By Ronan Glon
Friday, Jun 15th, 2012 @ 5:50 am
 
Newly-reborn Saab might join forces with India's Mahindra & Mahindra to build gasoline-powered cars in the very near future.

Saab's new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), is mostly interested in turning the once-quirky automaker into a world-class electric vehicle manufacturer, but it reportedly sees gasoline-powered models as an effective way to start selling cars in a timely manner.

Gasoline-powered Saabs could also be used to generate short-term cash flow that would help NEVS develop Saab's upcoming electric lineup. The company announced in a press conference held last Wednesday that it secured approximately 7 billion Swedish Crowns ($997 million) to give the automaker a second lease on life but that sum will certainly not last forever, especially since the Phoenix platform is only about 60 percent done. A lot of work, time and money is needed before the platform can reasonably underpin an automobile.

Don't expect to see a performance-oriented Viggen-badged hatchback riding on the Phoenix platform anytime soon. The gasoline-burning Saabs will likely be equipped with small engines that emit very little CO2, which will enable them to stay in line with the eco-friendly image that NEVS is attempting to give the automaker.

Neither Mahindra & Mahindra nor Saab has confirmed the report. If it is true, the first Mumbai-developed, Trollhättan-built gasoline-powered Saabs will hit dealer showrooms in 2014.
  

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