Saab’s new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), has restarted series production of the 9-3 at its plant in Trollhattan, Sweden. Sales of the mid-sized sedan will be “initially focused” in China. NEVS says production of its first Saab model, the 9-3 Aero fitted with a 2.0-liter turbo-gasoline engine, will be “very modest” with output of about 10 cars a week.
The company said a small number of vehicles will be sold directly to Swedish customers via its Web site starting next week. The car, will resemble the last production 9-3 built at Trollhattan in 2011.
“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,” NEVS President Mattias Bergman said in the statement.
The last cars produced by the automaker rolled off the production line in April 2011. Saab, then under the control of Spyker NV, filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 19 of that year. NEVS bought Saab out of bankruptcy last August.
The production start became possible after NEVS reached an agreement with 400 parts suppliers to produce the sedan, the company said. Service and parts distribution for the vehicles will be provided in partnership with Orio, formerly known as Saab Automotive Parts, NEVs added. The company says it plans to begin production of an electric variant of the 9-3 in 2014, with China as its first market.
