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SAAB

‘Chinese Saabs’ soon to hit showrooms: report

The Chinese version of the old Swedish Saab 9-5 has come far enough in development that manufacturers are saying it will make the cardealerships' floors at the end of the year.

Published: 8 May 2012 12:38 CEST
'Chinese Saabs' soon to hit showrooms: report

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corporation, BAIC, part of Beijing Automotive Group, is planning to start selling its first model based on the old Saab 9-5 platform purchased from Saab Autmobile AB in 2009 at the end of the year, according to the China Automotive News.

The car, which is known as C709, is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engine.

According to China Automotive News, BAIC plans to launch a complete product line-up based on the Saab 9-5 platform, which was purchased from Saab in 2009, over the next few years. The pricing for the new car has not yet been revealed.

BAIC also bought the platform for the Saab 9-3 and the company has previously said that the Chinese model T60, which is based on the platform will be produced during the second quarter in 2012.

BAIC is owned by the Chinese state and has its headquarters in Beijing.

The company has several Chinese manufacturers and shares its production with Korean Hyundai and German Daimler.

As late as last weekend, Saab enthusiasts collected funds to purchase the last remaining Saab 9-3 manufactured in the now defunct Saab factory in Trollhättan in western Sweden.

Saab Automobile petitioned for bankruptcy in the Swedish courts in December 2011 following along process which resulted in the failure of a Chinese consortium to complete a takeover.

India’s Mahindra and Mahindra, and China’s Youngman, are the latest Asian firms to be linked with a prospective buyout of the loss-making Swedish firm.

TT/Rebecca Martin

twitter.com/thelocalsweden

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CARMAKER

VW Scandal: France to launch ‘in-depth’ probe

Update: France's Environment Minister Segolene Royal on Tuesday announced an "in-depth" investigation after Volkswagen admitted millions of cars were fitted with software that secretly thwarts pollution tests in the US.

Published: 22 September 2015 09:23 CEST
Updated: 22 September 2015 17:18 CEST
VW Scandal: France to launch 'in-depth' probe
"This is not a minor subject, it's not about speed or the quality of leather," said the French finance minister of the VW scandal. Photo: AFP

Royal also asked French manufacturers to “ensure that such schemes are not taking place in France.”

Her announcement came after Michel Sapin on Tuesday morning told French radio that in order to “reassure” the public, it seemed “necessary” to carry out checks on cars manufactured by other European carmakers.

“We are in a European market, with European rules that need to be respected,” Sapin told Europe 1 radio.

“Even if it's just to reassure people, it seems necessary to me that (checks should be carried out) also on French carmakers,” he said, adding he had no “particular reason” to suspect wrongdoing.

According to US authorities, VW admitted that it had equipped about 482,000 cars in the United States with sophisticated software that covertly turns off pollution controls when the car is being driven and turns them on only when it detects that the car is undergoing an emissions test.

With the so-called “defeat device” deactivated, the car can spew pollutant gases into the air, including nitrogen oxide in amounts as much as 40 percent higher than emissions standards, said the US Environmental Protection Agency.

“This is not a minor subject, it's not about speed or the quality of leather,” stressed Sapin.

“What we are dealing with is making sure people avoid being poisoned by pollution,” said the minister.

German authorities have already announced an investigation into whether Volkswagen or other carmakers are doing anything similar in Germany or Europe.