Saab

Saab refers to a Swedish group known primarily for its aerospace and defense activities, as well as historically for its automobile manufacturer. The core company, Saab AB, traces its origins to Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (SAAB), founded in 1937 to provide aircraft for the Swedish Air Force. Based in Linköping, Sweden, Saab AB expanded over the decades into civil aviation, space, missiles, radar, and defense electronics. Its products include military aircraft, such as the JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter, as well as airborne systems, sensors, and related technologies. Saab AB is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq Stockholm and is a major exporter of Swedish defense technology.

Saab Automobile AB was the automotive subsidiary created to produce passenger cars. From the 1940s through the early 2010s, Saab produced a range of distinctive vehicles, including models in the 900/9000 line and later the 9-3 and 9-5 generations, known for their engineering quirks and safety-oriented design. In 1990, General Motors acquired a controlling stake in Saab Automobile, and GM’s ownership ended with a sale to Spyker Cars in 2010. Saab Automobile filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011, and in 2012 its Trollhättan plant and related assets were acquired by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) with plans to continue automobile production. Since then, Saab-branded cars have not been produced on a sustained basis, and the automotive business has remained separate from Saab AB, with licensing arrangements concerning the Saab name and trademarks varying over time.

See also: Saab Gripen, Saab 9-3, Saab 9000.