Industry News: Turkish Government Buys License For Saab 9-3 For National Vehicle

[William Maley]

The National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS), the folks who bought up the assets of Saab have licensed the Turkish government to use the aged Saab 9-3 as the basis of a new national vehicle.

 

"We bought Saab 9-3’s intellectual property rights, but not its name," said Fikri Isik. Turkish Science, Industry and Technology Minister.

 

"The brand [of the car to be developed] will be a Turkish brand, it will not be Saab. We will develop the technology in Turkey."

 

Isik told the Turkish government-backed national television network, TRT, that the government had two options: go at it alone and spend $1 Billion dollars on developing their own vehicle or work with someone who has a platform ready to go.

 

Development of this new vehicle will be handled by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK) which hopes to begin production in 2020. A photo released by TÜBITAK shows three camouflaged prototypes with front ends from the unloved Cadillac BLS. At launch, the new vehicle will come diesel and gas four-cylinder engines. TÜBITAK hopes to launch an electric version down the road.

 

Source: aa.com.tr

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[Drew Dowdell]

The car that just won't die...

[thedriver]

looks like a Cadillac to me...

[CSpec]

That's a Cadillac BLS isn't it?

[G. David Felt]

That's a Cadillac BLS isn't it?

 

looks like a Cadillac to me...

 

Yes that is the Europe Cadillac BLS.

 

As Drew says, that car will not die and now it will become the National Car of Turkey.

 

Who says Cadillac is not a Global car of everyone!

[daves87rs]

LOL

[thedriver]

so, then. did the license the BLS or the 9-3? i know they shared a platform, but this picture is of a mostly complete car...