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The Dimming Hope for Saab’s Revival in Trollhättan
Once the heart of Swedish automotive innovation, the Saab factory in Trollhättan now stands as a monument to a legacy facing uncertain transformation. With the recent shift in direction from EV Electra, led by Jihad Mohammad, the hope of rekindling Saab’s innovative spirit through the production of the Emily GT electric vehicle in its ancestral home dims. As ambitions pivot from local revival to potential ventures in China, a poignant chapter unfolds for Saab enthusiasts and the automotive industry at large.
The Shift Away from Trollhättan
Initial attempts by EV Electra to anchor the production of the Emily GT—a project steeped in Saab’s engineering and design heritage—within the walls of the historic Saab factory met with formidable challenges. The reluctance of local stakeholders to sell and the subsequent lack of public response to land purchase offers have nudged Jihad Mohammad to explore alternatives far from Trollhättan’s storied grounds. This reevaluation not only marks a significant departure from the project’s original vision but also mirrors broader trends in the global shift toward electric vehicle production.
China: The New Arena for Saab’s Legacy?
Mohammad’s exploration of industrial opportunities in Shenzhen and Guangzhou signals a pragmatic shift towards China, the epicenter of the electric vehicle manufacturing boom. This eastward gaze underlines the daunting complexities of reviving a legacy like Saab’s outside its geographical and cultural context.
The potential for Emily GT’s production in China hinges on securing a partnership that aligns with EV Electra‘s ambitions, both materially and financially—a challenge that underscores the project’s precarious future.
Volvo’s Tenure and the Echoes of Saab
Amidst these unfolding developments, Volvo’s occupation of parts of the Saab factory serves as a reminder of the site’s ongoing industrial relevance. This juxtaposition of the old and the new—where Volvo’s forward-looking endeavors contrast with the lingering echoes of Saab’s past—highlights the diverse potentials of the location. Yet, for Saab purists, Volvo’s presence and the fading prospects of a local revival for Saab-inspired projects like the Emily GT evoke mixed emotions.
The Consequences of a Global Shift
As the prospect of the Emily GT’s production moves potentially to China, the implications for Saab’s legacy and its enthusiasts are profound. The dream of witnessing new vehicles imbued with Saab’s spirit emerging from Trollhättan grows increasingly distant. This global redirection serves as a stark reminder of the economic and strategic realities shaping the automotive industry’s future, often at the expense of heritage and locality.
A Legacy in Limbo
The narrative surrounding the Saab factory, with its historical significance and its potential role in the future of electric vehicles, encapsulates the broader challenges facing automotive legacy brands in the electric era. As EV Electra contemplates a future possibly rooted in China, the story of Saab’s spirit—once poised for a revival in Trollhättan—now ventures into uncertain territories, reflecting the intricate dance between preserving heritage and embracing innovation in the automotive domain. The saga of Saab’s legacy, and its impact on future electric vehicles, continues to evolve, bridging past and future in unexpected ways.
Most of the western EV companies moving to China to be able to survive and became competitive..
To Harri Perkio>
have you seen the video of all the new EVs dumped in China….it’s about government subsidies and pump and dump schemes
I love seeing the EVs in China that explode proves to me I will never buy one
Oh dear, I suppose this should come as no surprise. China, as the production hub for most cars, is the future.
TO Tim Lewis >
China has started its population implosion. It won’t be able to take care of it own population, much less building cars for the rest of the world The future is not China.
Very sad news!
Not China, rather India for cheaper production costs.
It ain’t over until it’s over! So far it has been only suggestions and no tangiable actions.
Wait until the fat lady sings!
I love your analysis..but unfortunately not all correct .. will email you a scope soon
Saab Planet absolutely correct!👍 looking forward to the scoop with hopefully positive developments!
TO Jihad Mohammad> Thanks Jihad, We Saab enthusiasts are afraid that everything will go to China, and that the Saab spirit in these cars will disappear.
How many times do we have to say it… SAAB won’t come back as a car brand. It’s no meaning to even hope.
To Saab Planet>
I promise you ,my presence has nothing to do with emily . It’s for a greater picture . But my presence in italy has everything to do with emily 😊
last time I checked, EV Electra wanted to build in Trollhattan but Stenhaga invest nor Trollhattan came to an agreement for it. So…now EV Electra has no choice but to look elsewhere…meh I wonder why Trollhattan didn’t jump on the opportunity.
Oh Gosh… 🙄
Stop comparing SAAB brand with Nevs and EV Electra.
There’s virtually nothing in common (let alone the spirit!). Yes, they’re using the Trollhattan’s factory and some of the engineers. Good.
(But again, car-wise , who cares?!).
China is no longer an underdog of car manufacturing, cheap but worse quality than what Europe can produce. It is only logical to locate production there. Might even bring the Emily project closer to reality.
“Saab” spirit = Emily GT :)
Whuy not produce SAAB Electric in South Africa. South Africa is a car producing country. Check out who’s there. The likes of VW and Audi plus Mercedes Benz and on top of it labour is cheap.
How many times do we have to say it… SAAB won’t come back as a car brand. It’s no meaning to even hope..
To Patrick Hagström >
Not until at least 2031 when the decision on a next gen domestic fighter will be made.
I like Saab to come back from the dead with the brand and griffin , but I’m feeling so sad that it was the wrong time because Saab was having difficulties from Koenigsegg and Spyker that they are unsuitable small car companies before bankrupt.
I really miss Saab for over 13 years before petrol and diesel are going be banned in 2030 there no more Saab forever that means my life is over.
I can’t believed that Delorean is back from the dead for over 40 years is absolutely lucky but why not Saab.
I’m getting desperate please get Saab back.
One more thing, I had a dream that Saab was in the big Finnish car company called Mönter so Saab won’t be bankrupt and I made a big speech like Martin Luther King Jr.