It’s a sob story for the Saab nameplate

Saab engineering and technology may live on after the Swedish automaker’s bankruptcy, but we may never see the brand’s name on another car.

The name Saab comes from Swedish Aerospace AB, the aircraft company that built cars as a sideline until it sold that business to General Motors Co. in 1990. Swedish Automobile got the right to use the name when it bought the brand from GM a couple of years ago.

The asset sale may include Saab’s factory equipment, but no GM know-how for building and developing cars, powertrains and vehicle architectures.

Meanwhile, GM will handle warranty work on vehicles sold while it owned Saab, through the 2009 model year. Saab Cars North America is working on warranty coverage for the relatively few 2010 and 2011 models its dealers sold. Saab’s U.S. dealers have about 2,400 unsold new vehicles in stock.

Detroit Free Press