Saab

Saab began in Trollhättan when Bofors spun off its aircraft-engine division on April 2, 1937, to form Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (SAAB). In 1945, SAAB’s engineers started a secret automobile project to build a small, efficient car. That effort culminated in the 1949 launch of the two-stroke, front-wheel-drive Saab 92, whose aerodynamic, aircraft-inspired design set a new benchmark for drag reduction and fuel economy. Through the 1960s and ’70s, Saab pioneered safety and performance innovations: collapsible steering columns, side-impact protection, and in 1978 the world’s first factory-installed turbocharged passenger car, the Saab 99 Turbo. A cult rally legacy and engineer-driven ethos bolstered its following. After a 2011 bankruptcy, National Electric Vehicle Sweden acquired the brand in 2012. Today Saab’s EV ambitions under NEVS lie dormant amid restructuring, with the marque’s storied engineering DNA preserved through licensing agreements.