Report: Saab dropping 9-3 nameplate to draw heritage with new name

Posted: Aug 10, 2011
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Saab 9-3

Saab’s fate has been very much in question as of late, especially since there’s been trouble with keeping the Swedish brand afloat and complications with parts from the Japan earthquake in March. But now, it seems like things are beginning to settle down for the brand born from jets.

Just recently, Saab announced that they might drop the 9-3 nameplate and resurrect a badge that draws heritage. The 9-3 is apparently getting an all-new replacement in 2013, however, very little is known about the entry-level replacement.

“There’s a chance we might move away from that,” said Tim Colbeck, president of Saab Cars North America. “Instead, the company may adopt a name for the 9-3′s successor that draws from the brand’s heritage, although no decisions about the name have been made.”

Saab will also be completing their complete model lineup update at the turn of the 2012 year. The 2012 Saab 9-4X crossover is currently on sale as a 2011 model will make its official debut in October. Other additions for the 2012 year include the latest versions of the Saab 9-5, which also includes an all-new 9-5 Sport Combi wagon. All of the latest models are expected to make a debut in October, said Colbeck.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: Automotive News


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  • desertwindauh

    it was a most unfortunate decision to begin with

  • Anonymous

    GM ruined Saab. The potential it had was enormous. Could have been the Audi of our time. I hate GM, will never consider one of their products again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Hurst/100001328964372 Matthew Hurst

    While I realize it is popular to say that GM ruined Saab there would be no Saab today without GM so it is highly disingenuous to blame GM if not downright silly.  The Swedish gave up on Saab Automobile long ago and GM, rather than give up on the brand, spent billions on the marque over the better part of the past two decades.  GM never made a dime on the deal despite have record sales for the brand. Saab has one of the newest and most advanced production facilities in the world paid for by their former Detroit based parent.  The new 9-5 and 9-4x were both developed with GM’s money.  The only Saab being manufactured currently is the 9-4x which is made by GM for Saab.  No other vendor of Saab has stood by them like GM.  GM may well have ruined Saab as you say, but I dare say it is more than obvious that GM is the only reason the brand exists.  IF (and it is a very big IF) the company survives, it will only be because of the money and engineering that GM has poured into the company.  As the current head of Saab has been quoted as saying, “we paid 78 millions dollars less for Saab than Saab’s wind tunnel is worth.”  Spyker (now Swedish Automobiles) were given Saab and its brand spanking new manufacturing facilities.  It was a hell of a deal and properly financed with engineering and manufacturing alliances with other manufacturers could have had a chance of working.  Yet it is clear that the current head of Saab Automobile is WAY in over his head having previously run a car company that produced 250 automobiles over the course of 10 years and never at a profit.  It really is boring to hear the GM ruined Saab mantra because it’s BS.

  • Anonymous

    The manufacturing facilities are 10 years old. Not that old but certainly not “brand new” as you described. GM is trash. You can look at Volvo which still sells 300,000+ cars a year. Ford knows how to manage, GM doesn’t. That’s why GM needed taxpayer bailout to survive. I hope they collapse cause they are still producing trash.