Saab Reaches Four Million Milestone

Posted on 23. Jun, 2005 by Ryan in 2000-2009

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

2005-06-23

Saab Reaches Four Million Milestone

A Saab 9-3 SportCombi established a production milestone for the brand this week by becoming the four-millionth Saab car to be built.

At 2:35 p.m. Central European Time on June 21, the Fusion Blue 9-3 SportCombi 2.0t – one of the first examples of the newly announced model – rolled off the production line at Saab’s Trollhättan plant in Sweden and was taken to the Saab Museum, where it will be displayed alongside other historic exhibits.

Saab’s four-millionth milestone was reached 55 years and six months after the Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company Limited), commonly known as “Saab,” produced its first car at the same Trollhättan plant formerly used to build aircraft. That car was a small, teardrop-shaped 92 model, the beginning of the company’s diversification into the automotive business.

As the brand moves further into the premium segment, Saab production milestones are being reached with increasing regularity. The millionth car Рa Saab 99 Combi Coup̩ Рwas rolled out in January 1976; the two-millionth, a Saab 9000 Turbo, in March 1987; and the three-millionth, a Saab 9-5 sedan, in October 1997. Now the four-million mark has been reached less than eight years later.

The best-selling model of all time is still the classic, first-generation Saab 900, of which 908,810 were produced between 1978 and 1993. They are followed by the Saab 99 (588,643 units), the Saab 96 (547,221), the Saab 9000 (503,087) and the current Saab 9-5 series (392,048).

2005 represents the most aggressive product development program in Saab’s 58-year history as an automaker. New products to be introduced this year include the 9-7X premium midsize SUV; the 9-3 SportCombi 5-door wagon, which complements the 9-3 sport sedan and convertible; and a midcycle enhancement to the 9-5. A 250-horsepower 2.8L Turbo V-6 will be available in 9-3 Aero models this year.

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