Saab AB, the Swedish aerospace company that owns the Saab brand, will not allow its name or logo to be used on future models produced by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS).
NEVS, which bought the assets of bankrupt Saab Automobile in 2012, has announced two big deals in the past few weeks to supply electric Saab 9-3-based sedans to two separate Chinese companies as part of China's push to make EVs a mass-market alternative to gasoline cars.
Pictures of the 9-3 EV released by NEVS have the Saab name and a modified Saab badge, creating speculation that NEVS will sell its cars under the Saab brand name.
Saab AB withdrew NEVS' right to use the Saab name two years ago after NEVS sought protection from creditors. NEVS was never granted the use of the Saab AB's iconic griffin badge and developed its own Saab logo.
Saab AB reaffirmed that NEVS will not be allowed to use the Saab name. "We have revoked their right to use the brand name" and there is no longer a discussion about NEVS using it, Saab AB spokesman Sebastian Carlsson told Automotive News Europe.