Saab’s Heartbeat Fades: Trollhättan’s Iconic Factory Dismantled, Presses Shipped Overseas

Saab’s Historic Trollhättan Factory Faces Final Dismantling: An End to a Swedish Icon

The legacy of Saab’s Trollhättan factory, once the beating heart of the company’s innovative car production, is facing a somber reality. The monumental presses that shaped every Saab model since the 1960s are being dismantled, sold, and shipped overseas. This marks the definitive end of car production in Trollhättan, once home to the vehicles that defined Swedish automotive engineering.

A Legacy of Precision: The Power Behind Every Saab Model

Since the 1960s, the massive hydraulic presses at Trollhättan have been central to the production of Saab cars. From the early Saab 96 and Saab 99 to the later models like the Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5, these machines shaped the body panels that gave Saab its distinct look and engineering brilliance. Every curve, every panel, and every unique design element that Saab enthusiasts admired were formed by these legendary presses.

According to Peter Bäckström, curator at the Saab Car Museum, “They’ve pressed everything from the Saab 96 and 99 to the last 9-5.” The presses are more than just machines—they’re a piece of Swedish industrial history that connected generations of Saab models.

The Last Breath of a Saab Factory

The factory’s closure has long been a painful memory for many Saab enthusiasts and former employees. While there were faint hopes that production might restart after Saab’s 2012 bankruptcy, these dreams have now been dashed for good. NEVS, the Chinese-owned successor to Saab, struggled to revive production and eventually lost the rights to the Saab brand, leaving Trollhättan’s future in limbo.

However, NEVS remains active with new ventures, as detailed in recent reports. Despite setbacks like the cancellation of the EV Electra deal , NEVS is pushing forward with fresh plans, including the unveiling of new office spaces and bold strategies for the future of the Stallbacka site .

Joachim Ågren, from Surplex, the company overseeing the sale of the presses, notes, “It’s difficult not to get nostalgic and shed a tear. These presses have shaped Saabs that millions of Swedes have grown up with.”

From Saab 96 to Saab 9-5: A Journey Through the Presses

The history of Saab’s iconic models is intertwined with these presses. The oldest machine, dating back to 1967, began by forming the classic Saab 96 and Saab 99, cars that were groundbreaking in their time. As the years progressed, the presses molded newer and more advanced models, such as the Saab 900, Saab 9000, and the final iteration, the Saab 9-5.

“It’s astonishing to see the condition these machines are still in,” said Ågren. “The oldest press, from 1967, is fully modernized and still capable of handling today’s industrial demands.” This machinery has been a constant in Saab’s production for over five decades, helping to craft cars beloved by millions around the world.

A Complex Dismantling: The Future of Saab’s Presses

The process of dismantling these monumental machines is no small feat. There are twelve presses, some of which are capable of exerting pressures of up to 7,850 tons. Moving them is a highly complex operation, and potential buyers from countries like China and the USA are already lining up to acquire these pieces of automotive history.

While these presses were specifically designed for car manufacturing, they could be adapted for other industries. “Most of these machines can be repurposed for different industries. The possibilities are only limited by imagination,” said Ågren Carup magazine.

Saab’s Soul Lives On… Elsewhere

As these machines depart for new destinations, many Saab enthusiasts are left wondering what could have been. The presses that gave life to legendary models like the Saab 900 Turbo and Saab 9000 Aero are now poised to shape products in distant countries. This departure symbolizes the final chapter in Saab’s long and storied history.

For many Swedes, the dismantling of these presses is deeply emotional. Bäckström reflected on the cultural impact Saab had, noting that childhood memories and special moments are tied to these cars. “People remember their summers in the backseat of a Saab 99, watching the Swedish landscape pass by. Others recall their first love in a Saab 900 parked in some quiet corner of Sweden. These memories are what these presses created.”

Nostalgia vs. Reality: Why Trollhättan’s Factory Will Never Produce Cars Again

There were once whispers of Trollhättan’s factory returning to life. The hope that Saab production could resume never fully faded. However, the sale of these presses signals the end of such dreams. Trollhättan’s role as a car production hub is no more, and the plant’s future now lies far from its automotive roots.

Yet, even as the presses leave Swedish soil, their legacy remains. “These presses carry Saab’s soul with them. Wherever they go, they’ll take a piece of Trollhättan with them,“ said Ågren. Though their physical presence will be gone, the impact these machines had on Swedish industry will not be forgotten.

The Last Saab: A Danish Story

In a fitting end to Saab’s story, the last Saab car ever produced was purchased by Claus from Denmark in 2019. He paid 325,000 Danish kroner for the car, a final homage to a brand that once captured the imagination of car enthusiasts worldwide.

What’s Next for Trollhättan?

As Trollhättan’s presses are shipped off, the town must look forward to a future without its automotive past. Though there is no shortage of nostalgia surrounding Saab, the practical reality is that car production will never return to the factory. For Saab enthusiasts, this is the final chapter in the long and storied history of a brand that was as much a part of Sweden’s identity as it was of automotive innovation.

Read more about the dismantling of Saab’s iconic factory and its impact on Swedish industry here in Carup special report report.