Saab, the car brand General Motors is selling to new Swedish and Chinese owners, is considering building cars in China.Managing director Jan Ake Jonsson also said that he expected final financing arrangements for GM’s sale of the Swedish brand to a consortium led by supercar producer Koenigsegg to be in place by the end of October.
Shanghai Automotive, GM’s main Chinese joint venture partner, at present sells imported Saab cars in small numbers in China.
No final decision has yet been made by Saab and Jan Ake Jonsson said, “It’s too early to say, but if you want to be a serious player in China, you need production.”
China’s Beijing Automotive Industry this month joined the consortium buying Saab when Koenigsegg faced a financing gap for its business plan that the Swedish government declined to fill. A person involved in the deal put the size of BAIC’s investment, which Saab is not disclosing, at about $405m.
Financial Times said Saab unveiled an all-new version of the 9-5 at the Frankfurt motor show. Although the future of Saab will not be totally focussed on China other prospects remain dim.