This is the car that I grew up with; it put up with me stalling out at stop lights, swerving around the upstate s-curves, and grinding the gears as I learned to use a stick shift. Once a bus hit my father’s Saab in a parking lot, the Saab came away with a barely dinged bumper, and the bus looked like it had hit a Mack Truck. Man, those were trusty cars. I feel like an old friend has passed.
Obituary: Saab Automobile 1947-2011
Saab Automobile, 64, of Trollhättan, died Monday.
It was born to the late Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, June 10, 1947, in Trollhättan, Sweden. Saab graduated from Project 92 in 1949 and completed its first Sonett in the 1950s. It married the late General Motors in 1990, and they lived together in Detroit, Mi., before separating in 2010. Saab briefly partnered to form Swedish Automobile NV (née Spyker Cars NV) before the two parties amicably parted ways. It succumbed to financial hardship and complications from product starvation.
Saab was a maker of cars and, later, sport-utility and crossover vehicles until it retired earlier this year. During its time in the U.S., Saab began traveling abroad; this led it to the business of importing and reselling Japanese goods. Once back in its native Sweden, Saab continued its Asian travels, this time venturing to China for outreach programs. Ailing health and visa troubles from its previous marriage ultimately kept it from pursuing all of the travel it had planned.
Saab was very fond of the number 9 and anything remotely to do with air travel.
Saab is survived by nearly 3000 unsold children: 9-3 and 9-5 of Trollhättan, Sweden; and 9-4X (SRX) of Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. It also is survived by a worldwide dealership and distribution network.
Saab will be cremated following a formal receivership ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, the company is requesting that donations be made out to the 3600 employees soon to be out of work.
