While Saab struggles, the Chinese 9-3 and 9-5 enter production next year

According to reliable BAIC sources, the Chinese consortium is putting the finishing touches on local production of the Saab models, whose rights it bought at the beginning of last year, when the Swedish brand came close to disappearing from the face of the Earth.

The models will use the platforms of the earlier Saab 9-3 and 9-5, giving way to three models that will be called C60F, C70F and C50F. All of them will be launched in Asia in the first half of 2012, although the detailed design specifics of these models have not yet been revealed to the press. The Chinese are free to change the outer shell, which will surely be a “Chinese-style” Saab, tailored to their market.

It is no less curious that while the Chinese have moved ahead with these old Saab models, albeit not as quickly as they had announced, Saab itself is these days still on a tightrope, with rumors, counter-rumors and suppliers very dissatisfied with the brand’s lack of response.

Even so, and even though the Russians’ abundant funds (which are slowly devouring it alive) are ready to patch up the situation of the company. In a word, remaining in the hands of Saab, the only possible way out that the Swedes see on the horizon.

Source | China Car Times