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Saab News China: The View to Saab's BAIC Relationship

Tom 1 min read
BAIC C70G - based on Saab 9-5
BAIC C70G - based on Saab 9-5

Dong Haiyang is BAIC Vice President. He is happy that Saab has found a new partner, although it has been published in the past that BAIC wanted to take over Saab in April. Is it a Far Eastern way of “face protection” or do you really mean it, Dong Haiyang said in an interview to China Cartimes interesting things about the new products from BAIC, which are all based on older Saab technology.

He is relaxed about the fact that new Saab 9-5 Series II will soon be imported to China. First, the new Saab 9-5 appeals more to the “elites” in the big cities, while its 9-5 Series I based products should be sorted more into the A - C product categories on the mass market.

Second, who says the new Saab 9-5 is the better product? The new is not always the better, says Dong Haiyang, and it is not for nothing that the slogan for the purchased technology is “From Saab - better than Saab”. Because BAIC has revised the 9-5 platform, it has the 2.0 and 2.3 liter turbo engine technology, the running gear, the drive train and has acquired the production technology. He sees handling, stability at high speed, the hallmarks of European cars, guaranteed.

BAIC T60, based on the current Saab 9-3
BAIC T60, based on the current Saab 9-3

So why buy Saab when you have the complete, proven and mature 9-5 and 9-3 technology? Therefore, after careful consideration BAIC has started to build the brand and is convinced of the success of the advanced technology on Saab basis.

That is Far Eastern reasoning. “From Saab - better than Saab”. It will be exciting next year when we see the production models. The studies have been quite appealing recently. Especially since we now know that it is not just a matter of turbocharging. The electric BAIC-Saab is already doing its laps. Bet that the good old Saab 9-5 Series I, reborn in China, as an e-car does its laps before Trollhättan sends something similar into the race? China is always good for a surprise.

Text: tom@saabblog.net

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