Year/place: 1969 - 1995, Trollhättan and Södertälje and ... (Formed in 1969 with the merge of Saab and Scania-Vabis. In 1990 the car division becomes Saab Automobile AB, with 50% owned by General Motors.)
The merge of Saab AB and AB Scania-Vabis, announced in december 1968, was handled during 1969 to september 1972 when the final permission was given for the new Saab-Scania AB.
The new company was organised in four divisions: cars, aircraft, computers and electronics, and the 'Nordarmatur' division.
I'll first tell a little about the non-car divisions in those years:
Saab 35 Draken was produced for Denmark and Sweden, Saab 37 Viggen for Sweden, and Saab 105 for Austria. The newly bought company MFI introduced the light MFI-15. Aircraft robots were produced for Sweden.
Computers were developed and produced both for stationary use in companies et cetera (there were no pc:s in those days), and for mobile use in aircrafts like 37 Viggen. Among others computer divisions of the swedish 'län' (administrative provinces) concluded that the Saab D21 were superior to the IBM machines some 'län' used, and it was decided to use only Saab computers. Electronics were produced for industrial machinery, handicap vehicles and others.
Nordarmatur had some 3.500 instruments, fittings et cetera for process industry, power plants, ships and ...
Cars from the start
Saab 95 (introduced in 1959), Saab 96 (intro. 1960), Saab Sonett II (intro. 1966) and Saab 99 (intro. 1967) were in production. The new factory in the Saab company, Saab-Valmet in Finland, produced its first Saab, a 96, in 1969.
Three new trucks were introduced: LB80, LB85 and LB140. The 140 was equipped with the new Scania diesel DS114 giving 350 hp, the most powerful road vehicle engine produced in Europe.
Scania also introduced the new Metro-Scania bus.
The early 70s
In 1970 Saab Sonett III came, with a new design. It had a normal hood opening, more space for luggage, but the same standard V4 engine. With the cars weight of just 770 kg it was enough for a sports car. The 1974 model was the last Sonett. 10.219 Sonett II and III were built.
From 1970 all Saabs were equipped with a headlight cleaning system. Saab 99 from 1972 was announced "the Car of the Year" by the swedish car magazine 'Teknikens Värld', among others because of Saabs new 'self-repairing' bumper.
In 1971 several new bus chassis were introduced, among others for double-deckers. One series complete buses were aimed for out-of-town traffic, and the strongest engine used were the new V8 with 260hp - more than was usual in buses at the time, giving positive effects like fewer rounds per minute (rpm) when driving and less need to change gear.
Another new complete bus was the CR111M, nicknamed 'the silent bus', a bus where the constructors had worked a lot to reduce the noice level 10dB(A) down to 77dB(A) - which was lower than from most private cars. Things like strong engines, automatic gearbox, servo steering, heating system for the coach, and low floor were appreciated in the new Scania buses.
Saab 99 got a 88 hp engine in 1972, and two new models were introduced - a more sporty and de luxe version with 110 hp, named 99 EMS, and a low-price model X7.
Dividing
When the merging to the new company finally had all permissions in september 1972, the car division was divided into two: Scania producing trucks and buses, and Saab private cars. (From here I'll use Saab-Scania for the company, Saab for the private car division and Scania for the truck and bus division.)
Among the Saab-Scania experiments in 1972 were a steam engine for cars, and ABS anti-lock brakes.
In 1973 Saab-Scania sold more cars than any year earlier. 37.526 new Saabs registred in Sweden, and 52.450 exported Saabs. And a new factory was built in Argentina.
Saab-Scania believed it was important to keep the employees informed and involved in the companys devlopment. Among others, from august 1973 representatives for the employees participate in the board meetings.
The tough mid 70's
In 1974 the 99 Combi Coupé model was introduced.
X14 was a rare name for a test car within Saab, and it later was called Saab 98. It was based on the 95 but had a Combi Coupé rear body. The only prototype was assembled by Italian Sergio Coggiola, who earlier had contributed to Sonett III. Saab decided that the 98 would not add to the model range, rather compete with the existing 95, and the project stopped.
The Saab-Scania trucks went through the 'New Program Scania' from the autumn on 1974. A number of new trucks were introduced during the following two years.
