Saab Return To Production Delayed Again

Saab can't seem to shake off the blues: production of the new 9-5 range and the 9-4X SUV is now postponed until the end of August.

The news follows Swedish Government and European Investment Bank approval this week of Swedish Automobile's request to sell 50.1 percent of Saab's property unit to a consortium of Swedish real estate investors 

Despite the carmaker securing 28 million euros in new funding through the sale - along with a further 61 million euros in "additional funding commitments" - Saab continues to struggle with parts suppliers.

According to a company spokesperson, a "summer shutdown" is the cause of this latest stall.

“The industry-wide summer break at our suppliers caused certain key suppliers not to be able to supply us in time,” Gunnar Brunius, VP of Production and Purchasing for Saab, said.

“Saab Automobile hopes to restart production at the earliest in week 35 (since production was halted), provided that it is able to commit to a delivery schedule with its suppliers.”

With nearly 11,000 9-4X and 9-5 sedan and wagon orders still to be filled, Brunius said he is confident that the necessary parts and components will arrive by late August. The company's Trollhattan plant has been in sleep mode since April.

An earlier Saab announcement pointed to an August 9 production restart, with lead-time and the industry's summer shutdowns taken into consideration.