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根強い人気があるスウェーデンの自動車ブランド「サーブ」（SAAB）が、2017年に消滅することになった。ブランドを保有するナショナル・エレクトリック・ビークル・スウェーデン（NEVS）が6月21日に発表した。共同通信などが報じた。
NEVS社は中国企業が資本を保有しており、車両の研究と、新エネルギー自動車技術の開発を手掛ける。2012年6月に、スウェーデンのサーブ・オートモービルの資産、技術、知的財産を買収している。2014年にはスウェーデンの工場を閉鎖するなど経営再建を進めてきた。
同社は電気自動車に注力しており、2017年からはブランドも「NEVS」に変更して、売り込みを強化する方針だ。「私たちの歴史と遺産について慎重に検討を重ねた結果、我々自身の商標を使うことになった」とNEVSのマティアス・バーグマン社長はコメントしている。
1978年から93年にかけて販売された初代「サーブ・900」
■バブル期には日本でもブーム
サーブのブランドは、1947年に航空・軍需品を手掛けるサーブ社の自動車部門として誕生。1990年にアメリカのゼネラル・モーターズ（GM）の傘下に入った際に分離し、単独企業になった。1980～90年代のバブル期には、作家の五木寛之が紹介したことで日本でも「サーブ・900」の人気に火がついた。飛行機を連想させるグリルなど、北欧らしい個性的なデザインがブームとなった。
その後は世界的に販売の低迷が続き、オランダのスパイカーによる買収を経て、NEVS社が保有するブランドとなった。紆余曲折を経た名門ブランドは、70年間で歴史に幕を下ろすことになる。
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