 | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1945 (1945) |
| Founder | Saab AB |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Fate | Bankrupt |
| Successor | NEVS |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jan-Åke Jonsson (final General Manager)[1] |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Parent | Saab AB (1945–1968) Saab-Scania (1968–1990) General Motors (1990–2010) Spyker N.V. (2010–2012) NEVS (2012–2014) |
| Divisions | Saab Aero |
| Website | saabparts.com |
Saab Automobile AB[2][3] (/sɑːb/) was acar manufacturer that was founded inSweden in 1945 when its parent company,Saab AB, began a project to design a small automobile. The first production model, theSaab 92, was launched in 1949. In 1968, the parent company merged withScania-Vabis, and ten years later theSaab 900 was launched, in time becoming Saab's best-selling model. In the mid-1980s, the newSaab 9000 model also appeared.
In 1989, the automobile division of Saab-Scania was restructured into an independent company, Saab Automobile AB. The American manufacturerGeneral Motors (GM) took 50 percent ownership. Two well-known models to come out of this period were theSaab 9-3 and theSaab 9-5. Then, in 2000, GM exercised its option to acquire the remaining 50 percent. In 2010, GM sold Saab Automobile AB to the Dutch automobile manufacturerSpyker Cars N.V.[4][5]
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After many years establishing a sound engineering reputation and ultimately aluxury price tag, Saab failed to build its customer base beyond its niche following.[6] After struggling to avoid insolvency throughout 2011, the company petitioned forbankruptcy following the failure of a Chinese consortium to complete a purchase of the company; the purchase had been blocked by the former owner GM, which opposed the transfer of technology and production rights to a Chinese company.[7] On 13 June 2012, it was announced that a newly formed company calledNational Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) had bought Saab Automobile's bankrupt estate.[8] According to "Saab United", the first NEVS Saab 9-3 drove off its pre-production line on 19 September 2013.[9] Full production restarted on 2 December 2013,[10] initially the same petrol-powered 9-3Aero sedans that were built before Saab went bankrupt, and intended to get the car manufacturer's supply chain re-established as it attempted development of a new line of NEVS-Saab products.[11][12] NEVS lost its license to manufacture automobiles under the Saab name (which the namesake aerospace company still owns) in the summer of 2014 and later produced electric cars based on the Saab 9-3 but under its own new car designation "NEVS".[13][14]
Saab, "SvenskaAeroplanAktiebolaget" (Swedish for "Swedish aeroplane corporation"), a Swedish aerospace and defence company, was created in 1937 inLinköping. The company had been established in 1937 for the express purpose of building aircraft for theSwedish Air Force to protect the country's neutrality as Europe moved closer toWorld War II. As the war drew to a close and the market for fighter planes seemed to weaken, the company began looking for new markets to diversify.
An automobile design project was started in 1945 with the internal name "X9248".[15][16] The design project became formally known as "Project 92"; the92 being next in production sequence after theSaab 91, a single engine trainer aircraft.[17] In 1948, a company site inTrollhättan was converted to allow automobile assembly and the project moved there, along with the car manufacturing headquarters, which has remained there since. The company made four prototypes named "Ursaab" or "original Saab", numbered 92001 through to 92004, before designing the production model, theSaab 92, in 1949.
The Saab 92 went into production in December 1949.[18] 20,000 cars were sold through the mid-1950s. The 92 was thoroughly redesigned and re-engineered in 1955, and was renamed as the "Saab 93". The car's engine gained a cylinder, going fromtwo tothree and its front fascia became the first to sport the first incarnation of Saab's trademark trapezoidal radiator grill. A wagon variant, theSaab 95, was added in 1959. The decade also saw Saab's first performance car, theSaab 94, the first of theSaab Sonetts.
1960 saw the third major revision to the 92's platform as theSaab 96. The 96 was an important model for Saab: it was the first Saab to be widely exported out of Sweden. The unusual vehicle proved very popular, selling nearly 550,000 examples. Unlike American cars of the day, the 93, 95 and 96 all featured the 3-cylinder 2-cycle engine, which required adding oil to the petrol tank, front-wheel drive, and freewheeling, which allowed the driver to downshift the on-the-column manual shifter without using the clutch. Front seat shoulder belts were also an early feature.[citation needed]
Even more important to the company's fortunes was 1968'sSaab 99. The 99 was the first all-new Saab in 19 years and a clean break from the 92. The 99 had many innovations and features that would come to define Saabs for decades: wraparound windscreen, self-repairing bumpers, headlamp washers and side-impact door beams. The design bySixten Sason was no less revolutionary than the underlying technology, and elements like theSaab hockey stick profile graphic continue to influence Saab's design language.[citation needed]
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In 1969, Saab AB merged with the Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturerScania-Vabis AB to form Saab-Scania AB, under theWallenberg family umbrella.
