Saab is continuously enjoying its success with its eco-friendly BioPower model range. And at present it is the leading supplier of bioethanol or E85 “flex-fule’ cars in Swedish and European market.
The first five months of the present year, Saab has been able to deliver about 6,800 Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 BioPower models to Swedish customers. The sales rate was maintained last month attributed to the launching of the Saab 9-3 BioPower in early spring. It came top of the Swedish sales charts providing Saab with a 38 percent market share in the segment for eco-friendly cars.
According to Jan Ake Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director, "It is very satisfying that our customers appreciate our BioPower offer.BioPower shows it is possible to choose an environmentally friendly and safe car, without sacrificing comfort, drivability or power."
The success of Saab in the eco-friendly car segment is due to the fact that Saab is in truth a technology leader in terms of realizing the full potential of bioethanol. Such expertise has enabled Saab to leverage its unrivalled experience in turbocharging which makes it possible to deliver an enhanced performance with reduced fossil CO2 emissions.
Saab is planning to continue its R&D efforts in order to bring in more new products and solutions to the market that demands for high performance, fuel economy, and eco-friendly cars. The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept which was first launched at the Stockholm Motor Show last year is just a preview of what Saab is capable of producing.
Jan Ake Jonsson also said, "There is huge international interest in what is happening in Sweden regarding the technology and infrastructure for use of bioethanol. Countries such as Norway, Ireland and France are following Sweden’s example by investing in a bioethanol infrastructure. Everyday we receive requests for more information regarding our environmental efforts."
Jan Ake Jonsson together with Saab’s technical expert Kjell ac Bergstrom are to participate in the Swedish political event called the “Almedalsveckan” where they will meet with Andreas Carlgren, the Swedish Minister for Environmental Affairs. In addition the EU Comission has also invited Jonsson to a top-level international conference that would tackle environmental issues. Jonsson will be representing the side of the auto industry.
In other news this time on General Motors--the owner of Saab, maker of
Saab 900 parts---reports says that GM is considering setting up a manufacturing plant in Central and Eastern Europe.
GM has already sent a group to study and look at seven Central and Eastern European countries including Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania.
