National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs) says it is aiming for series production start of its Saab 9-3 battery-powered model by autumn or winter this year.
The former Saab Automobile company, now owned by Nevs, itself a subsidiary of National Modern Energy Holdings and Qingdao Qingbo Investment, is currently producing pre-series 9-3 EVs at its Trollhättan plant in Western Sweden.
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“We don’t have full assembly line yet for the electric vehicle – that will be established during the year,” a Nevs spokesman told just-auto from Sweden.
“So we are talking about start of series production later this year in the autumn or winter and commercial products somewhere during 2015, after certification processes in China and for the European market as we plan to certify it for China first and then the European market.”
This summer Nevs is aiming to deliver around 200 9-3 EVs to the city of Qingdao in the form of a pilot fleet following certification and using improved battery range.
Nevs’ parent company owns Beijing National Battery Technology that is currently looking to increase the current range of its lithium ion powertrain from around 200km to 300km.
The Swedish company is remaining coy as to the number of 9-3 EVs it could commercialise – “We have our prognosis but that is not public information” – while revealing it is currently producing 30 9-3 Aero vehicles per week at the Trollhättan plant.
The current period marks a busy time for Nevs as it announced today (15 April) a global distribution tie-up with Orio – formerly Saab Automobile Parts – for spare 9-3 components.
“The agreement with Orio secures supply for spare parts – that is very good,” said the Nevs spokesman. “Orio is buying parts from Nevs – that is the relationship.”
Nevs added it had “reconstructed the floor” of the existing 9-3, where it is now placing batteries for the EV variant, but there was “no actual change of design” for the vehicle.
NEVS started production of the Saab 9-3 Aero sedan with 220hp, two litre, turbocharged petrol engines last December.
The Swedish company is 78 % owned by National Modern Energy Holdings and 22 % by Qingdao Qingbo Investment.
