Saab's New Owners to Recruit 200 Engineers for Electric Car Relaunch
National Electric Vehicle Sweden will hire 200 engineers in Trollhättan as it prepares to relaunch Saab as an electric car manufacturer, focusing on a 2014 debut.
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the new owner of Saab’s main assets, will hire approximately 200 engineers as it restarts operations in Trollhättan. The move comes after NEVS acquired Saab Automobile, Saab Automobile Powertrain and Saab Automobile Tools, but not the intellectual property for the 9-5 or the parts business. The company intends to relaunch Saab as an electric vehicle specialist, with the first model based on the existing 9-3 platform planned for 2014.
The planned recruitment is a fraction of Saab’s former workforce, which numbered over 3,000 before the company filed for bankruptcy in December 2011. NEVS’s initial focus is to establish a core engineering team to develop its first electric model and lay the groundwork for future vehicles. The company said it expects staff numbers to increase gradually as production ramps up towards launch.
Saab’s Electric Future Under NEVS
NEVS’s strategy centres on electric vehicles, with the first product set to be an all-electric version of the Saab 9-3. The company aims to leverage Japanese technology in future models, though specific technical partners have not been named. The initial car will be developed and built at the Trollhättan plant, which remains Saab’s historic home.
The acquisition by NEVS does not include the intellectual property for the newer Saab 9-5, limiting the relaunch to the 9-3 platform and new model development. The company’s focus on electric vehicles reflects a shift towards emerging markets, with China identified as a key target for sales. NEVS’s plans follow several failed rescue attempts by other investors, including Youngman and Volvo’s interest in selected Saab assets.
What It Means for Trollhättan and Former Saab Staff
The restart of engineering and production in Trollhättan offers some relief for the region, which was hit hard by Saab’s collapse. However, with only 200 engineers to be hired initially, most former Saab employees will not return under NEVS’s current plans. The company has indicated that further recruitment could follow as its product range expands and production volumes increase.
- NEVS’s hiring is far below previous Saab employment levels.
- Production and development will remain in Sweden.
- Future growth depends on the success of electric vehicle launches.
Saab’s transition to electric vehicles under NEVS is expected to focus on the Chinese market, aligning with the new owners’ investment priorities. The company’s ability to scale up will depend on both market demand and the pace of new product development.
