Nevs, the Chinese-owned company that acquired the bankrupt Saab factory in Trollhattan, Sweden, has been in crisis, leading to the recent layoff of almost all of its employees. The future of the 483,000-square-meter factory has been uncertain, with Nevs initially planning to sell it and liquidate the company entirely. However, recent developments indicate that the factory may have a new lease of life.
According to a report in Carup magazine, Nevs’ Chinese parent company, Evergrande, wants the factory to be leased out rather than sold, with the hope of attracting new tenants. Evergrande has also requested that certain parts of the factory be preserved to reflect the company’s history and heritage, which Nevs CEO Nina Selander has confirmed. Selander added that the company is in discussions with potential tenants, which may not necessarily be related to the automotive industry.
The article in Ttela daily newspaper provides further insight into the situation, revealing that Evergrande has instructed Nevs to maintain the factory’s remaining areas, which include approximately 483,000 square meters of floor space. Nevs has already sold a portion of the factory, including 65,000 square meters of office space and accompanying land, to the municipality of Trollhattan for SEK 256 million. The remaining 23 employees of Nevs will now be responsible for maintaining the factory and removing any unnecessary equipment, particularly in the painting and assembly departments.
Selander has stated that she does not know the exact plans that Evergrande has for the factory, but that the decision to lease it out indicates that the company has a strategy for its future. She also expressed the hope that the decision would lead to more job opportunities in Trollhattan. Currently, the factory is leased to Hellma Materials, with Nevs hoping to attract additional tenants in the future.
The situation with the Saab factory has been the subject of much speculation in recent years, with several companies expressing interest in purchasing it. Nevs acquired the factory in 2012 and initially aimed to produce electric vehicles under the Saab brand. However, the company has struggled to generate revenue, with the layoffs and the recent decision to lease the factory to new tenants signaling an uncertain future for the facility.
The recent news that the Saab factory in Trollhattan will not be sold and will instead be leased to new tenants provides a glimmer of hope for the facility’s future. The decision by Nevs’ parent company, Evergrande, to preserve certain parts of the factory highlights the importance of the site’s history and heritage.
While the identity of the new tenants and their proposed use for the factory remains uncertain, the decision to lease the facility rather than sell it indicates a strategy for the future. The hope is that this move will lead to more job opportunities in Trollhattan and a brighter future for the factory.
So I looked it up and trollhattan is a real place in Sweden. It sounded like a joke name.
Anyway it’s April 1st and I bet this is a joke. A cruel joke because I’d really like Saab to come back.
I absolutely love my 2008 SAAB 9.3 Electric Blue Convertible, the sad part is no major components are supported any longer. There are some bits and pieces I need to keep my li’l driving joy safe and operational…alas, not to be. And with a mere 185,000 miles on the clock this li’l thing is far from iver the hill… Oh well, come Summer she goes up for sale… I’ve got my sites set on investigating a Land Rover Evoque Convertible!
Trollhattan is a real Swedish town
Please bring back Saab, the best cars ever built.
Yes i have to agree
As an owner of 3 saab 9-3s 04,08 and my 11 they are cars that are way ahead of their time. Comfort reliability and safty let alone a tunes will get you to 285 hp and a turbo up grade and exhaust will fetch you 350 hp and pull on many of the newest cars out there..
Please please please revive the Saab brand!!!!! It’s so incredibly lived and respected. Saab owners will continue to wish for its long awaited return.
Good to read that I am not alone. I loved the succession of Saabs I owned (including one of the first turbos in the UK – referred to in my family as ‘The Magnet’ because police cars stuck to it on the motoreway waiting for me to ‘put my foot down’!) and would be round there kicking the door down if they came back to the showroms ever again. Bring back the Saab – one of the best cars ever built!