The last owner of Saab plans to start production

Saab 9-3 2012 Griffin range.

After NEVS's acquisition of Saab and some of the remaining assets of the bankrupt automaker, the Chinese-Japanese consortium is now focused on launching its first model. The plan is to start production at Saab's main facility in Trollhättan, Sweden, and then eventually ramp up production in China as well.

Speaking to Automotive News, NEVS spokesman Mikael Östlund said the company has hired about 300 employees at the Trollhättan plant and that production could be restarted this year.

Östlund went on to say that the first car will be similar to the last 9-3 that Saab stopped making in 2011, shortly before it went bankrupt. He said it will come with a turbocharged engine and should be available with an electric powertrain next year (NEVS originally planned to turn Saab into an electric vehicle brand). Batteries for the electric version must be obtained from NEVS subsidiary Beijing National Battery Technology.

If successful, NEVS would eventually launch a new generation of Saab vehicles based on the Phoenix platform, which was under development at the time of Saab's bankruptcy and intended for the next generation 9-3 and other future Saabs. The platform is largely unique, although about 20 percent is made up of components sourced from General Motors, Saab's former parent company, and will need to be replaced.

The plan is to keep Saab as a global brand with a hypothetical return to the Australian market, depending on right-hand drive plans. Keep for updates.