The 99 range was expanded in 1973 with the addition of acombi coupé model, a body style which became synonymous with Saab. The millionth Saab automobile was produced in 1976.
Saab entered into an agreement withFiat in 1978 to sell arebadgedLancia Delta as theSaab 600 and jointly develop a new platform. The agreement yielded 1985'sSaab 9000, sister to theAlfa Romeo 164,Fiat Croma andLancia Thema; all rode atop a commonType Four chassis. The 9000 was Saab's first proper luxury car but failed to achieve the planned sales volume.
1978 also was the first year for the 99's replacement: theSaab 900. Nearly one million 900s would be produced, making it Saab's best-selling and most iconic model.[19] A popular convertible version followed in 1986, all of which were made at theSaab-Valmet factory inFinland, making up nearly 20% of 900 sales. Even today, the "classic 900" retains a cult following.
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In 1989, the Saab car division of Saab-Scania was restructured into an independent company, Saab Automobile AB, headquartered in Sweden;General Motors andInvestor AB controlled 50% each. GM's investment of US$600 million gave it the option to acquire the remaining shares within a decade. In the fall of 1989 Saab opened anew factory [sv] inMalmö. Located in the oldKockums shipyard, this was a novel kind of factory with extensive worker control and a focus on workers' comfort, an effort to increase productivity and retain skilled workers. With an annual capacity of 60,000 cars (to be increased to 90,000 cars by 1995), the factory began production at a time of shrinking sales and economic contraction and only built 10,176 cars in 1990 (the only full year of production).[20] After a review by GM, the factory changed over to a standardassembly line but was nonetheless shuttered in June 1991, after 20,664 cars had been built in about two years.[21]
General Motors' involvement spurred the launch of anew 900 in 1994. The new car shared a platform with theOpel Vectra. Due in large part to its success, Saab earned a profit in 1995 for the first time in seven years. However, the model never achieved the cult following of the "classic 900" and did not achieve the same reputation for quality.
1997 marked Saab's 50th anniversary as a car manufacturer. The company used its jubilee owners' convention to launch a replacement for the aging 9000: theSaab 9-5. The 900 received a facelift and renaming complementary to its new larger sibling: it would now be called theSaab 9-3. The 9-5 was the first Saab without a combi coupé body style option in 20 years. Filling that space was a wagon variant, introduced in 1999.
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GM exercised its option to acquire the remaining Saab shares in 2000, spending US$125 million to turn the company into a wholly owned subsidiary.
The new close relationship yielded its first product in 2003's all-new 9–3. The new model, marketed as a sport sedan, dropped Saab's iconic hatchback in favour of a more conventional four-door approach. The model shared a co-developed platform (GM's "global Epsilon 1 platform") and some other components with the Opel Vectra again, but the relationship was much more of a joint engineering effort than before.
Under GM's direction, thebadge-engineeredSaab 9-2X (based on theSubaru Impreza) andSaab 9-7X (based on theChevrolet Trailblazer) were introduced in the American market in 2005 with the hope of increasing sales. Both models were a critical and commercial failure and were cancelled a few years after production began. GM also delayed the 9-3 wagon by three years, shelved a hatchback derivative of the 9-3 sedan, stalled plans for all-wheel-drive capabilities in Saab models until 2008, cancelled a 9–5 replacement in 2005, and announced a planned shift of production away from Saab's historic home in Trollhättan toOpel's factory inRüsselsheim.
