An almost historic day in the old Saab factory.
Strange things have happened in Trollhättan in the last week. The television was on site, both at the local newspaper and at SVT you could read about a production start. The breakthrough for NEVS? Or what had happened?
In fact, in the old Saab factory, body shells were actually made for a very short time. 112 piece, to be exact. Half of them stay in Sweden, the rest went to China. There, starting in December, the pilot production of the NEVS 9-3 electric cars will start. Swedish employees support local Chinese colleagues.
From summer 2018 it should be ready then. NEVS then launches (finally) the so often announced series production. In the first year 10.000 electric cars will be built, then 50.000 per year. For China, 1.500 will be connected to new jobs. For Trollhättan 70.
An almost historic day. NEVS disenchanted.
From the perspective of the long-time chronicler, the event can be described as almost historical. Because it shows that NEVS has finally arrived in reality. According to its own assessment, “Sweden's largest industrial project” has shrunk to medium-sized companies. After we had been provided with ambitious visions for years, the result is extremely sobering.
The current situation: In Trollhättan the workforce has shrunk to below 800. 70 new jobs are to be created in the summer to deliver components for the NEVS 9-3 electric car to China. There has been no talk of new models and production in the former Saab factory for a long time. In 2020 or 2021 production could start again in Trollhättan, it is said. But admits that there are no concrete plans for this.
With 50.000 vehicles, the plant in Tianjin is far from exhausted. And not profitable. As a reminder: in Trollhättan the capacity is 170.000 units, in China 200.000 per year. With 50.000 electric cars, NEVS remains a niche player that will play no role in the market. In addition, all body shells must be manufactured in Tianjin. A press work does not exist yet, the financing is not secured. But the production license depends on the local value added.
Disillusionment for Trollhättan.
The prospects for Trollhättan are sobering. Apart from the 70 new workplaces planned for the summer 2018, there will be no new hires in the longer term. NEVS is moving to China and is trying its luck with a platform that largely comes from the year 2002. Development work on new NEVS vehicles, of which one can assume due to continued poor capitalization, there will be maximum on a back burner.
Meanwhile, the "old" auto industry will fight back. The dinosaurs from VW and Co announce investments in the billions. From 2020, you will flood the market with many new products. The Chinese administration wants mass electric cars? No problem. She will get it. From GM, VW, Daimler and Co.
Imagine sooner or later the machines for the production of the body shells in Sweden will be dismantled and shipped to China. Does not make sense otherwise. At some point, the work is just an empty shell.
I suppose that will only bring the pressing tools to China when the factory is ready. The old presses and production lines remain in Trollhättan. Using the old stuff in China does not make sense in my opinion. The ABB robots in the picture are no longer dewy.
NEVS should talk to Tesla. They need production capacity for the 3 model.
Many Saab veterans have this assumption too. The probability is high. The work is of course no longer fresh. It has been “sleeping” for years. Tesla will tend to put a plant on the greenfield, a Chinese company will certainly not produce. Even with the new plant in China, Chinese partners are kept outside, even if that brings some tax disadvantages.
do you know what's the difference between you and Volvo?
Volvo has broken down more tested cars than you have ever produced since 2012, including parts, components, saab 9-3, etc.
There was talk of DiDi Chuxing also developing E. cars in the future. The financial situation shouldn't be that bad.
NEVS is probably trying (again) to produce something so probably jump up any financial investors.
Hopefully the theater will end soon ...
When NEVS builds the first vehicle, other manufacturers have long since conquered the market. Are incapable. What do the owners actually do all day, apparently nothing that has been going on for years. Great job.
Super!
I'm right back!
But VW only builds small cars on an electric basis, so no competition.
It's nice to hear that something is finally moving in the Saab factory. But no one has imagined that.
Can only say: May the griffin redeem us and Saab Scania to rise again, the true masterpieces of automobile manufacturing in Trollhattan arise again.
Imitate!
And years will go by for this decision ...
It turns out that the Chinese engineers are apparently more likely to be able to recreate than to develop innovatively ...
If the “dinosaurs” from the EU and the USA managed to manage electric mobility in China, that would be a hit! Almost unbelievable ...
Thanks for the hard / realistic article.
So for the workers and employees of the former Saab plant in Trollhattan.
This work should be back in action as soon as possible, and so is the search for a realist owner who can use the full capacity again so firmly.
And 5 years for that? The spiders…
Hard but fair. Thanks for the (sobering) information.
Les résultats sont modestes, je ne désespère pas de les voir monter, car en Chine tout semble possible.