Owner of former Saab factory in financial straits: What's going on?

The former Saab factory has been put into hibernation. This doesn't bode well for NEVS, the factory, or the city of Trollhättan. How did we get here, and what might happen?
Twitter: / galacticbinman
Instagram: / galacticbinman
0:00 What's happened?
1:39 Who is Evergrande?
3:07 How does this affect the Saab factory?
www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/bu...
www.saabplanet.com/nevs-will-...

[@neilstavern]

Very derivative! Usubscribed. I went to school with this guy and he had something growing in his locker

[@turbo_marc]

hwat

[@neilstavern]

@@turbo_marc enjoy your downvote, kid

[@turbo_marc]

@@neilstavern downvote? buddy this isn't reddit.

[@neilstavern]

​@@turbo_marc i dont know what that means

[@NeurodivergentSuperiority]

Despite most people seeing this as some glimmer of hope, i still think SAAB is in the gravestone in between Pontiac and Packard, i'm not sad over it, it does remind me of when Top Gear visited an old TVR factory, can't wait for the new video, even though there are many vids of SAAB

[@IntergalacticBinman]

The next full-length video won't actually be about Saab, and as much as I would like to do a Saab vid I think I'll leave it a bit, precisely because there's so many lol

[@nizmor3734]

As a former Saab owner (and probably will be buying another one to replace my shitbox daily lol), this just makes me sad. I really wish Saab would come back as a normal, independent manufacturer but in today’s market I doubt it. Best we can hope for is someone buys it and puts it to good use.

[@kylejohnson423]

I know you don't cover bikes, but I recently went on a wikipedia rabbit hole on the history of Vespa. Basically, the head of the company wanted a form of transportation to meet the public's need for transportation along Italy's bombed out roads; however, he didn't like motorbikes. So the engineers developed a prototype based on a cushman scooter used by U.S. Paratroopers. As a thank you, Cushman started acting as the American importer of re-badged Vespas, but dealers refused to sell them because 'Murica'.

[@IntergalacticBinman]

That's really interesting! The other thing I know about that is Piaggio apparently used surplus plane wheels from WW2 on the first Vespas, although it sounds like one of those things that could be a myth.

[@kylejohnson423]

@Intergalactic Binman piaggio began life as an airplane manufacturer and was barred from making airplanes post WWII (for obvious reasons), so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[@kylejohnson423]

@Intergalactic Binman After writing that comment, I just remembered how expensive putting the word "Aircraft grade" on anything is. So unless piaggio had a secret warehouse of airplane tires or made a prototype I'm unaware of, I highly doubt that. The original vespa scooters were meant to be cheap, reliable transportation for the common man. It's only in recent years that it's become the transportation of the femboy with tattoos that smokes.

[@DukeOfTwist]

Moto Guzzi & Aprilia would be good, Buell also comes to mind.

[@kylejohnson423]

@DukeOfTwist 🤷‍♂️ Like I said, I know he's more of a car history channel. I'm trying not to shove a bunch of bike stuff down his throat.

[@MikeGraceJediDad]

Lazerpig sent me, but i was tickled purple to see historical car content. I'm originally from the Motor City and grew up with family working in the automotive industry. I'm hoping some prototype history like the Dymaxion or Scarab or something, as well as popular brands and trends of the past.

[@IntergalacticBinman]

There's certainly plans for covering "weird 30s shit" at some point, because it was a time notable for eccentric experimentation! The Tasco comes to mind too, although that was late 40s

[@richardharrold9736]

​@@IntergalacticBinman Tucker Torpedo has to come into it too!

[@stoneylonesome4062]

Big fan of Cars and car history, came from Lazer Pig’s channel. You should do one about Citroën

[@IntergalacticBinman]

I have had multiple requests for Citroen and it's definitely in the pipeline! I cannot guarantee when but it will happen At Some Point™

[@victorpelini5995]

@@IntergalacticBinman as a frenchie Yes Please do

[@waynesworldofsci-tech]

@@IntergalacticBinman Hey man, Lazerpig sent me here too. Great stuff. How about covering the maniacs at Caterham?

[@daniel635biturbo]

I think that it's confirmed that Polstar will use the old SAAB factory. So Volvo finally have in a way bought SAAB every Swedes best dream or worst nightmare.

[@laurensnieuwland4657]

Yup. They are going to use it as an assembly line for the Polestar 3(I think?). Not sure what's going to happen to the Saab brand license though... Guess it'll just return to Saab AB (as in the defense company)?

