and-start due to supply chain disputes. Despite a passionate effort, Spyker could not secure the long-term funding required. Saab Automobile entered bankruptcy protection in Sweden in September 2011, and production at the Trollhättan factory halted permanently in early 2012.
NEVS: The Purchase Of Saab’s Assets
This brings us to the entity mentioned in the opening: National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS). In June 2012, a consortium led by Chinese and Japanese investors purchased the main assets of bankrupt Saab Automobile. This included the Trollhättan factory, the Saab 9-3 platform, and testing equipment.
Crucially, NEVS did not purchase the rights to the Saab name and griffin logo. Those rights remained with the defense and aerospace company Saab AB and the truck maker Scania AB. Therefore, NEVS could not brand its cars as “Saab.” This is a critical point in understanding who makes the Saab car today.
- Asset Purchase: NEVS bought physical assets and the Saab 9-3 intellectual property.
- Name Rights: The “Saab” name and logo were not part of the deal.
- New Direction: NEVS’s goal was to produce electric vehicles based on the old Saab 9-3.
The NEVS Saab 9-3 EV And Gasoline Model
In a strange twist, NEVS did briefly resume limited production in Trollhättan in 2013. They assembled a small run of gasoline-powered Saab 9-3 Aero sedans, but these were essentially old-model cars built from leftover parts. Their main project was developing an electric version of the 9-3.
In 2017, NEVS unveiled the NEVS 9-3 EV, a fully electric vehicle based on the old Saab platform. It was intended for the Chinese market as a ride-sharing vehicle. However, this project saw very limited production and never reached a global scale. NEVS has since pivoted to other mobility concepts and has not mass-produced consumer cars.
Who Owns The Saab Name Today?
As of now, the rights to the Saab automobile name and logo are split. The “Saab” name for cars is owned by the Scania truck company. The distinctive griffin head logo is owned by the aerospace and defense company Saab AB. This separation makes any revival of the classic Saab car brand extremely complicated.
Any company wanting to build a new car called a Saab would need to license the name from Scania and the logo from Saab AB. There has been no indication that either company is willing to do this for a large-scale automotive project. So, while the assets for building cars exist with NEVS, the brand identity is locked away.
The Current Status Of Saab Production
Today, no one makes new Saab-branded cars for the public market. The last true Saab, the 9-5 sedan and wagon, rolled off the line in 2011. The NEVS venture did not result in a commercial revival of the brand as we knew it.
The Trollhättan factory, Saab’s historic home, is now used by NEVS for research and development, and by other companies like Polestar for certain manufacturing. The spirit of Saab engineering lives on in other ways, however.
Where Saab’s Legacy Lives On
Many former Saab engineers and designers found work at other Swedish automotive companies, most notably Volvo Cars and Chinese-owned Polestar. You can see Saab’s influence in Volvo’s continued obsession with safety and distinctive Scandinavian design.
Furthermore, the company’s innovative technologies, such as turbocharging for everyday cars, night panel dashboard controls, and a focus on cabin air quality, have become industry standards or inspired features in modern vehicles. The community of Saab owners and enthusiasts also remains incredibly active, keeping the cars on the road through dedicated specialist mechanics and parts suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Saab Cars Now?
No company currently manufactures new Saab cars. The brand’s production ended in 2011. The company NEVS owns the old factory and some assets but does not have the rights to use the Saab name on cars.
Does General Motors Still Own Saab?
No, General Motors sold Saab to Spyker Cars in 2010. GM has had no connection to the Saab assets or name for over a decade.
Can You Buy A New Saab?
You cannot buy a brand new Saab from a dealership. The only way to own a Saab is to purchase a used model from the decades when they were in production. The newest models available are from the 2011 model year.
What Happened To The Saab Company?
Saab Automobile went bankrupt in 2011 after years of financial losses under GM and a failed rescue attempt by Spyker Cars. Its assets were sold to NEVS, but the brand itself was effectively dissolved.
Are There Any Plans To Bring Saab Back?
There are occasional rumors, but no credible, concrete plans to revive the Saab car brand. The separation of the name rights from the manufacturing assets makes a true revival very unlikely in the forseeable future.