Acronym for "Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolaget", meaning Swedish Airplane Company.
Saab is an aerospace manufacturer
based in
Sweden, who in post-
war year of 1947 decided to start marketing a car called the "92" which used an engine derived from DKW (part of the
old Auto Union in Germany). Saab went on to produce the 93, the 95, the Sonnet II and Sonnet III, the
96, 99, 900, 9000, 9-3, 9-
5 and the new 9-2x. The automotive branch of Saab is no longer associated with the old parent aerospace manufacturer.
50% of Saab was purchased by
GM in 1989, and the remaining
50% in 1999.
In 1986, when the Saab 9000 was introduced into the United States, it was the fastest (top speed) sedan sold in the
US.
Saab did NOT invent the turbocharger, nor make the world's first turbocharged vehicle. However, the Saab 99 turbo was responsible for bringing turbocharged automobiles to the masses, and is considered the world's first WIDELY PRODUCED turbocharged car.
