NEVS Desperate to Get Saab Back on Road

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the company owned by Chinese and Japanese interests that bought SaabSaabSweden, 1947 > present28 models
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last year, is getting desperate to get a car on the road. The original plan was to have an electric version of the 9-3Saab 9-3 Gen.2Sweden, 2003 > present237 versions
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on sale at least in China within 18 months of buying the company. That deadline is rapidly approaching, and the company is determined to have a car on sale, even if it is not electric. 

The problem with building an internal combustion version of the 9-3 is that when NEVS bought the rights to the company, it did not receive the rights to GM'sGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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engines or transmissions. That means that NEVS is going to have to find a company to buy engines under contract and then re-engineer the 9-3 to accept that powertrain. 

"There is still a small possibility that GM engines will be delivered, but we are still working on it. And if that does not work, then we have options with other brands. As I said, we will keep all options open and close no doors," said a NEVS spokesperson.

NEVS also says that it will build sedan, wagon and convertible versions of the 9-3 because it has rights to all of the body styles, but that is not until it has a powertrain for the cars. 

NEVS is 51% owned by Hong Kong-based National Modern Energy Holdings and 49% owned by Japan-based Sun Investment LLC. The two organizations founded NEVS specifically to buy Saab. 

The company's original plan had been to build the 9-3 at Saab's Trollhattan using a Japanese, electric powertrain. 

Source: Autoweek.nl