Owing to fading fortunes across its entire business due to a slowing economy in 2007, GM announced that the Saab brand was "under review" in December 2008, a process which included the possibility of selling or shuttering the car maker.[22]
As the talks progressed, GM's support receded, and Saab went intoadministration, the Swedish equivalent of America'sChapter 11 bankruptcy. Saab's managing directorJan-Åke Jonsson said that this was "the best way to create a truly independent entity that is ready for investment".[23] For its part, the Swedish government was reluctant to become involved, withMaud Olofsson, industry minister, stating: "The Swedish state and taxpayers in Sweden will not own car factories. Sometimes you get the impression that this is a small, small company but it is the world's biggest automaker so we have a right to make demands."[24]
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On 16 June 2009,Koenigsegg announced its intention to purchase the brand from GM.[25] The bid was backed by a group of Norwegian investors and the Chinese car makerBeijing Automotive Industry Holding Co Ltd (BAIC). The following month, both parties announced that GM had consented to the deal. There were outstanding financial details, but a loan from theEuropean Investment Bank was expected to cover them. The loan was approved in October, but on 24 November 2009, Koenigsegg announced that it had "come to the painful and difficult conclusion that it could no longer carry out the acquisition"[26] much because of the constant delays and the difficulties coordinating the involved parties: GM, the European Investment Bank, theSwedish National Debt Office and BAIC.
It was announced on 14 December 2009, that the Chinese car manufacturer would acquire the intellectual property rights and production equipment for the previous generation Saab 9-3 and Saab 9–5 in a deal worth about US$197 million, which was enough for the company to run for three months.[27][28] BAIC expressed its intention to create a new brand around the purchased technology and admitted to the purchase of "three overall vehicle platforms, two engine technologies and two transmission systems."[29]
Following the collapse of talks with Koenigsegg, GM announced that the brand would be eliminated in 2010 if it failed to secure a buyer before the close of 2009.[30] As talks with several firms failed, including the Netherlands-based boutique sports car maker Spyker, GM formally announced its intention to wind down the Saab brand.[31]
Undeterred, a new offer round materialised. Earlier bidders Spyker and Merbanco revised their offers and were joined by a submission from Luxembourg-basedGenii Capital, which boasted the support of F1 chiefBernie Ecclestone.[32] GM continued accepting bids until a self-imposed deadline of 7 January 2010. Acknowledging that the chances of reaching a deal with any party were very slim, they pledged to evaluate each offer with due diligence.[33][34]
On 26 January, General Motors (GM) confirmed it had agreed to sell Saab toSpyker N.V.[35] subject to regulatory and government approval; the sale was completed on 23 February 2010.[36] General Motors would continue to supply Saab with engines and transmissions, and also completed vehicles in the shape of the new Saab 9-4x from GM's Mexican factory. The deal included a loan from the European Investment Bank, guaranteed by the Swedish government. It comprised US$74m in cash up front, payable to GM by July 2010, and shares in Spyker to the tune of US$320m.
On 25 February, Spyker Cars N.V. announced that it had agreed to sell the sports car arm to focus on Saab. Spyker intended to change its name, in May, to include the Saab name.[37]
In early 2011, Saab began to run out of money, and Spyker were not able to cover the losses. Both companies stopped paying bills, and on 30 March several suppliers refused further deliveries to Saab's factory in Trollhättan. Initially Spyker CEO Victor Muller blamed the media for the problems, and claimed that Saab had no problems with funding.[38] On 5 April all production was halted at Saab's plant in Trollhättan.
Spyker CEO Victor Muller tried to obtain funding from several different sources. On 30 March his former sponsor, Russian banker Vladimir Antonov, applied to Swedish authorities, the EIB and General Motors for permission to become a shareholder in Saab. His request was denied by the EIB, citing concerns about his business practices.
On 3 May, a joint venture between Saab and Chinese carmakerHawtai was announced. This deal quickly unraveled and on 12 May Hawtai walked away from Saab.[39]
Plans for a new joint venture with Chinese carmakerYoungman and Chinese automotive retailerPang Da followed shortly. After months of negotiations the companies agreed to a joint US$140 million takeover of Saab Automobile and its UK dealer network unit fromSwedish Automobile, with Youngman and Pang Da taking 60 and 40 percent stakes respectively.[40][41][42]
On 6 December, GM announced that it would not continue its licenses to GM patents and technology to Saab if the company was sold to Pang Da and Zhejiang Youngman, stating that the new owner's use of the technology is not in the best interest of GM investors. Because of this, Saab started working on a new proposal which would not change the original ownership structure and would not include a Chinese partner as an owner of the company, but instead as a 50% owner of a new daughter company.
On 19 December 2011, with no alternatives left after GM continued to block any form of involvement with a Chinese partner, Saab officially filed for bankruptcy after a three-year fight for survival. Under Sweden's bankruptcy laws, a party that files for bankruptcy can be bought out of bankruptcy.
