NEVS Cars

NEVS Faces Challenges Head-On: Courage and Determination in the Wake of EV Electra Deal Cancellation

NEVS navigates setbacks with resilience and optimism, aiming to revive the Saab legacy and embrace new opportunities.

NEVS Emily GT at Trollhattan test trackNEVS Emily GT at Trollhattan test track

Summarizing the Journey with EV Electra

In an interview with the local newspaper Ttela, NEVS CEO Nina Selander reflected on the tumultuous journey with Jihad Mohammad and EV Electra following the termination of their agreement. The key theme of the discussion was courage. Both Selander and Frank Smit, the former technical chief at NEVS and one of the key figures behind the Emily GT, emphasized the importance of making bold decisions, regardless of the outcome.

A Day of Intense Activity

The day the news broke, Nina Selander’s phone and computer were inundated with messages and calls, reminiscent of the intense period when she was appointed CEO of the struggling NEVS in 2023. This day, much like the previous pivotal moments, was marked by speculation and high expectations. The rumors surrounding the Emily GT project, such as its planned production in Italy and the financial issues with EV Electra, had been swirling for months.

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Reflecting on the Decision

Selander acknowledged the potential perception of the deal’s cancellation as a failure, taking full responsibility for the decision. However, she stood by the thorough research and initial confidence in EV Electra’s commitment to Trollhättan. Despite the ultimate outcome, she believed that the decision to proceed with EV Electra was the right one based on the information available at the time.

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Handling the Fallout

As the news spread, Selander braced for the inevitable media frenzy. Her phone continued to ring, and she received constant notifications. Despite the immediate chaos, she remained resolute, prepared for a few stormy days but confident that the situation would stabilize.

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Addressing Perceptions of Failure

Frank Smit did not see the deal’s cancellation as a failure. He pointed out that the past six to seven months had been a rollercoaster, but the team at NEVS had remained strong and united. For Smit, the setback was just another challenge to overcome. Selander, on the other hand, felt the weight of the situation more personally, striving for perfection and success in every endeavor.

Learning from Setbacks

Smit felt relieved that the deal was called off, comparing the situation to ripping off a band-aid. He emphasized the importance of learning from each setback and maintaining a resilient mindset. Both he and Selander shared a commitment to never giving up, a trait deeply ingrained in the culture of both Saab and NEVS.

"Revolutionary Rear End Design: NEVS Emily's Distinctive LED Lights Steal the Show
“Revolutionary Rear End Design: NEVS Emily’s Distinctive LED Lights Steal the Show

Looking Ahead

The future will be challenging for NEVS, particularly since part of their mission involved supporting the establishment of EV Electra’s Swedish subsidiary. With that opportunity now gone, NEVS must find new projects to focus on.

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Selander expressed hope that NEVS would soon find positive new directions to pursue. Despite the unexpected turn of events with Jihad Mohammad’s shift from a Trollhättan-centered approach to outsourcing production and development, NEVS remains optimistic about the future.

Embracing Challenges and Looking Ahead with Resilience

The cancellation of the deal with EV Electra represents a significant challenge for NEVS, but also an opportunity for growth and learning. The courage and determination demonstrated by Nina Selander and Frank Smit highlight the resilient spirit of NEVS.

As the company navigates this latest hurdle, the commitment to innovation and the legacy of Saab continues to drive them forward. The team at NEVS is already looking ahead, ready to embrace new opportunities and hopeful for a positive turn in the near future.

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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.

11 Comments

  • Hoping Nevs will find a serious partner with real, actual experience in putting out high-end cars, next time arround…

  • Clearly the battery electric vehicle is facing challenges, unclear what the future will bring.

  • Not sure indeed what is the future for electric vehicles in the actual circumstances : building them is polluting more than a petrol car does in its whole “life”. I remain in favor of petrol or E85 fuel cars and reduce fuel consumption on one hand and offer more public transportation in urban areas. And develop car sharing in stead of owning its car. Car sharing not only reduces the number of cars but also eliminates the actual crazy renewal of models to seduce to buy a latest model and not repair, refurbished or upgrade the existing ones. It’s the most economical way as well as environmental friendly the best strategy. I hope given the actual geopolitical situation this strategy can be developed and decided by the EU. And as a Saab-lover, Saab engineers shave shown they can contribute to this orientation.

  • What? Your statement of “His initial encounter with Saab cars took place back in 2003 when the first Saab 9-3 and sedan version were introduced.” is totally incorrect. They introduced the 9-3 in 1999 (might have been 1998). Goran is not a “passionate” lover of Saabs…

  • It would be better just start producing cars instead of blablablá all the time..Pretty sure in one year the Emily prototype will be obsolete with the progress of the americans and of the chinese…

  • I guess you should look to South Korea and China, specially, brands like Avatr(it’s not mispelled), Zeekr, and the luxury brand of BYD.
    The Chinese market is the biggest in the world and they are not changing to hybrids and I add only this, Emily GT is going to be another failed project.

  • Emily GT is not a failed project. NEVS and Evergrand are the ones that failed Emily GT. It’s an amazing car and concept considering the limited resources.

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