Saab 9-3 Convertible: Gebildet in Österreich (Made in Austria)
Mellow Yellow. The Tyrolean edition.
By Gunnar Heinrich
OKAY it’s not news, per se.
But, dash it all. It’s news to me (and likely you). The story is that the same Austrian outfit that’s made the Mercedes-Benz G-Class (a.k.a. Geländewagen) since the Shah placed his first order 30+ years ago is now incharge of manufacturing Saab’s iconic 9-3 Convertible.
Doubtless many Saab drivers pay little attention to the fact that most of Saab’s issue is no longer bolted together in fair Trollhättan, Sweden.
That said it is intriguing and no less a coup for the-world-is-flat crowd to consider that the iconic 9-3 droptop is now being assembled by Magna Steyr – an automotive design, engineering, and manufacturing firm based in Graz, Austria.
Aside from the G-Wagen, the 9-3′s in the best of company. Magna also builds cars for BMW, Chrysler, and Jeep. Next year the company will produce Aston Martins and in 2012 Porsches, to boot.
One wonders if a little bit of that die-hard German engineering will rub off onto the svelte Swedes.
[Linked: Magna Steyr]
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
steane | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Hah, I didn’t know that either.
Johannes Schloerb | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
Actually that would be “Gebaut”. “Gebildet” still makes a good translation, though: “Educated/Civilized in Austria”
Gunnar | Sep 18, 2008 | Reply
$%^ #@^& babelfish. Let’s me down every time
tom | Sep 20, 2008 | Reply
Actually, I’d say “Hergestellt” instead of “Gebaut”.
While technically correct (I guess), “Gebaut in Österreich” still sounds somewhat strange. I usually think about concrete structures when I hear “Gebaut”.