Saab to relaunch?

Saab could relaunch the 9-3 as early as next year, and not as an electric car, as previously reported.

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), a Chinese/Japanese consortium that took over Saab earlier this year, told Automotive News that it was looking to start production of the 9-3 with a petrol engine “next summer”. Previously the firm had said it wanted to develop an electric 9-3 for 2014.

A spokesman for the firm said part of the reason for considering an earlier launch was to increase brand awareness for Saab. NEVS is also looking at a new logo for the Saab brand, although all future models would still be badged as Saab.