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, 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 and they appeared with Saab name badges, but this apparently breached the asset sale agreement.
Ford Motor Co Chief Executive Mark Fields says he is “always open to talking with others” about partnerships on small cars.
Fields was speaking generally about partnering on small cars without directly addressing whether he would consider a vehicle-making alliance with rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.
Major manufacturing problems have forced Volkswagen to suspend production of its Passat in Germany.
There are reported to be issues with its components stamping operations and main gearbox assembly plant and German media reports also say there has been reduced demand for the large car and estate series.
Demand for commercial vehicles rose in 2015, according to the latest registration figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Registrations of new CVs were up 12.4% on 2014, making 2015 the third consecutive year of CV market growth.
