2005 Saab 9-3 Turbo on 2040-cars

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Saab signs deal to sell 20,000 electric cars in China

Another quarter, another gargantuan deal for National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs), the Chinese-backed firm that bought the assets to Saab in 2012 and then spent two years getting out of financial trouble. The company just announced that it has agreed to a framework deal with China Volant Industry Co. (Volinco), a firm whose principal business is import and export of aerospace equipment and technologies. The tentative Volinco order is worth 8.5 billion Swedish crowns ($996 million US) for 20,000 electric cars that will be delivered between 2017 and 2020. A final purchase order is expected to be finalized later. In December, Nevs signed a deal worth $12 billion to provide 150,000 electric cars to Panda New Energy, a Chinese EV leasing company. That deal will also see Nevs provide 100,000 electric vehicle products and services to companies that Nevs works with. As with the Volinco deal, Nevs will build and paint components for its Saab 9-3 EV in Trollhattan, Sweden then ship the kits to China for final assembly. Given the number and size of its recent deals, it shouldn't be a surprise that Nevs is building a factory in Tianjin, China that will be ready in 2020. Volinco apparently plans to use the trove as company cars for employees. The final agreement will also include giving Nevs access to a range of the aerospace firm's suppliers to assist with its production plans. Nevs is also working with Dongfeng and Renesas Electronics to help develop its current and future cars. Featured Gallery 2014 Saab 9-3 News Source: Reuters Green Saab Green Automakers Electric Sedan NEVS national electric vehicle sweden

Saab didn't want this electric, 99-like delivery van from the 1970s

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) purchased the remains of Saab in 2012 to turn it into an electric-only brand. While its vast heritage is turbocharged and rooted in racing, Saab didn't shy away from dabbling in battery-powered drivetrains, and there's an experimental mail delivery van in its official museum to prove it. The name Saab in the last paragraph should be followed by an asterisk. The prototype kind of looks like a 99 when viewed from the front, and it wears the soccer ball-style alloy wheels seen on several of the brand's models during the 1970s, but the museum's curator told Autoblog it was built in Linkoping, Sweden, by the company's defense and plane-making division. It's certainly a Saab, but not quite the kind you're likely thinking of. Engineers began the project in the early 1970s, at about the same time archrival Volvo launched its own experiments in the field of electrification. The idea was to create an electric, short-range distribution van that could be used by Sweden's postal service, for example. Two prototypes were built in 1975 and 1976, including the example in the museum, and each had a low-speed driving range of about 40 miles. Additional technical specifications are lost to history, partly because Saab's car-building division in Trollhattan -- the folks that developed the 99 and the 900, among others -- didn't like the van at all and wanted nothing to do with it. Saab electric van prototype View 2 Photos We peeked inside and under it and spotted a bulky, lead-acid battery pack integrated into a tray that could be pulled out from the back after flipping up the panel onto which part of the rear bumper was mounted. This layout was relatively common in early electric prototypes, like the Bus that Volkswagen developed in 1972 and tested in select German cities. Recharging the battery pack took hours, so swapping it out was considered the more practical alternative. Period documents and images confirm the electronics were mounted under the hood. Saab made two electric prototypes, including one it fitted with front-end parts like headlights (complete with wipers), turn signals, and a plastic grille from a 99. The second wore round headlights, bullet-shaped turn signals, and looked more like something you'd see in an episode of "Scooby Doo" than what you'd find in a Saab showroom. The van's resemblance to the 99 was purely artificial; it was its own thing, on its own chassis.

GM recalling 250,000 SUVs over door electronics

After a door-fire investigation that dates back to February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has officially announced a recall today that affects around 250,000 General Motors SUVs for a faulty driver's door module. The recall applies to the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X from the 2006 and 2007 model years, as well as the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL for vehicles sold and/or registered in the Snow Belt.
Road salt use in these midwestern and northern states can lead to corrosion of the driver's door module on these GMT360 and GMT370 vehicles, which allows water to come in contact with the circuit board. If shorted out, the vehicle's power door locks and power windows will not work, and could possibly lead to overheating and, in some circumstances, a fire. No official word on how many total vehicles caught on fire, but back in June, 28 fires had been reported to the government agency. A fix for the problem is still being worked out, but all affected vehicle owners will be notified by GM.
Scroll down for the official NHTSA statement.