BREAKING NEWS: NEVS evaluates restart of 9-3 current product line
I have just spoken with Mattias Bergman at NEVS and he can confirm that NEVS is evaluating the potential of restarting the current 9-3 product line. The evaluation is mainly depends on some certain key aspects:
Supplier readiness to restart supply of parts
Customer demand
Dealer capabilities
One of the major reasons for wanting to restart production Mattias said was that NEVS could hire back production staff and utilize the production plant even before the launch of the EV1.
When NEVS bought the rights to the 9-3 it did not include the drive-train from GM. However Mattias confirms that they are exploring a number of different engines.
Now I know from my talks with different managers at SAAB just after the bankruptcy, that there was a 2,0 liter engine which Saab worked on for a fairly long time, this engine could use the same block and peripheral components for different types of fuel, for example diesel and gasoline. Saab made a BioPower version of that engine as well. The engine was fitted to and test driven in a Saab 9-3 already many years ago. That engine comes from BMW…
It seams like a likely scenario that NEVS would perhaps be exploring this opportunity once again since most of the work on that engine is already done. According to Saab’s VIKING business plan released in the summer of 2011, this engine was to be introduced into the Saab lineup within a few years. It could very well be that this could actually become a reality. This engine has found its way into the Mini and other BWM models.
Another interesting aspect is the Japanese connection that NEVS has. NEVS utilized engineers and production experts from Toyota when evaluating the assets of Saab, that could of course also be a link that they are exploring. Regardless of the company supplying the engines, it will probably be a for of existing power plant.
The diesel option is of course an important one, on that front NEVS can use the 1,9 Fiat diesel since its not regulated by GM.
Just to make clear NEVS have not confirmed anything regarding a potential partnership with BMW or Toyota, its pure speculation on my part!
O stire cel putin excitanta
Sursa