Saab European Car Sales Data

Saab sales and market share in Europe have shriveled after the brand’s bankruptcy in 2011 under its new owner Spyker. General Motors had let the brand die slowly and painfully and decided to sell it, but it was too late to save Saab. GM didn’t help the brand after its sale either, refusing to license the patented technology needed to continue building cars. Ironically, the patents had been Saab’s own, but were transferred to GM when it acquired full ownership of Saab.

During the bankruptcy in 2012 and 2013, a few leftover stock models have still been registered, and late 2013 the brand’s new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden restarted production of the 9-3 sedan with remaining parts out of stocks and replacing the parts that were formerly licensed from GM. The car will be sold in Sweden and China only initially, and a fully electric version is planned for the near future.

Considering this is a design and a model that has first been introduced in 2002, don’t expect the “new” Saab to take over the world. Maybe a handful of Swedish Saab enthusiasts will have an interest in the car, and a few more in other countries that will make the effort to buy one in Sweden and export it. But until the EV is launched, if it ever comes that far, Saab sales will remain virtually non-existent. In December 2013, the first month after production was restarted, 29 “new” 9-3 were registered.