by The last remaining cars at the old Saab factory are finally preparing to leave their birthplace. More than ten years after the collapse of the Swedish automaker, a small collection of research vehicles and prototypes is heading to auction, marking another emotional page in the long farewell to Saab. Some of these cars are truly impressive.
What will be auctioned off?
The auction includes eight vehicles that were stored at the former Saab factory in Trollhättan, Sweden. Most of them are based on the Saab 9-3 and were developed after Saab’s bankruptcy by the company NEVS, founded in 2012 from the remnants of the automaker following its collapse.
NEVS, which stands for National Electric Vehicle Sweden, attempted to reimagine Saab’s engineering legacy around electric and autonomous technologies but was legally unable to use the Saab name. For a time, it seemed the company might succeed in this reimagining, but the situation eventually began to deteriorate.
The story of NEVS and its collapse
Backed by Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, NEVS spent years developing electric cars, autonomous systems, and experimental powertrains until Evergrande’s financial collapse put an end to these plans. Mass layoffs occurred in 2023, and since then, the factory has been gradually emptying out. Now, the last cars are being sold.
Among the most interesting lots are an autonomous research vehicle and another prototype equipped with in-wheel electric motors — a technology that Saab engineers once explored as part of future electric vehicle programs. There is also a hybrid test vehicle with a range extender and several pre-production 9-3 sedans built during NEVS’s operations.
Working cars with traces of testing
Most of the cars are not polished museum exhibits. They are engineering prototypes and research samples — working test cars created by engineers who tried to advance Saab’s ideas long after the original company disappeared. Another vehicle in the sale is an electric Hengchi 5 SUV, linked to Evergrande’s automotive ambitions.
Auction details and historical significance
The auctions will run from May 21 to May 30 through the Swedish auction house Klaravik, with no reserve price set for any of the lots. Enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to visit the factory in Trollhättan before the bidding closes later this month.
The factory itself in Trollhättan holds immense historical significance. Saab opened it in 1947, and for decades it produced some of the automotive world’s smartest and quirkiest cars, such as the 900 Turbo. Now, 15 years after GM divested the company, triggering a decade-long death spiral, the last remnants are heading out the door.
This auction is not just a sale of old cars but a symbolic end to an entire era. It serves as a reminder of how ambitious plans to revive a legendary brand were shattered by financial realities, leaving behind only a handful of prototypes now seeking new owners. For Saab enthusiasts, it is a sad but important event, allowing them to touch a history that could have turned out differently.
