When I last met with Nina Selander, she had just marked her two-year anniversary as the CEO of NEVS. It was the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on what has been an eventful and, at times, turbulent journey.
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Reflecting on Two Years as NEVS CEO
I asked her about her first week on the job. Nina admitted that she should have felt excitement stepping into such a major leadership role, but the reality was far from it. Beyond intense days spent finalizing agreements, NEVS’ owner, Evergrande, had decided to cut financial support, including drastic measures like reducing heating in company facilities. Then, just a few days into her tenure, came the biggest blow—a devastating announcement that 320 out of 340 employees would be laid off.
The Highs and Lows of Leadership
I then asked Nina about her best and worst moments as CEO.
The worst moment?
Without hesitation, she pointed to the mass layoffs. Even two years later, she still finds it deeply emotional. Having to let go of employees—many of whom she had personally hired—was a painful experience.
The best moment?
The sale of large parts of NEVS’ facilities to Stenhaga Invest in November 2023. It was a make-or-break moment—without that deal, bankruptcy would have been inevitable.
Facing Public Scrutiny
Throughout her tenure, Nina Selander has faced intense media attention—and, with that, criticism. Some of it was legitimate, while other remarks were personal attacks. I focused our conversation only on the substantive criticisms she has faced.
The LinkedIn Controversy: Career Move or Insensitivity?
One of the first waves of criticism came from a LinkedIn post Nina made upon becoming CEO. Just days later, she had to oversee the mass layoffs. Critics accused her of being more focused on advancing her career than on the employees who were losing their jobs.
Her response? She explained that the post was intended to share her career milestone and that she, too, had worked hard to reach this point. It was a post many others in her position would have written.
She also made it clear that when she posted it, she had no knowledge that the layoffs were coming. When I asked if she could understand the backlash she faced at the time, she responded:
“Absolutely! Looking back, I would have phrased my post differently.”
The Failed Acquisition: Could NEVS Have Seen It Coming?
The biggest and most sensitive controversy came in November 2023, when NEVS announced a new buyer for the company—only for the deal to collapse in May 2024.
Critics argued that NEVS leadership, including Nina, failed to recognize an obvious fraud attempt. Even I had my doubts about how such a deal could have progressed.
Because business dealings are sensitive, I will not name the ‘buyer’ involved, as I do not wish to be associated with him. However, I can summarize the situation:
The ‘buyer’ promised everything NEVS had been looking for—a production future in Trollhättan, something other potential buyers had not prioritized. External parties vetted the buyer, and at the time, nothing appeared suspicious.
It wasn’t until the public announcement of the sale that the buyer’s facade crumbled, revealing the true nature of the deal. It was at that moment that NEVS, along with the public, realized the mistake.
When the buyer failed to meet their obligations, the contract was terminated.
The Road Ahead for NEVS
Now, NEVS is in negotiations with multiple parties. Some discussions are further along than others, but Nina remains confident:
“I am convinced the projects will be sold. This statement is based on reality, not just a feeling.”
Stay tuned for more in this ongoing series about my visit to NEVS and the people shaping its future.
Dra ner rullgardinen!
Nina Selander can makes it.
Nevs bought a piece of real estate. A big empty building from the banks. They didn’t buy Saab Cars. GM cut Saabs throat and let them die. Was nothing to buy.
Also there was no Saab engineers involved in the Electric thing.
They were unemployed Swedest people that needed a job. Time to end this and send it home to China.
To Roland Stsauveur >
Former Saab engineers were involved in developing the car. I myself was involved in building it. As a former car builder at Saab, I claim that you have some factual errors.
To Daniel Peltola >
I agree with you
To Daniel Peltola >
Yes but it’s not a Saab own car it’s a NEVs. They didn’t buy Saab Cars.
Also didn’t they hire you as a unemployed Swedest person. They didn’t go to Saab Cars and recruit you. After GM refused to let Saab live on. A man goes from Ford to Chevy to work as a Chevy engineer
any thing he works on there. The
world’s not going claim that Chevy is a Ford because he uses to work
at Ford.
To Roland Stsauveur>
Guess I ran into the tomato tomatho guy.
Nevs recruited me because of my history at Saab. In the same way they recruited other staff. Most of them from an already existing job. Nevs not only bought the property, they bought the technology for existing platforms except for the new 9-5. In addition to that, all factories were included in the form of press shop, body shop, paint shop and final assembly. All intact.
While we still disagree about tomatoe and tomatho. I can reveal that the SAAB 9-3 was actually built during Nev’s ownership of the factory. And im not talking about the Nevs 9-3.
To Daniel Peltola >
So you were recruited right away then because they wanted your expertise they didn’t want just to worker. I’m impressed how long did you work for them.
You see I work very closely with Saab Cars training over here in the US in fact I did some projects for them. In fact Sweden took one and put it on the Saab WIS when it was a stand alone tech manual on the the computer
for the Saab techs to work on Saabs.
See most of my information came from Saab Cars people over here at the end after GM finished us.
They say you learned something new everyday. Thanks for that new info.
What are you doing now for
work.
To be honest… that design on the NEVS is far from attractive!
Wish I could get one oooooo