BAIC Buys Old Saab 9-5 Production Line

Just as we told you in the past, BAIC was planning to buy rights for Saab's 9-5 and start production of this particular model in China, a move that could boost the company's local revenues. It appears that the Swedish brand has already sold its 9-5 production line to the Chinese manufacturer, in an attempt to make room for its new 9-5 that will go on sale in 2010.

Sweden's Ny Teknik newspaper wrote that Saab agreed to cease production equipment to BAIC, as the Chinese carmaker intends to start building the old 9-5 and sell it in its domestic market.

"I can't comment on this one way or another," Gunilla Gustavs, a Saab spokeswoman, told Reuters.

"Beijing Automotive is an opportunity for us to establish ourselves in the Chinese market with their experience," Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson said at the Frankfurt Auto Show earlier this year, hinting at a possible collaboration with the Chinese company.

The current Saab 9-5 model comes with a total of seven engine versions, but it's still unclear whether BAIC plans to offer all of them to Chinese buyers. The 2005 version is actually a facelift of the first model rolled out in 2011, comprising a bunch of enhancements, including redesigned front bumper, reshaped headlights and new alloy wheels.

The new 9-5, on the other hand, will enter production in early 2010. It will be offered in several engine options, starting with a 1.6-liter turbo option and going as high as a 2.8-liter unit. The all-wheel drive system is offered with the 2.0-liter gasoline configuration, BioPower and 2.8 V6 turbo engines, according to official information provided by Saab.