On 16 April 2012, a meeting on Saab's bankruptcy was held at the District Court of Vänersborg.[43] The official receivers in charge of the Saab liquidation valued the assets at US$500m and the debt at US$2,000m. After subtracting the value of the assets, Saab leaves a debt of US$1,500m.[44]
On 6 August 2012, Spyker, represented by the law firmPatton Boggs, filed a lawsuit against General Motors in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan claiming US$3 billion in damages for the actions GM took in the fall of 2011 to stop the various proposed deals between Spyker andYoungman concerning Saab Automobile where Youngman claimed to be ready to invest several billion dollars in Saab Automobile to guarantee its future. More precisely, under the Automotive Technology License Agreement (ATLA) between GM Global Technology Operations Inc (GTO) and Saab, GM refused licensing of the platforms and technology in Saab cars if any Chinese party were to be involved in Saab's ownership structure.
To solve this issue, Spyker and Youngman came up with a deal where Youngman would provide Saab with a loan of €200 million which would be converted into an equity interest in Saab only after Saab ceased using GM technology in its vehicles. Despite this, GM maintained that it would still refuse licensing of platforms and technology needed for production of Saab cars in Trollhättan and also threatened to cease 9-4X production at GM's plant in Mexico, should the deal go through.
Consequently, the deal finally collapsed and Saab was forced to file for bankruptcy. According to Spyker, the actions taken by GM were not legal. Since Saab had been in receivership since the bankruptcy, and would be until the deal with Nevs was closed, Spyker and the receivers of Saab Automobile had entered into an agreement where Spyker would bear the costs of the litigation in exchange for 90% of the claim if the case is successful.[45][46][47][48]
In June 2013, the district court dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that General Motors was within its rights to block the sale.[49] In October 2014, the circuit court of appeals upheld the dismissal.[50]
On 13 June 2012, a press conference was held announcing that the bankruptcy assets of Saab Automobile AB and its subsidiaries Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB as well as the Saab factory had been acquired by a Chinese consortium called National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS).[51] This company was founded byHong-Kong basedNational Modern Energy Holdings (NME) andJapan based Sun Investment, for the sole purpose of acquiring Saab's bankruptcy assets.[52]
Saab Automobile Parts AB was excluded in the deal and theSwedish National Debt Office would continue as an owner of that company.[53] NEVS' plan was to build only purely electric vehicles with an electric version of the current9-3 model available in 2013/2014, as well as to continue development of the replacement to the 9–3, thePhoeniX. GM continued to refuse licensing of the technology in the Saab 9-5 and 9-4X, so these models would not be produced.[54][55]
In August 2012,Scania AB announced that the griffin logo used in both Scania's and Saab Automobile's trademark would not be allowed for use on future Saab cars with NEVS as the owner of Saab Automobile. Scania believed the logo is of high value in China and feared that it would end up in the wrong hands through the Chinese interests behind NEVS.[56]
In January 2013, due to Sun Investment withdrawing from the project, NEVS announced a new deal withQingdao Qingbo Investment Co. Ltd, for a 22% stake in the company. In return, NEVS/Saab would receive SEK 2bn, along with a production facility for models sold in China. Cars sold in North America and most of Europe would continue to be produced at Trollhättan, Sweden. The possibility of usingFiat/Chrysler sourced drive train components for non- electric models was also being examined.[57][58]
On 12 August 2013, the Saab plant atTrollhättan reopened its doors to welcome back employees for preparations and restructuring of the production line. Production of the existing 9–3 would commence shortly with a new electric motor, while Saab finished the preparations for the new 9-3 Phoenix.
