Saab: A Safe Competition Car

Founded in 1937, the Swedish car company of Saab has come a long ways from its humble beginnings. Originally an airplane manufacturer, the company began to make Saab Automobiles in the late 1940´s.

In the Beginning

Diversifying from aircraft to consumer vehicles might seem a strange step to take, but for Saab, it made all the sense in the world. The company was looking for a way to diversify its existing business and to make it more successful. Going consumer was just the thing.

In 1947, the Saab 92001 came off the assembly line and Saab never looked back. This first car was good, but the company quickly began to improve their vehicles and by the 1950´s, had a reputation for excellent, safe and reliable cars.

Takeovers

The company also merged with Scania-Vabis to form a truck production company in 1969. The new company was called Saab-Scania, which was eventually bought up by General Motors, after an initial investment in 51% of the company in 1990. General Motors obtained the entire company in 2000.

Expansion

Saab hasn't stuck with just automobiles and airplanes. In the late 1950´s the company started DataSAAB, venturing into the early computer market. The idea was to try and develop a computer small enough to fit on an airplane, an idea that seemed ridiculous to many at the time, considering that a "modern" computer took up an entire room!

However, DataSAAB persisted and turned out several high-techs, advanced computers that were sold to be used in banks in various European countries. Finally, in 1971, a navigational computer was developed that was small enough to fit on the Viggen, one of Saab's military aircraft.

Since the company was not doing as well as expected, once this goal was accomplished, it was Sperry Univac in 1975. Saab continued to experiment in the field of computer navigation, though.

Aircraft

Saab is still a major player in the aircraft production field, under the division Saab-BAe Gripen AB. This company was formed when the Saab Military Aircraft Company and BAE Systems (British Aerospace) merged in 1995. They focus mainly on fighter aircraft, such as the JAS 39 Gripen which recently became their base model.

Before the Gripen, Saab produced several other airplanes, including the Viggen, the Draken, the Lansen, as well as the Tunnan. Apart from these military fighters, Saab has also made civilian models in the past.

The most well-known of the passenger planes created by the company are the Saab 340 and the Saab 2000. Saab no longer makes passenger planes.

Space and Military

With the formation of the Saab Ericsson Space company, Saab branched out into the next logical part of aviation . . . space. The company is now wholly owned by Saab, although it began as a joint partnership with Ericsson.

Saab Ericsson Space focuses on designing on board computers for rockets such as the Ariane 5. These are used by the ESA, European Space Agency.

In the military department, Saab is known as Saab Bofors Dynamics. This division aims to develop military applications and has had success in the field. The AT4, Carl Gustav recoilless rifle and the MBDA Meteor are just a few of the developments done through Saab Bofors Dynamics.

Cars

Saab Automobiles began with the Saab 92, which went on to win several races, boosting the car's fame around the world. The aviation background of the company came out in its car designs; they were more aerodynamic and caused less drag than any other car on the market.

In 1966, the V4 engine was introduced and Saab was able to manufacture even more powerful cars, like the Saab 95 and 96. The Saab 99 came out in 1967 and decade later, was offered with the option of a turbocharger.

1978 saw deal made between Fiat and Saab to produce the Saab 9000 with the same innovative platform as the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, and the Lancia Thema. But Saab Automobiles was running into problems.

By the end of the 1980´s, the car company was producing far more than it was selling and the cars were piling up, waiting for buyers. One production plant was closed, but it didn't help matters. Saab was going down.

In 1990, General Motors bought up half the company, with the option of completing the sale within a decade. Although Saab did manage to see a profit in 1995 with the Saab 900, it was too late. With GM in control, Saab has recently come out with the 9-3 and 9-5 which are both big sellers.

Saab is a diverse company, with a finger in every pot and it looks like they are here to stay, despite difficulties.