[@damilercf]

@@laurensnieuwland4657I think GM owns the right to that name… in the automotive industry. Not sure tho.

[@laurensnieuwland4657]

@@damilercf 100% sure THEY don't (yes GM annoys me thanks to what they did to Saab). Spyker bought Saab after GM went belly up and was the owner for about 2(ish) years. The name had been GM's on a lease from Saab AB ever since the defense contractor and carmaker split. So the question is what happened after the bankruptcy. Did NEVS take over the lease from Spyker(who took it from GM), or did it revert to Saab AB?

[@ianmilleris]

Enjoy Saab’s cars as they were made. Alas, there is no place for this company in the modern world. Everything now is dull, soulless. Most people driving a modern car do not wear a smile on their face 😢

[@laurensnieuwland4657]

@@ianmilleris Except those who drive Alfas. The Giulia that is.

[@Christopher-ik6hc]

Not long after the "Hibernation of NEVS" news. Polestar has gotten their foot inside the SAAB Factory. As NEVS is leasing part of it to Polestar, as they wish to use it for research and design purposes. If i'm not mistaken.

[@ingihrannar8781]

LazerPig sent me here. He recommended you and i think highly of his opinion so i check you out and turns out he's correct :). Going to watch all of your videos now and i'll wait for your next one

[@sloytar2]

Seems Polestar has rented a bit of the SAAB factory for developement of battery systems for newer models. Maybe the rest of the factory will be affected by the change?

[@Commentator541]

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS MAN!!!!

[@vandelayofficial492]

I could see a contract manufacturer like Magna Steyr being interested in the plant.

[@churoman1013]

Love the content man

[@chriskutz7144]

I think the SAAB factory workers should buy the factory from NEVS and relaunch SAAB .

[@IntergalacticBinman]

The world needs a cooperative car company!

[@Calyx]

But 300-500 blue collar workers combined don't usually have the €100,000,000 needed to retool a factory, design a completely new car and bring it to market. If anything it's going to take 10x that amount to reinvigorate the brand. What they could do is produce parts for the SAABs on the road and go from there.

[@chriskutz7144]

Thank you for liking my comment. Good day.

[@retrotech383]

lazerpig lead me here. i love you

[@victorcarlsson1057]

My uncle works at nevs and he said something about a swedish airplane company of sorts wants to buy it

[@IntergalacticBinman]

It would be pretty awesome if Saab bought the factory back! Don't know how willing they'd be to jump back in though. Might also be Heart Aerospace?

[@alro2434]

Thanks! IMP YT sent me here, there weren't many in the USofA to speak of but I've been interested in them since the 70's because of it's engine. Suggestion, BERKLEY, another UK innovative short lived import that had many fanatical supporters here!

[@ryanhenryh8583]

Love the content, already knew what was going to happen as soon as I heard Evergrande and bust out laughing

[@BS-jw7nf]

Great stuff

[@audiencesmember]

Hey cool content mate!

[@Juicewski2]

You make some quality shit, buddy. I just heard about you today and already i can't wait for the next episode of Car Shite.

[@SamSilvercoin]

Damn two videos. Nice, shame about the news

[@jesperjensen7665]

Came here from laser pig. Love the content

[@yourmum84iscoming77]

You should do a video about Saab

[@peterlarkin762]

Very saad news.

[@serbang277]

would've been interesting if Xiaomi had bought NEVS. their design languages would give some really interesting designs

[@mateuszzimon8216]

Xiaomi doesn't buy this factory, they must go with someone from China like BAIC,SAIC. IDK maybe BYD to start Europe expansion

[@remiel3315]

Here's a neat tidbit I found out, some Saab's are Subaru's in a Saab wrapper, and subaru uses nissan parts

[@succmeister7808]

Thw 9-2x iirc, which is a rebadged impreza

[@mateuszzimon8216]

Yes 9-2x is impreza (GM had 20% of Fuji Heavy Industry, also they change thickness of insulation), 9-4x Cadillac SRX (less then 1k made), 9-7x Trailblazer. They just have to raid GM parts bin, but they tryed reinvent a wheel.

[@remiel3315]

@@mateuszzimon8216 and now Toyota owns about 20 percent of Fuji Heavy Industry, and Mazda

[@HerrIMorke]

"...the legacy of Saab is in jeopardy" ... When isn't it?