In September 2013, the first pre-production Saab-branded vehicle produced by NEVS rolled off of the assembly line. This model was mostly aesthetically identical to the previous Saab 9-3 and mainly used to test new components and assembly line equipment. NEVS announced a facelift of the exterior to be shown on a finalised production model. On 29 November 2013 NEVS announced that full-scale production would commence on 2 December 2013, having replaced the 20 percent of parts originally sourced from former Saab owner General Motors.[59]
Following negotiations with parts suppliers, small-scale production of the petrol version of the Saab 9-3 resumed in December 2013, with sales focused on the Swedish and Chinese markets.[60][61] Production stopped in May 2014, initially only short term but was extended many times. According to NEVS, this was due to Qingdao insufficiently financing NEVS operations, forcing ownerKai Johan Jiang to fund operations through private funds as well as through assets in NEVS parent company National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd.[62][63][64][65]
At this time, NEVS reportedly owed around $57 million to creditors, and sought bankruptcy protection with the aim of restructuring the company.[66][67] Despite protection being granted, Saab revoked the right for NEVS to use the Saab brand name.[68] Despite optimism from NEVS that the name may be re acquired, Saab AB confirmed again in 2016 that it was cancelling the licencing agreement between the two companies, meaning future cars would be produced under the name NEVS.[69]
After securing deals with various Chinese consortiums, including the city ofTianjin, resulting in the construction of a new factory, NEVS was acquired by Chinese conglomerateEvergrande Group in 2019.[70][71] Evergrande's subsequent financial troubles resulted in NEVS being closed in March 2023, with the company going into "Hibernation Mode" to avoid bankruptcy, essentially liquidating the company.[72]
Saab's total world production in 2008 was 89,143 Saab vehicles produced in five countries (Sweden, Austria, United States, Mexico and Germany).[73] Production declined sharply in 2009, as new owners struggled to deal with the company's mounting financial problems. Production was suspended until late 2013, when the new ownership launched a limited run of 2014 model year 9-3 sedans.
| Year | Volume |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 380 (NEVS) |
| 2013 | 71 (NEVS) |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2011 | 127,738 |
| 2010 | 32,183 |
| 2009 | 20,821 |
| 2008[75] | 90,281 (including 1,195 Cadillac BLS produced in Trollhättan) |
| 2007 | 125,397 (including 2,772 Cadillac BLS produced in Trollhättan) |
| 2006 | 135,365 (including 3,266 Cadillac BLS produced in Trollhättan) |
| 2005 | 127,593 (including 123 Cadillac BLS produced in Trollhättan) |
| 2004 | 128,827 |
| 2003 | 130,034 |
| 2002 | 124,892 |
| 2001 | 123,755 |
| 2000 | 133,013 |
| 1999 | 127,850 |
| 1998 | 124,868 |
| 1997 | 105,114 |
| 1996 | 95,761 |
| 1995 | 97,307 |
| 1994 | 94,084 |
| 1993 | 70,961 |
| 1992 | 84,569 |
| 1991 | 80,366 |
| 1990 | 87,356 |
| 1989 | 103,591 |
| 1988 | 120,562 |
| 1987 | 134,112 |
| 1986 | 126,401 |
| 1985 | 111,813 |
| 1984 | 102,018 |
| 1983 | 96,012 |
| 1982 | 83,557 |
| 1981 | 66,392 |
| 1980 | 65,754 |
| 1979 | 83,758 |
| 1978 | 72,516 |
| 1977 | 76,498 |
| 1976 | 95,927 |
| 1975 | 90,793 |
| 1974 | 92,554 |
| 1973 | 89,467 |
| 1972 | 83,997 |
| 1971 | 72,960 |
| 1970 | 73,982 |
| 1969 | 61,711 |
| 1968 | 52,551 |
| 1967 | 45,325 |
| 1966 | 37,069 |
| 1965 | 48,517 |
| 1964 | 43,493 |
| 1963 | 40,374 |
| 1962 | 35,890 |
| 1961 | 33,040 |
| 1960 | 26,066 |
| 1959 | 17,836 |
| 1958 | 13,968 |
| 1957 | 9,852 |
| 1956 | 6,321 |
| 1955 | 5,620 |
| 1954 | 5,138 |
| 1953 | 3,424 |
| 1952 | 2,298 |
| 1951 | 2,179 |
| 1950 | 1,246 |
| 1949 | 20 |
| 1948 | 1 |
| 1947 | 2 |
| 1946 | 1 |
Saab manufactured various models at theValmet Automotive plant inUusikaupunki, Finland, between 1969 and 2003, in a joint venture established in 1968 together withValmet. After 2003 Saab did not manufacture any cars in Finland, as the production of the9-3convertible then moved toGraz, Austria. In 2010 production of the 9-3 convertible was moved again to Trollhättan. This marked the first time that Trollhättan manufactured the 9-3 convertible.
A common feature of Saab car types was the use of the number9 in the model numbers. The final models were the9-3 and9-5, both of which were manufactured inTrollhättan, Sweden. Until 2008, the9-7X was manufactured by GM along with theChevrolet Trailblazer and its platform-mates. The exception to this naming rule is theSaab-Lancia 600, which was are-badgedLancia Delta.
