Saab

Saab (SE) 1949-

SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) was formed in 1937 for the production of aircraft for the Royal Swedish Air Force. In 1949 Saab started manufacturing motor cars and production has increased considerably since. The two-stroke SAAB 96 was a very successful rally car at the hands of Erik Carlsson in the early '60s.

Erik Carlsson photographed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2001

Saab-Scania (1969–1989): In 1969, Saab joined forces with Scania, a fellow Swedish truck manufacturer. Saab worked with Fiat in 1978 to jointly develop a new car platform. The agreement yielded the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Saab 9000. General Motors took over in 1989.

The future of SAAB is unclear at the moment, although parts of the company have been sold to China's BAIC, and Spyker (Netherlands) is interested in acquiring the rest.