Two ways to notice the difference is that the new ones had the name Scania in thick letters on a black plate placed above the grill, and the new ones also had model names ending with a 1 or 6 (instead of 0 or 5). For example, in the old series you had LB140 and in the new LB141. (The bus chassis CR111M got a '1' some years earlier, indicating that the management considered it as an important improvement, and that the idea for the change to '1' had been in progress for several years.)
A new experiment with a steam engine took place in 1974, with an engine that reused the steam in form of water. There would be no need to fill the car with water, and no steam outlet. But it never got longer than a project. An electric car was tested by Sweden Post, but it did not lead to an order.
In 1975 the oil crisis began to giva a harder effect on Sweden, continuing in 1976. In 1975 Scania grew, but in 1976 it was stated as a fact that the truck industry on the planet could produce more trucks and buses than there were demand for.
The cost of producing private cars rose in Sweden, and the competition on the market grew - among others from the japanese car companies.
To be able to concentrate on the central car products, Saab-Scania began to sell italian small and middleclass Lancia cars in Sweden.
Serious discussions and work took place around 1977 about a merging of Saab-Scania and Volvo, but the smaller Saab-Scania decided not to take the step.
Some positive things
Even though the mid 70s were tough years, there were some positive events.
Saab nr 1.000.000 were produced in january 1976.
The Saab 99 Turbo was presented in the auto show in Frankfurt in september 1977. A Saab 99 Turbo won Svenska Rallyt, in the World Championship series, in 1979. It was the first turbocharged car winning a rally in the series.
In the mid 70s all new trucks had environmental improvements. The cabs got among others better sound- and climate insulation and warmed driver seat, and a more luxurious cab were introduced fitted for long-distance transports. The engines had noise and exhaust improvements, and approved with margin to regulations set in for example California, U.S.A., in 1975.
On the 'air side' Saab-Scania began producing wing parts for DC9 aircrafts from McDonnell Douglas, and they started producing winddriven power generators.
The better late 70s
In december 1975 the first new all-wheel drive trucks were delivered to the swedish army. SBA111 had 2 axles and SBAT111 3 axles. The demands on the cars were very high. Totally more than 3.400 were built.
Scania began the production of trucks and buses in Argentina in 1976. In 1977 Scania introduced the new bus chassis BR116, built in Brazil, made for bodies that didn't need a complete chassis. It was delivered with engines giving between 203 and 305hp, and could be built with 4,9 to 7 metres between the axles.
The first Saab 900 was produced during the autumn of 1978, as a 1979 model. Since 1969 the Saab 99 had been improved every year, with continuous developing, but now it was time for a more thorough change in the chassis and for the new larger engines.
With the 900 series Saab took the step into the luxury car market, and it was a step with positive result. Already in 1979 52.478 Saab 900 were produced.
In 1979 the production of Saab 95 stopped, the last estate wagon from Saab so far. The same year a experimental 900 Super Turbo with 170 hp was presented. The cooperation with Lancia was widened to include development and production, with the Saab-Lancia 600 as the first result.
Scania were successful in 1978 and 1979 (more than 20.000 exported vehicles), and remained among the largest producers of trucks over 15 metric tons. Among the news in the late 70s were LBFS111, with 2 front axles, both steering, and trucks equipped to handle the new mobile cargo units (like containers and removeable platforms).
The good old early 80's
Saab-Lancia 600 was elected "the Car of the Year" in 1980 by 52 european motor journalists. The first 4-door Saab 900 was presented, and the last Saab 96 was made.
In 1980 Saab introduced the APC system, that adjusts the engine settings to the petrol quality that is used for the car. This make the engine less sensitive to quality differences in the fuel.
Scania introduced a new truck program in 1980, with trucks between 16,5 and 36 tons. A modular system with components that could be fitted together in a number of ways, depending on the demands for each truck. The new models got the '2' as the last digit in the model name. When the program was replaced in 1988, more than 170.000 trucks had been built in the '2'-series, in more than 116 versions (not included left-hand and right-hand versions).
