General Motors will provide a new crossover to Swedish manufacturer Saab that will be sold as model year 2011 through the US dealers. The 9-4X will replace the 9-7X, Steve Shannon, GM's executive director of product and marketing for Cadillac, Hummer and Saab, was quoted as saying by Autonews.
As we're sure you know, Koenigsegg is the new Saab owner but even so, the ex-GM brand will stick to the initial plans and sell the 9-3 in the next few years. A redesigned 9-5 is scheduled for 2010, according to the aforementioned source.
Koenigsegg hasn't revealed any product plans until now but Jan Åke Jonsson, Managing Director of Saab Automobile AB, admitted the agreement could mean a new product lineup for the years to come.
“The proposed agreement will enable us to maximize the brand’s potential through an exciting new product line-up with a distinctly Swedish character. Today’s announcement is great news for Saab’s current and future customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe," he said in mid-June, when announcing the agreement.
General Motors also confirmed it will still supply Saab with a number of engines and other parts and, even it didn't mention a timeframe for this agreement, it admitted it would only last for a "defined" period of time.
“This is yet another significant step in the reinvention of GM and its European operations,” added GM Europe President, Carl-Peter Forster.
“Saab is a highly respected automotive brand with great potential. Closing this deal represents the best chance for Saab to emerge a stronger company. Koenigsegg Group's unique combination of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and financial strength, combined with Koenigsegg's proven ability to create world-class Swedish performance cars in a highly efficient manner, made it the right choice for Saab as well as for General Motors."
As we're sure you know, Koenigsegg is the new Saab owner but even so, the ex-GM brand will stick to the initial plans and sell the 9-3 in the next few years. A redesigned 9-5 is scheduled for 2010, according to the aforementioned source.
Koenigsegg hasn't revealed any product plans until now but Jan Åke Jonsson, Managing Director of Saab Automobile AB, admitted the agreement could mean a new product lineup for the years to come.
“The proposed agreement will enable us to maximize the brand’s potential through an exciting new product line-up with a distinctly Swedish character. Today’s announcement is great news for Saab’s current and future customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe," he said in mid-June, when announcing the agreement.
General Motors also confirmed it will still supply Saab with a number of engines and other parts and, even it didn't mention a timeframe for this agreement, it admitted it would only last for a "defined" period of time.
“This is yet another significant step in the reinvention of GM and its European operations,” added GM Europe President, Carl-Peter Forster.
“Saab is a highly respected automotive brand with great potential. Closing this deal represents the best chance for Saab to emerge a stronger company. Koenigsegg Group's unique combination of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and financial strength, combined with Koenigsegg's proven ability to create world-class Swedish performance cars in a highly efficient manner, made it the right choice for Saab as well as for General Motors."