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How Maptun and SAC Are Reviving Saab in Taiwan: A Bold Move for the Brand’s Future

Reviving Saab Excellence: Maptun’s Strategic Partnership with SAC in Taiwan.

Fredrik Bengtsson and Thomas Hellberg from Maptun collaborate with SAC leaders, driving Saab innovation and performance in Taiwan.

A Partnership Driving Saab’s Legacy in Asia

For decades, Scandinavia Asia Corporation (SAC) has been the backbone of the Saab brand in Taiwan, preserving the legacy of this iconic Swedish automaker. This November, Maptun Performance AB, a Swedish tuning powerhouse specializing in Saab performance upgrades, revisited SAC for a week-long exchange of ideas, innovation, and commitment to keeping Saab cars alive and thriving in the region.

The collaboration between Maptun and SAC is not merely a business partnership—it’s a mission. With over 9,758 Saab cars still on Taiwan’s roads and 4,774 loyal customers actively serviced by SAC, this relationship is critical to ensuring Saab remains a strong contender in automotive culture. SAC’s dedication and Maptun’s expertise have combined to create a thriving Saab community in Taiwan, one that celebrates innovation, precision, and passion for the brand.

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A trio of Saab cars in distinctive Glacier Blue, parked outside the SAC showroom, showcasing the brand's iconic design and color that pays homage to Sweden's frozen landscapes.
A trio of Saab cars in distinctive Glacier Blue, parked outside the SAC showroom, showcasing the brand’s iconic design and color that pays homage to Sweden’s frozen landscapes.

SAC: The Guardian of Saab in Taiwan

Founded in 1981, SAC has sold a remarkable 22,574 Saab units from 1981 to 2012. Today, SAC maintains an impressive network of 7 direct workshops and 12 contract workshops, along with 7 operational showrooms in Taiwan’s major cities. These facilities are more than service centers—they are hubs of Saab preservation.

In the past two years alone, SAC has made significant strides, including the construction of three new service centers exclusively for Saab vehicles and the refurbishment of dealer signage. Their massive stockpile of Saab parts ensures that even older models can continue to perform at their best. SAC’s dedication to its customers is unparalleled, offering them the chance to not only maintain their vehicles but also enhance their performance with cutting-edge Maptun software upgrades.

dr. Chen, her favorite Saab and experts from SAC
dr. Chen, her favorite Saab and experts from SAC

Maptun’s Role: Pioneers of Saab Tuning and Innovation

Maptun Performance AB has a long-standing reputation as the go-to source for Saab performance upgrades. From advanced software tuning to custom-built engine solutions, Maptun has positioned itself as a leader in Saab innovation. Their expertise has expanded beyond Sweden, creating a global network of Saab enthusiasts who rely on Maptun to breathe new life into their vehicles.

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Maptun and SAC Strengthen Saab Legacy in Taiwan with a Visit to Remember
Maptun and SAC Strengthen Saab Legacy in Taiwan with a Visit to Remember

Since its introduction to the Taiwanese market in 2022, Maptun has revolutionized the Saab ownership experience. Nearly 400 Saab vehicles in Taiwan have been upgraded with Maptun software, proving that performance and reliability can coexist, even for cars over a decade old. This milestone is a testament to the trust Saab owners place in Maptun’s precision engineering.

This Year’s Visit: Strengthening a Thriving Partnership

From November 25 to November 30, 2024, Maptun’s CEO Fredrik Bengtsson, Business Manager Thomas Hellberg, and software developer Jonas Gustafsson visited SAC in Taiwan. This visit built on last year’s successful exchange and further strengthened the bonds between the two organizations.

During their time in Taiwan, the Maptun team toured SAC’s workshops and showrooms, marveling at the scale and quality of operations. They met with SAC’s President C.S. Chen and Vice President Salo Yang, expressing admiration for SAC’s unwavering dedication to Saab customers. Bengtsson highlighted his amazement at seeing Saab cars in pristine condition, some boasting over 500,000 kilometers on their odometers—testament to the meticulous care they receive.

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After completing the tuning, Thomas Hellberg from Maptun signs the Saab engine cover, marking the successful performance upgrade with a personal touch.
After completing the tuning, Thomas Hellberg from Maptun signs the Saab engine cover, marking the successful performance upgrade with a personal touch.

Connecting with the Saab Community

A highlight of the visit was the series of interactive fan events held in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. These gatherings allowed Saab enthusiasts to meet the Maptun team, ask questions about tuning, and even have their engine covers signed by Bengtsson and Hellberg.