Saab-Scania began cooperation with Fairchild Industries, U.S.A., to do business in the so called "regional aircrafts" carrying up to cirka 30 passengers. The swedish government decided to replace 37 Viggen in the swedish air force, and a large order for robots were in production. But the computer division, now in a company named Datasaab, was sold to LM Ericsson after a couple of years with bad management.
Good news
In 1982 Scania introduced two news: the Intercooler engine, the most powerful standard model engine for trucks in Europe with 420 hp, and a new generation of rear-engine bus chassis for both commuter and tourist traffic. This chassis, named K, with its high usability became a success for Scania.
Also in 1982, after years of discussions, the swedish government ordered a first series of 30 JAS aircrafts.
In 1983 a new Saab engine was introduced, the standard version giving 160 hp and the turbo 200 hp. Each third Saab produced during the year had a Turbo engine, making Saab one of the largest turbo-powered car producers.
Also in 1983, Fairchilds cooperation with Saab came to an end, and Saab took the complete control of the project. And the same year Saab 340 flew for the first time. Till 1999 400 of them have been delivered to 39 airlines all over the planet.
Winners
Two large research projects about the car industry concluded, after a visit to Saabs factories, that Saab had a good ground to continue as a prosperous car producer. Their advice to Saab was to keep the characteristics, the unique design, the high quality and keep on increasing productivity.
Gunnar Ljungström, the creator of the first Saab (together with designer Sixten Sason), became the 143:rd honorary member in 'Society of Automotive Engineers'. Only 20 persons outside U.S.A. had got the title before him. The motivation was, partly, that he had used his skills from aviation to the car in light weight construction, aerodynamics, material strength and economy.
More than 102.000 Saabs were produced in 1984. Saab 9000 was displayed for the first time, and the series 99 was followed by Saab 90. Scania presented yet a new series of trucks, Scania 92, aimed at a wide market with various transport needs. Also ABS-brake systems became an option on trucks and buses.
In 1984-85 Scania first began assembly of buses in U.S.A., then selling trucks in north-eastern U.S.A. Earlier Scania had sold some 20.000 engines to U.S.A. companies, primarily to Mack for use in trucks and buses.
Research and development
During the mid 80s Saab-Scania continued investing in research and development.
A new production line was installed during the summer of 1985, replacing the one-line production with production groups of 20-30 persons. This gave the employees among others better opportunies to take quality responsibilities and to use work rotation. The aim was to increase production to 150.000 cars per year.
With the wider market for Saabs, the demands on the cars increased in several ways. Saab-Scania built a new wind tunnel, where cars could be tested in various climatic conditions.
The first 'flight' with JAS 37 Gripen took place in 1985 in a flight simulator.
Lots of air
A Saab 900 Convertible was shown at the car show in Frankfurt in 1985. The positive response resulted in a sale start already in 1986.
Saab 9000 was first sold with Saabs 2-litre Turbo 16. It is smaller than the 900 car, but has more space inside for passengers and luggage. In the U.S.A. it was classed as a 'large car', according to the norms of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is a well equipped car, and it-s aerodynamic design keeps the flow of petrol down. Do you know that among the standard equipment were an air filter system that takes care of pollen, and clean the air coming into the car from most of the air pollution?
In 1986 the first Saab 9000 without a turbo was presented.
In october 1986 Saab used the Talladega race track in Alabama, U.S.A., for endurance tests. A Saab 9000 Turbo 16 was the fastest of the car. It was driven day and night for three weeks, in 230 km/h. It became the fastest standard car on the planet over a stretch equivalent to 2,5 times round this planet.
The first full-scale 'dummy' of JAS 39 Gripen was shown in early 1986 for the first time. Less than two weeks later the research satellite Viking was launched in early 1986. It was a project with Saab-Scania as contractor. It was launched by the european rocket Ariane, using among others an onboard computer from Saab.
50 years
In 1987 Saab-Scania celebrated the first 50 years. The Saab-Scania-prize was established, for prominent technical achievements. Another first were 15 scholarships given to students at technical and economical institutions in Sweden.
Saab produced the second millionth car, and Scania the vehicle number 500.000 - a truck delivered to UNICEF.
The exclusive Saab 9000CD was presented in october 1987, with sales start in 1988.
