Newly-independent Saab Resumes Car Production

TROLLHATTAN, Sweden, March 22 /PRNewswire/ --

• Production resumes at Saab Automobile's Trollhattan plant
• First cars manufactured by Saab as an independent company
• All-new Saab 9-5 sedan was first car down the line
• Saab CEO, Spyker CEO, and Trollhattan Plant Director in attendance

The production lines at Saab Automobile's state-of-the-art Trollhattan plant began rolling again today, heralding a new era for the Swedish premium car maker as an independent company. To mark the occasion, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Ake Jonsson, Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller and Trollhattan Plant Director Gunnar Brunius took up positions on the line alongside assembly workers as the first batch of cars was built.

Production at the Trollhattan plant was originally halted for seven weeks. Now, following the purchase of Saab Automobile AB by Spyker Cars NV, the first cars to be built by Saab as an independent company will soon be delivered to customers.

"Today's resumption of production is a milestone in the history of our company" said Jan Ake Jonsson. "We are up and running as an independent manufacturer and I am delighted to share the experience on the line alongside our workforce. They have shown tremendous commitment to the company and we are all now focused on ramping up production to meet customer demand."

First on the line today was an all-new Saab 9-5 sedan, destined to join a test fleet prior to the model's official launch later this year. Further down the line was a Saab Convertible, now also being produced in Trollhattan as part of the concentration of Saab operations in Sweden. With the introduction of the new 9-5 SportCombi next year, a total of five model lines will be produced at the plant.

"We have a highly flexible, world-class facility here at Trollhattan," said Plant Director Gunnar Brunius. "Our ability to build so many different models in one location improves plant utilization and will deliver valuable efficiency gains.  With these state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated workforce, we are in excellent shape."

Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars said: "Everyone at Saab has worked extremely hard to reach this important point.  Today production restarted with a new 9-5 first down the line – a fitting symbol that a new era has begun."

SOURCE Saab Cars North America