Maptun also demonstrated its technical prowess, performing live software tuning sessions and walking owners through power map analyses tailored to their vehicles. The team unveiled new tuning products, offering Saab owners exciting opportunities to further enhance their driving experience.

The Maptun and SAC teams celebrate a successful collaboration, marking another milestone in preserving the Saab legacy in Taiwan.
The Maptun and SAC teams celebrate a successful collaboration, marking another milestone in preserving the Saab legacy in Taiwan.

A Cultural Exchange Beyond Business

Beyond the workshops and tuning sessions, Maptun’s visit also included a cultural deep dive into Taiwan, curated by SAC. From sampling iconic stinky tofu and bubble tea to exploring landmarks like the National Museum of Taiwan History and Taipei 101, the Maptun team experienced the vibrant essence of Taiwanese culture.

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This cultural exchange underscored the importance of building strong relationships, not just through business but also through shared experiences. For Maptun, the hospitality and passion of SAC and its customers reaffirmed their commitment to this thriving partnership.

The Road Ahead: Innovation and Commitment

As the visit concluded, Maptun and SAC reaffirmed their shared vision for the future of Saab in Taiwan. Maptun announced exclusive discounts on performance software upgrades, making it easier than ever for Saab owners to enhance their vehicles. The team also emphasized their dedication to providing ongoing support for unique tuning solutions, ensuring that even custom hardware setups are optimized for peak performance.

Looking ahead, this partnership is poised to continue driving Saab’s legacy forward. With SAC’s robust infrastructure and Maptun’s cutting-edge expertise, Saab owners in Taiwan can rest assured that their beloved cars will remain symbols of innovation, performance, and reliability for years to come.

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A Partnership Built to Last

The collaboration between SAC and Maptun is more than a business alliance—it’s a shared mission to uphold the spirit of Saab. Together, they are ensuring that Saab cars remain icons of performance and reliability, even in regions far from their Swedish roots.

For Saab enthusiasts worldwide, the thriving community in Taiwan is a beacon of hope and inspiration. Through partnerships like this, Saab’s legacy continues to grow, proving that the passion for these unique vehicles transcends borders and time.

Goran Aničić
the authorGoran Aničić
For over 15 years, Goran Aničić has been passionately focused on Saab automobiles and everything related to them. His initial encounter with Saab cars took place back in 2003 when the first Saab 9-3 and sedan version were introduced. At that moment, he was captivated by the car's Scandinavian design logic and top-notch engineering, and everything that followed stemmed from that first encounter. Later on, through his work at the editorial team of the Serbian automotive magazines "Autostart" and later "AutoBild," he had the opportunity to engage more closely with Saab vehicles. In 2008, he tested the latest Saab cars of that time, such as the Saab 9-3 TTiD Aero and Saab 9-3 Turbo X. In 2010, as the sole blogger from the region, he participated in the Saab 9-5ng presentation in Trollhättan, Sweden. Alongside journalists from around the world, he got a firsthand experience of the pinnacle of technological offerings from Saab at that time. Currently, Goran owns two Saabs: a 2008 Saab 9-3 Vector Sportcombi with a manual transmission, and a Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin Sport Sedan from the last generation, which rolled off the production line in Trollhättan in December 2011.

5 Comments

  • C.S. Chen dedicated his life to Saab. He had a long term plan and great ambitions, sadly reduced by the closure.
    He sold cars to the Taiwan police and was highly regarded.

    • Yes, a fantastic Saab man. Started SAC in 1980 and still at 70+ helps some 6000 Saabs on the road in Taiwan 🇹🇼 with service and parts! 🤗💕
      I met C.S. some weeks ago in his Saab HQ in Taipei incl three hours meeting around many used Saabs in mint condition!

  • Fantastic news.
    I own and drive a 2007 93 convertible and a 2011 93 TTiD.
    There are a further ten SAAB owners down here in Monemvasia, Peloponnese.

    Stuart Evans

  • I attended a wedding in Taiwan. The father of the bride had been a police and remembered the fast Saab highway patrol 900 Turbos! 👍

  • Just increadable show in front a huge crowd in the center of Taipei! I saw my former technician Jean Pennholm (close to several nice ladies) helping me with checking European Homologation cars before the approving agencies visited Saab.
    C. S. gave me some discs with this 2006 show! A SAC book mentioned at least four times with Saab Performance Team 1984, 1994-95 & 2006! 🤗🇹🇼

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