The Swedish name Saab evokes a sense of innovative design and robust engineering, often immediately associated with automobiles. However, while Saab cars were once a prominent feature on roads worldwide, the reality today is quite different. Many people still wonder, Who Owns Saab Car Company? The answer is more complex than a simple company name. To understand the current ownership situation, we need to delve into the fascinating history of Saab, separating the automotive legacy from its thriving defense and security counterpart.
Saab’s story began not with cars, but with airplanes. Founded in 1937 in Trollhättan, Sweden, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget – which translates to Swedish Aeroplane Company, and gives us the acronym SAAB – was established to build aircraft for the Swedish Air Force as Europe braced for war. The company’s headquarters soon relocated to Linköping, Sweden, a city known for its university and technology focus, which remains a major center of Saab’s operations today. It wasn’t until after World War II, in 1945, that Saab, seeking to diversify its expertise, embarked on a project to develop passenger cars.
From Aircraft to Automobiles: The Saab Car Design Philosophy
The initiative to create Saab cars was known as Project 92, a logical continuation from their aircraft production sequence, following the Saab 91 ‘Safir’ trainer aircraft. Crucially, Saab’s aircraft engineering heritage profoundly influenced its car design. Engineers believed their deep understanding of aerodynamics, honed from years of aircraft manufacturing, could be applied to create cars with superior performance compared to the German vehicles prevalent in Sweden at the time. This focus on aerodynamic efficiency became a hallmark of Saab cars.
The first Saab car was presented in Linköping in June 1947, but full-scale production in Trollhättan commenced in 1949. These initial, iconic bottle-green cars quickly gained recognition. Over the following decades, Saab passenger cars became synonymous with distinctive design, reliability, and a strong emphasis on safety. While the car division garnered international fame, Saab’s defense and security operations quietly but steadily expanded, serving governments, authorities, and corporations globally with a diverse portfolio ranging from military defense to civil security solutions.
The Decline and Fall of Saab Automobile: A Timeline of Ownership Changes
Unlike the consistently growing defense and security business, the Saab car story followed a more turbulent path. After a twenty-year merger with Scania-Vabis concluded in 1989, a significant shift occurred. American automotive giant General Motors (GM) acquired a 50 percent stake in the newly formed Saab Automobile. By 2000, GM had taken full control, making Saab Automobile a wholly-owned subsidiary. This marked a critical turning point: Saab cars were no longer independently produced by Saab Group, the original Swedish company.
The classic Saab little green car, a symbol of Swedish automotive design and innovation.
From this point, the fate of Saab cars became intertwined with the fortunes of General Motors. When GM faced severe financial difficulties in 2008, the repercussions extended to its Swedish subsidiary. An attempt to revive Saab Automobile through a sale to Dutch car manufacturer Spyker in 2010 proved unsuccessful. Ultimately, Saab Automobile AB declared bankruptcy in December 2011, marking the definitive end of Saab car production.
Saab Today: Thriving as a Defense and Security Leader
Despite the demise of its automotive division, the Saab name remains a significant force in Swedish industry and globally in the defense and security sector. Many mistakenly believe Saab ceased to exist entirely with the closure of Saab Automobile. However, Saab, the original company, continues to flourish, focusing on its core strengths in defense and security technologies.
Today, Saab offers advanced solutions across air, land, naval, security, and civil aerospace domains. The company employs over 16,500 people and generates annual sales of approximately 31 billion Swedish kronor (around 3.38 billion US dollars). Significantly, Saab reinvests about a quarter of its revenue back into research and development, ensuring its position at the forefront of innovation. Iconic Saab products in the defense sector include the Gripen fighter system, the Saab Kockums Gotland Class submarine, and the Carl-Gustaf weapon system.
In conclusion, to answer the question “who owns Saab car company?” directly: no one currently owns Saab car company in the sense of ongoing production. Saab Automobile, the entity responsible for manufacturing Saab cars, went bankrupt in 2011 and ceased operations. The Saab brand name for automobiles is now owned by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), but they are not producing cars under the Saab name. The original Saab company, officially Saab AB, is a separate and thriving entity focused on defense and security. While Saab cars are a cherished part of automotive history, Saab’s present and future lie firmly in its role as a leading global defense and security company.
Saab Cars: A Historical Timeline
- 1937: Saab is founded in Trollhättan, Sweden, as an aircraft manufacturer, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget.
- 1946: Project 92, the Saab car initiative, commences.
- 1947: The first Saab car prototype is launched.
- 1949: Production of Saab cars begins in Trollhättan.
- 1955: The Saab 93 car is launched and becomes a major success.
- 1960: Saab acquires AB Nyköpings Automobilfabrik (ANA).
- 1967: The Saab 99 car is unveiled, introducing a new design era.
- 1968: Saab merges with Scania-Vabis, forming Saab-Scania.
- 1989: Saab Automobile is established as a separate entity; General Motors acquires 50% ownership.
- 2000: General Motors assumes full ownership of Saab Automobile. Saab Group (Saab AB) divests completely from car manufacturing.
- 2011: Saab Automobile declares bankruptcy, ending Saab car production.
1937 – Present Day: Saab AB continues to innovate and grow as a leading defense and security company.
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