Confirmed: BAIC buys 3 Saab platforms, and two turbo engines
Both foreign and domestic Chinese media reports this afternoon indicated that BAIC has successfully purchase two platforms and two turbo powered engines from bankrupt car maker Saab.
The Chinese media are reporting that the Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 have been snapped up by Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, turbo assisted engines as well as gearboxes and various pieces of IPR have been included in GM’s firesale.
At various automotive shows in 2009 and 2008 BAIC has shown off an impressive range of concept cars that it plans to put into production within the next few years, now that it has easy access to a range of platforms, engines, and gearboxes it may be able to skip a massive step in its R&D process. The 9-3 and 9-5 are expected to be produced in China under the Beijing Auto brand.
However, the Saab saga doesn’t end here, other media outlets are reporting that a further fight maybe on for the rights to the rest of the Saab. SAIC are reportedly interested in entering the fray, they may even be granted favored status by their JV partner and Saab owner GM
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There’s one statement here that is factually incorrect:
“…bankrupt car maker Saab.” is not an accurate description of Saab. The company is not bankrupt.
In fact, the very deal that this article refers to means that Saab has sufficient cash to operate for quite some time yet.
The company is actively trading, gearing up the factory for the next generation 9-5 while GM are in intense negotiations with a prospective buyer to secure the long term future of the company.
The bankrupt comment is odd since earlier there was mention of Buick not going bankrupt and doing so well. If you are considering them having gone bankrupt because GM did then Buick went bankrupt also. Either both or neither depending how you look at it. Make up your mind.
SAAB doesn’t even own any engines anymore — sold them off to the Austrians years ago. So while it reported that “powertrains” are being sold not sure what that means.
The 9-3 that was sold was the pre-2006 tooling. Unclear on what that means either.
SAAB stopped making the B series in 2009, with the new platforms dependent on the Ecotec range ( similar to that being built at Shanghai GM) The B series may be old but do have good emissions. The IPR and prod line would be easy to transplant to Beijing.
Charlie – Surely it was only the test facilities and engineers that were sold to the AVL? Did SAAB not retain the B Series IPR?
First, it is called the H series engine. B series was the original SAAB engine. Why would BAIC want the IPR to a 20 year old engine? Far better small engines out there. You could easily run a 9-5 with any old 4 cylinder, no need for SAAB specific stuff. Turbos were always Mitsubishi or Garrets anyways. And the last generation had a lot of problems.
Production line and IPR were sold off in 2008.
Saab press now saying some 9-3 IPR and technology, but NOT the tooling.
@ Charlie
> Why would BAIC want the IPR to a 20 year old engine?
The same reason SAIC bought rights into Rovers launched in last century.
> Far better small engines out there.
They are not for sale.
> You could easily run a 9-5 with any old 4 cylinder
Adopting another engine into 9-5 is not as easy as it sounds. Beijing, which lacks engineering resources, would rather not take such risks. Their objective to is have their own brand car ASAP.
> no need for SAAB specific stuff.
It provides the bases from which BAIC engineers could work on.
> Saab press now saying some 9-3 IPR and technology, but NOT the tooling.
Yes, because 9-3 will continue to be built and sold at Saab.
It would make sense that they got the 9-3 IPR, as the current 9-3 uses the Epsilon platform. The current 9-5 uses the old GM2900 platform – I can’t see why they’d want that.
@ Gerald
> It would make sense that they got the 9-3 IPR, as the current 9-3 uses the Epsilon platform.
9-3 would continue to be built and sold at Saab under new ownership and this is why 9-3 tooling is not part of sale.
> The current 9-5 uses the old GM2900 platform – I can’t see why they’d want that.
That’s what’s available for sale; 9-3 and next-gen 9-5 aren’t.
u guys obviously know ur stuff. (hmm funny i dont see any angry, no, proud elf comment). From a noob perspective like mine am quite excited about this. It’ll make another roewe/mg and that’s as good as it gets over here! Go china! Lol