THE first Saab 9-4X crossover has come off the production line at the Ramos Arizpe factory in Mexico.
The all-new Saab will be going on sale in the UK at the end of the year and sales will start in the USA May.
Eventually the car will go the the Saab museum in Sweden but first it will be used for test drives in the United States.
The 9-4X is the first completely new Saab to be built since the company was bought from General Motors by Dutch sports car firm Spyker.
Building the car in Mexico follows on from plans first drawn up when GM was in control of the Swedish brand.
The first model off the line was an ice pearl metallic Aero model equipped with a 2.8V6 turbo engine. The Saab 9-4X uses an all-wheel-drive system and adaptive chassis control.
Saab Automobile president and CEO Jan AkeJonsson was on hand to see regular production begin.
He said: “The arrival of the 9-4X is another important step in the fulfillment of our business plan. This sporty and distinctive product will significantly broaden the appeal of our brand and give us access to an important new vehicle segment that is still growing, particularly in the United States.”
AkeJonsson is pictured (right) with GM GM global vehicle line executive Raymond J. Chess in front of the new model.
GM global vehicle line executive Raymond J. Chess (left) and Saab president and CEO Jan AkeJonsson (right) with Saab 9-4X.