Beijing Auto’s Saab Shen Bao range is going to hit the market in early 2013 according to media reports filed yesterday. The Shen Bao brand is an entirely new range of cars developed by Beijing Auto based on the Saab 93 and 95 architecture that the company acquired in 2010 from Saab.

Beijing Auto has already launched its E-Series hatchback which, despite low expectations, has become a popular sedan. In October the E-Series was ranked 5th in terms of small car sales with 2302 units sold, the Polo hatchback remains the best seller in the AO segment with over 16,000 sales. The E-Series is however catching up on models such as the MG3 which sold just 2704 units in October.

At next months Guangzhou Auto Show Beijing Auto will launch an upgraded 3G E-Series which boasts an internet connection and the first of the Shenbao range, the C70G sedan, with the official launch happening in April 2013.