The first rebuilt Saab 35OE Draken was delivered to the Austrian air force. The civil air craft Saab 340B was presented, a model with a more powerful engine intended for high altitude airports with high temperatures.
With a number of divisions, in a wide field of high tech development and production, Saab-Scania took the step into the companys 51st year.
The late 80s
In august 1988 Scania once again was first with an improvement on engines, Electronic Diesel Control (EDC), adapting fuel flow to what the engine needed at various times. On the side the use of electronics also were used for functions like constant speed and adjustable idle rpm for extra power for crane et cetera.
The new engines were used in the new '3'-series. As with the '2'-series, it was modular. The top model was R143ML4x2, with the 14 litre 470hp engine with turbo, intercooler and EDC. The cabs in the '3'-series were even more comfortable.
The 2- and 3-axle all-wheel drive trucks in the series had the same cabs as the civil trucks. Scania got an order from Norway to deliver 1.700 all-wheel drive military trucks. Also 660 trucks should be delivered to India. An 8-wheel all-wheel drive truck was made for military tests in Sweden in 1992. This one could carry 15 metric tons.
Scanias '3'-series was elected 'Truck of the Year 1989' by an european jury, in competition with six other producers. Scania won with 62 votes before Mercedes-Benz SK-series with 50 votes and MAN M90 with 21 votes.
In the 80s Scania became the fourth largest heavy truck producer on the planet. Export were over 90%. In 1989 32.339 trucks and 3.910 buses were produced. 46% were produced in Sweden, 34% in the Netherlands, 18% in Brazil and 2% in Argentina. Assembly factories were to find in several countries, like Australia, South Korea, Portugal and Botswana.
In december 1988 JAS 39 Gripen made its first flight, and Saab 2000 was presented. Aimed at the regional airliner market it could carry up to 58 passengers at the speed of 670 km/h, the fastest turboprop airliner on the market.
Around 1989-90 the Saab car division is restructured into an independent company, with swedish Investor AB and General Motors owning 50% each. The name of the new company is Saab Automobile AB.
On this page I continue telling about 'the remaining Saab-Scania'.
For info about the Saab cars, go to Saab Automobile AB.
The 'troublesome' early 90s
The 90s started with a down-period. Sales of heavy trucks and buses fell in Europe from 190.000 trucks in 1989 to 175.000, and on the planet from 500.000 trucks to 452.000.
The growing environmental interest led to incresing efforts to construct cleaner engines. Scania, as many others, had two ways to get less air pollution. Technical improvements had been taken into production during the years, and more were to come. Now several tests were made with cleaner fuels, like etanol and cleaner diesel fuel.
In 1991 the fourth generation Scania diesel engines was presented. One used the so called turbocompound technique, where the exhausts were led via an extra turbine. The power of this increased the engines efficiency to 46% (compared to maximum 44% for efficient diesel engines and 35% for petrol engines). This meant also lower fuel consumtionption, and less air pollution. (The technique had earlier been used in aircraft and ship engines, but Scania was first managing to use it in truck engines.) Another new engine was a new version of the 11 litre V8 with EDC, now with 500hp.
Noice reduction was also in growing demand. From 1991 Scania vehicles for the swedish market had lower noice level than 85db(A). When some countries in 1990 set new rules, Scania could deliver trucks with a noice level under 80db(A).
Scania also introduced the 'Streamline' cabs in 1991. The design led to lower fuel consumption.
The first Saab 2000 was delivered. (That's an airplane.)
In 1991 Saab-Scania was acquired by Investor AB.
Scania opened a production plant in France in 1992, an assembly plant in Poland in 1993, and a production plant in Mexico in 1994. Also in 1994 the DAB bus factory in Denmark became a part of Scanias production network.
Splitting again
The remaining Saab-Scania was divided in May 1995, into Scania AB (trucks and buses) and Saab Group AB (aviation, space et cetera). (I will not follow the story of Saab Group AB any further, since 'Cars made in Sweden' is about 'cars'...)
Other konditori100 texts:
To Saab Automobile AB
To Scania AB
2007-03-05. www.konditori100.se. Text/pictures: Arne Granfoss ©. Prod: AG Informice