We heard a few weeks ago that BAIC might be interested in producing the outgoing Saab 9-5 for the Chinese domestic market, but a report in Autocar today sheds a whole different light on that particular prospect:
The Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) is poised to buy the tooling and design rights to the outgoing Saab 9-5, according to Autocar sources.
BAIC recently became a minority shareholder in the Koenigsegg Group, which is attempting to buy Saab from General Motors.
If the plans go ahead, the 9-5 will be ‘shifted lock, stock and barrel’ to China…..
…..There’s no news as to whether BAIC intends to re-start production of the 9-5 in an unchanged form or whether it will re-skin the car for sale under BAIC’s own brand.
I guess it comes down to deciding which course would make Saab more money – having BAIC produce the old car under licence, or selling the whole show.
Though if they’re buying the whole 9-5 setup, that would indicate that perhaps they’re looking at selling it with a different skin and a new name, which would make sense for Saab as they will want to re-launch into China with a new, fresh face.
Autocar also state that BAIC might be interested in the old engine plant in Sodertalje, however that plant has been sold and is now operating under a new name, producing different parts.
Perhaps they were referring to buying the engine technology and plans, rather than the actual plant?
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Thanks to Dennis, via comments (and quite possibly another commenter that I’ve missed, too)
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