The Evolution of the Saab, Saab-Scania & SAAB Logos

Posted on 11. Nov, 2006 by Ryan in 1937-1939, 1940-1949, 1950-1959, 1960-1969, 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009, Linköping, Sweden, Saab Aerospace, Scania Trucks & Busses

I have decided to finally provide some much needed clarification on evolution of the Saab, Saab-SCANIA, SCANIA & Saab logos since the very beginning to the present day.

Below I have provided each logo, dates along with some brief history on the automobile, aircraft and trunk business for our reference.

There is much more that can be included in this history, and that will require a lot more time than I have, but I hope to keep visiting this page with updates.

Aircraft

In 1937, the SAAB name was registered as SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget)started in Linköping, Sweden and here is their first logo.

In 1965, SAAB registered the name as SAAB Aktiebolaget to indicate it’s diversification of programs. SAAB also created a new logo in which they used until 1969.

In 1969, SAAB AB mergered with Scania-Vabis to become SAAB-SCANIA, with headquarters remaining in Linköping, Sweden

In 1984, SAAB-SCANIA had a new logo made. This logo was used throughout their aircraft including the SAAB-SCANIA 340 and 2000.

In 1990, The Wallenberg’s Investor AB sold half of the stake of Saab Automobile to General Motors (GM).

In 1995, Investor AB made a deal to sell the other half of Saab Automobile in 2000. That same year in 1995, SAAB Aircraft became independant and now called itself SAAB Aerospace who created a new logo until 2000, as did SCANIA Trucks & Busses become independant who also created a new logo.

From 1995 until 2000, the Saab Aerospace logo continued to be used.

In 2000, SAAB Aerospace’s programs became more diversified, so it was appropriate to create a new name and new logo. “SAAB TECHNOLOGIES” This logo continues to be used today.

Trucks

In 1891, Vabis name was founded in Södertälje, Sweden. Vabis first logo below.

Scania was founded in Malmö, Sweden. Here is their first logo.

In 1911, Vabis was merged with Scania Trucks in Southern, Sweden to form Aktiebolaget Scania-Vabis. Scania-Vabis first logo which ran until 1969.

In 1969, Scania-Vabis became SAAB-SCANIA. From 1969 until 1983, SAAB-SCANIA had the following logo.

From 1984 until 1995, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo on their trucks.

In 1995, SAAB-SCANIA split, and became the independant SCANIA AB Trucks & Busses who also created a new logo.

Automobiles

1947, SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) started in Linköping, Sweden and here is their first logo at that time for the URsaab model 92001 prototype.

From 1949 until 1962, SAAB used this logo.

From 1963 until 1969, SAAB used this logo.

From 1969 until 1974, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo.

From 1974 until 1983, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo.

From 1984 until 1995, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo.

In 1990, the Swedish Wallenberg family’s company Investor AB sold half of its stake of SAAB-SCANIA to GM, effectively changing SAAB-SCANIA to Saab Automobile AB for the cars division.

In 1995, Investor AB made a deal to sell the other half of Saab Automobile in 2000. From 1995 until 2000, the SAAB-SCANIA logo continued to be used on the Saab Automobile.

In the later half of 2000, a new Saab Automobile logo was introduced that utilized the same griffin symbol a part of the flag representing the southernmost tip (Scania) of the Skåne region of Sweden, removed the SCANIA name, and kept the same background color and changed the silver trim.

In September of 2002, the new logo was enhanced and this logo continues to be used today.

At the 2008 North American International Auto Show, it was indicated to me by Saab designers,both Bryan Nesbitt as well as Andrew Dyson (at 11:15 in the video) that the new Saabs of the future will be going back to the “SAAB” lettering, beginning with the new Saab 9-4x production model, although this removal of the emblem was not the case on the 9-4x BioPower concept.

I should also note that, even though Andrew Dyson indicated that the letters were only going to be used on the steering wheel and then the trunk of the Saab 9-4x, the production model has excluded this on the hood, leaving the griffen emblem only on the wheels.

If you carefully look at the new Saab 9-4x production model photograph, you can see that the emblem has now been removed from the hood further confirming the direction for the future use of the SAAB lettering.

According to Bryan Nesbitt and what we see on the Saab 9-4x, this logo will now be used from here on out for all 2010 Saab models.

If there are any additions, omissions or corrections needed, please post your comments below.

A special thanks to the Saab Museum online for the information http://www.saabmuseum.com/marque/index.html

Tags: 9-3, 9-5, Automotive Component Group, new 9-5, new saab 9-3, saab, saab 9-3, saab 9-4x, saab 9-5, saab 9-5 wagon, saab 900, saab 9000, saab 99, Saab Automobile, saab ng900, Sweden