In December 2013, Nevs announced that theSaab 9-3 sedan was back in regular production, withconvertible,station wagon, andelectric models to follow in the next year. Production stopped in 2014.[76]
Safety has a high priority in the design of Saab cars. The cars are subjected to theÄlgtest (elk test) aselk are a common cause of accidents in Sweden. Saab have compiled a database containing over 6,100 real-life accidents with Saabs. The first recorded event was in 1948 where Julian Shermis had an accident.[80]
In October 1986, theSaab Long Run took place. Three standard Saab 9000 Turbos set two world records and 21 international records at theTalladega Superspeedway inTalladega, Alabama, United States. 100,000 km (62,000 mi) were covered with an average speed of 213.299 km/h (132.537 mph) and 50,000 miles (80,000 km) with an average speed of 213.686 km/h (132.778 mph).
Ten years later, in 1996, three standardSaab 900 (NG) Turbos driven by factory test drivers and two standardnaturally aspirated Saab 900s driven by journalists set new world records on the same speedway.
In early December 2006, aWisconsin traveling salesman donated his 1989 Saab 900 SPG (Special Performance Group) to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum after amassing 1,001,385 miles (1,611,573 km) on the original factory engine. This mileage was verified by Saab.[81]
Dating back to 1937, Svenska Aeroplan AB (Saab) created airplanes, introducing its first car, theSaab 92001, in 1947. Currently, Saab AB is separate from Saab Automobile and is best known for its oldSaab 37 Viggen fighter aircraft (the Viggen badge would be shared by a9-3) and its successor, the current export success low costJAS 39 Gripen swing-role fighter. This has led to an ad campaign, "Born From Jets", evoking the days when Saab produced both aircraft and automobiles. Saab is imported into many countries; each has a president of the subsidiary or importer. In the US, the first president was Mr. R. Millet.
In 1983, British commercial directorTony Scott made an advertisement for the company where a Saab 900 Turbo is shown racing a Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet.[82] In 1987, Saab created a TV advertisement called "Saab suite" (subtitledBallet in 3 acts for 8 Saab 9000 Turbos). In the film, stunt drivers show incredible driving with stock cars, such as one-wheeled burnouts, bumper-to-bumper driving through a slalom, cars slaloming from opposite directions on the same course, two-wheel driving, sliding in full speed, and jumping over passing cars—all on a closed airport runway with classical music playing in the background.[83]
To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Saab formed aPerformance Team in 1987, which laid on exhibitions of automobile acrobatics and formation driving. Initially this was done with Saab 9000s, as above, then later models, such as the Saab 900 (NG) were used. All of the team's members have previously competed in rallies, but what's unusual is that all five Performance Team members held regular jobs at Saab: there are two engineers, a quality controller, a technician and the head of Saab's photo studio. The picture shows these vehicles on display at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Saab Aircraft Company, atLinköping, in 1997.
A Hewlett-Packard CPU-support chip features a Saab 900 Turbo 16 Cabriolet etched into its structure.[84]
As the brand has an unusual image in most markets, Saab owners tend to be correspondingly offbeat: intellectuals and enthusiasts.[85][86] In his studies of brand communities, Albert Muniz, professor of marketing atDePaul University in Chicago, found significant characteristics of Saab owners which he calledSnaabery.[87] These included ownership of an original, pre-GM Saab; camaraderie with other Saab drivers and contempt for other brands such asBMW. WriterJohn Crace characterised the typical "Snaab" as acreative advertising executive withlarge spectacles and anasymmetric hairstyle.[88] Rüdiger Hossiep, a psychologist atRuhr University Bochum, found that Saab drivers have the highest level of psychological involvement with their cars, being over 10 times more passionate than the averageVolkswagen driver.[87] Saab's main three markets were Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.[88]
Saab competed in theTrans Am Series in 1966, entering a96 and a850. Saab also entered its9-3 in theCastrol Canadian Touring Car Championship.
Saab had a factory rally team with successful drivers,Erik "On-the-Roof" Carlsson,Tom Trana,Simo Lampinen,Stig Blomqvist andPer Eklund. The team stopped competing in 1980. In 2012 a new Saab rally team took part in the classic historic Midnattssolsrallyt (Rally to the Midnight Sun). The S2AB Historic Rally team entered four Saab 99 Turbos, driven by ex-champions Ola Strömberg, Erik Uppsäll, Travis Decker and Jörgen Trued. S2AB (Swedish Advanced Automotive Business) is the company led by Magnus Roland, former chassis manager at Saab.
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