The global automotive industry is navigating a turbulent period, facing disruptions from economic downturns, supply chain issues, and the costly transition to electric vehicles.
As manufacturers worldwide adapt to rising costs and shifting consumer demands, many legacy brands and factories have been forced to downsize, restructure, or shut down altogether.
No Plans to Restart Production
Saab’s former plant in Trollhättan, Sweden, is one such casualty of the changing landscape.
Once a beacon of Swedish innovation, the historic factory will now be dismantled, closing the chapter on a site that played a pivotal role in automotive history, according to Boosted.
With no plans to restart production, this marks the end of an era for Saab and for an industry facing mounting challenges.
The historic Saab factory in Trollhättan, Sweden, is set for a major change as its owners prepare to dismantle the plant’s massive hydraulic presses.
These presses, which date back to the 1960s, shaped every iconic Saab model from the Saab 96 to the final 9-5s.
The owners have recognized that car production at the factory is unlikely to resume, and they are now seeking new buyers for the equipment, with interest reportedly coming from the U.S. and China.
End of An Era
Peter Bäckström, curator at the nearby Saab Car Museum, reflected on the plant's legacy. “These machines shaped everything from the Saab 96 and 99 to the last 9-5,” he told Carup, surprised by the news.
The presses have been dormant since 2012, when Saab declared bankruptcy after years of financial difficulties. Following the bankruptcy, the Chinese-owned National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) acquired the factory in hopes of reviving the brand for electric car production.
However, NEVS faced setbacks, including the loss of rights to the Saab logo and brand name, and eventually, it declared bankruptcy in 2023.
Efforts to relaunch the brand continued after NEVS’s collapse. In 2023, Lebanese businessman Jihad Mohammad acquired rights to the last Saab model designed by former employees, aiming to restart production in Trollhättan.
However, the project fell apart when Mohammad reportedly failed to meet contractual obligations to build cars at the plant. As a result, plans to bring Saab back to life have completely dissolved.
The dismantling of the factory presses marks the end of an era for Saab enthusiasts and automotive history.
The Trollhättan factory, once a hub of Swedish automotive innovation, will soon exist only in memory and museum pieces, symbolizing the final closure of Saab’s nearly 75-year automotive legacy.