[@Panzerfan93]

i wish Scania would have bought Saab way back when

[@IntergalacticBinman]

They were actually merged until 1989, as Saab-Scania. Then Scania and Saab planes sold off the car division to GM because it wasn't making enough money and then Scania and Saab planes split, so it was an altogether disappointing outcome for all

[@MinusMOD98]

@@IntergalacticBinman Yeah. SAAB-Scania was a fascinating company. They made everything: Cars, trucks, buses, commercial and military aircraft. I think the commercial aircraft division also became a victim to the 2008-09 crisis, along with SAAB Auto. The original pre-merger Scania company produced bodywork for rail vehicles in suburban Malmö in the early 20th century. Scania of course being Latin for the (traditional/cultural) region where Malmö is located.

[@AlanStryman]

also Polestar is moving in

[@AlanStryman]

Me, drive saab 900s as my first and only car will continue to daily it and i will pray for SAAB (the automotive company) to reborn

[@Dreska_]

What were the employees doing if they haven't produced anything?

[@toiletthinker8693]

1:55 When talking about car related stuff, you have to match the tone of Jeremy Clarkson when you say "in the world"

[@1inimilian567]

When you said ever grande, I immediately went “the guys who were a big part of the housing crisis in China? Why the hell do they on them?”

[@mateuszzimon8216]

They also at some time own up to 20% of Koenigsegg, They have 45% of Faraday Future, and they now got fund's from NWTN (UAE company)

[@lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

I am surprised that so many people were employed in a factory that did not produce anything. What were they all doing?

[@d33pblu3]

Maintenance, security and such I assume

[@ChrisIsEditing]

Hello, Chris the video editing chris here. Wtf just happened. i'm scared

[@kevinw4267]

Is it possible for Swedish companies or GM to buy the brand back? Even tho Saab always have been under GM but it always have its own style

[@shnorth888]

GM doesn't want it. SAAB AB doesn't want it either and they could have bought it years back when GM put it up for sale. SAAB Auto been a dead brand since SAAB AB pulled the name and logo for use by the Chinese company who bought it. Hence the new name NEVS

[@kevinw4267]

@@shnorth888 that is so sad

[@briancavanagh7048]

SAAB was not always originally under GM.

[@WilkaJzx100]

My car is from this factory 2003 saab 9-5 2.3t : (

[@docternoblex]

My crazy crackhead hope: Ford buys NEVS since GM is in trouble, that or Stellantis

[@waynesworldofsci-tech]

Hmm. Apple makes quirky stuff too…

[@_Davepocalypse]

The Pig sends his regards.

[@IS-wi8ey]

Volvo History next

[@rnukes]

I have been sent by the pig and I like the content I've seen so.

[@tjaytho8036]

they get the saturn treatment

[@rorynewton1228]

@lazerpig sent me.

[@decnijfkris3706]

I hear Garry moore

[@play3rggg]

Looks like Polestar is moving into the factory

[@IntergalacticBinman]

There's been a lot that's come out since this video, and I plan on making good on that promise to keep up on it! Next big video due in a few days, then a new update on this situation

[@dougcoxon5472]

Evergrand, number one manufacturer of tofu dregs buildings

[@johncalberg1573]

Maybe this is an opportunity? They would probably sell of the SAAB brand for a low price.

[@mateuszzimon8216]

They don't own brand SAAB, they license it from plane company (it's funny how Saab always make how they also make planes, but forget Volvo make engine's for it)

[@rabit818]

If Evergrand fails hello world recession?

[@TheKevinFanClub526]

If you ever need to translate anything from Chinese, I'd be happy to help. Also pig sent me here.

[@decnijfkris3706]

maybe the germans will buy it for Scania

[@AdurianJ]

This was written all over that chinese company with christmas lights when they aquired the factory.

[@SwedishEmpire1700]

Its what you get when you sell out to foreigners

[@calkeggs3257]

Saab are dead, and that is the for better, I love Saab, I’ve only ever owned Saab’s and I don’t not yearn for their return, let sleeping dogs lie in my opinion, better to not tarnish the reputation of what once was, a fantastic car manufacturer

[@mateuszzimon8216]

I wanna one, but I don't wanna Saab headache, that means 92x, 94x, 97x. And for me best looking is 94x

[@calkeggs3257]

@@mateuszzimon8216 I’ve had 2 93’s, one an older 1999 model and the other a 2008 Aero, both absolute headaches lol The older Saab though, the better it is the 1999 was way better than the 2008

[@jdcp8976]

I mean who the fuck wants to buy this shit lol 1:36

[@edgelordcutting]

Lazy pig sent me. I have a large bed its king size in fact.

[@bbpetrov]

no 1 cares