Saab Restarts Production Under Spyker Ownership
By Michelle Krebs March 23, 2010Saying it heralds "a new era for the Swedish premium car maker as an independent 
company," Saab Automobile restarted production this week at its retooled assembly plant in Trollhattan, Sweden, making the first-ever Saab cars under the company's new owner, Spyker Cars NV. 
The company said the first car off the lines after a seven-week idling as Saab transferred ownership from General Motors Co. to Spyker was the new-generation 9-5 sedan. Saab said the line also is producing the 9-3 convertible and by the time the SportCombi wagon body style of the 9-5 comes next year, the Trollhatten plant will be assembling five distinct models.
"Today's resumption of production is a milestone in the history of our company" said Jan Ake Jonsson, Saab Automobile CEO. "We are up and running as an independent manufacturer and I am delighted to share the experience on the line alongside our workforce. They have shown tremendous commitment to the company and we are all now focused on ramping up production to meet customer demand."
Saab also plans to launch the 9-4X crossover next year, a model that, like the new 9-5, was developed by GM. Soon after, Saab will have a replacement for the 9-3 entry-level car.
At next week's New York auto show, Saab will display the new 9-5 as well as the 9-3X, an all-wheel-drive version of the 9-3 SportCombi enhanced with crossover cues. Although the 9-3X already has been launched in Europe, the company has yet to say if the 9-3X will be sold in the U.S., although the prospect seems likely. -- Bill Visnic, senior editor
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