The Swedish automobile industry dates back to 1897 when a company ‘VABIS’ built the country’s first factory-made passenger car. Sweden is largely associated with passenger car manufacturers like Saab Automobiles and Volvo Cars but one also cannot ignore its contribution to the production of heavy trucks. Sweden is a home for two of the largest truck manufacturers in the world: Scania AB and Volvo AB.
Although the Swedish automobile industry is far away from making a spot in the world’s largest car manufacturers list, it still makes a great difference in the country’s export income. Export means much to the Swedish car manufacturers as 85% of Sweden’s cars are sold outside the country. The export volume is even higher for Swedish heavy vehicles and it reaches up to 95%.
According to an article on FKG, the Swedish automobile industry generates half a million jobs. About 1, 36,400 people are employed directly and among which 82,400 of them are found in the supply chain, which constitutes almost 30 % of Sweden’s engineering industry. In total, it is estimated that the Sweden car company’s exports are worth 180 billion Swedish kronor, which is equivalent to 12 % of total exports. To conclude, Sweden’s automobiles account for about 12% of the country’s export income. It’s a lot!
Today, Swedish car brands are one of the most reliable and enduring brands across the globe. Some of them are commendable and are the only reason for bringing the Sweden car brands into the International market.
Here, we present you a list of Swedish car brands names and their praiseworthy logos:
VOLVO GROUP/AB VOLVO
Introduced: 1927
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Gothenburg, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson
Website: http://www.volvogroup.com/
The Volvo Group is not only one of the best Swedish manufacturing companies but also the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines. Though its core business is production, distribution, and sales of off-road and on-road vehicles, it also supplies marine and industrial drive systems and a complete solution for financial services. It is a publicly-held company.
The Volvo Group has developed to become one of the world´s largest producers of commercial vehicles, which sales close to 300,000 units per year. The Swedish car brand sells its products in more than 190 markets and has production facilities in 18 countries with about 1, 00,000 people working day and night.
In 1927, the first car, a Volvo ÖV 4, rolled off the production line at the factory in Gothenburg and only 280 cars were built that year. Later in 1928, the first truck, “Series 1”, debuted as an immediate success and attracted attention outside the country. In 2016, the Volvo Group was the world’s second-largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks and in 2017, its net sales amounted to about SEK 335 billion (EUR 35 billion). Nowadays, many models such as V40, XC 90, S60, XC60, and XC 90 are alluring people all across the globe.
KOENIGSEGG
Introduced: 1994
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Ängelholm, Scania, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Christian von Koenigsegg
Website: http://www.koenigsegg.com/
This Swedish car company specializes mainly in creating high-performance activity automobiles, also called ‘Hypercars’. Koenigsegg car brand was founded in Sweden with the intention of producing the world’s greatest super-sports car. In 2002, the company introduced its first street-legal production car, CC V8 Supercharged (CC8S) and delivered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2003. It is clean, minimalistic, styling laid the foundation for every future Koenigsegg in terms of aesthetics, philosophy, and functionality. In 2002, even the engine of CC8S marked its presence in Guinness World Records as being the most powerful engine in a series produced by the car.
Apart from developing, manufacturing and selling the Koenigsegg line of supercars, this Swedish car brand also took initiative in “green technology” development programs beginning with the CCXR flex-fuel supercar and continuing through the present with the Agera R. It is also active in the development programs of plug-in electric cars’ systems and next-generation reciprocating engine technologies.
Instead of relying on subcontractors, this Swedish supercar company develops and produces most of the main systems, subsystems, and components needed for their cars in-house. From powertrain to safety, every part of the car is made to deliver the best possible performance.
SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB
Introduced: 1945 – Present
Current Status: Defunct in 2012
Headquarters: Trollhättan, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Saab Group
Website: http://www.saabcars.com/
Saab Automobile AB is a Swedish Car Company that was founded when the Saab group began a project to design an automobile. In 1949, the first production model, ‘the Saab 92’ was launched. 19 years later, in 1968, the company merged with Scania-Vabis and ‘the Saab 900’ was launched, which became the Saab’s best selling car model. The Saab 900 came equipped with a new ‘Black Panel’ feature inspired by the aeronautics division of the Saab Group.
In 1989, this Swedish automobile manufacturer was restructured into an independent company. Just after that, General Motors (GM) took 50% ownership of Saab AB and in 2000; it purchased the remaining 50% turning Sweden Car Company into a wholly-owned GM division. In 2000, GM sold it to the Dutch automobile manufacturer Spyker Cars N.V.
A year later, the company filed for bankruptcy. In 2012, its bankrupt estate was purchased by National Electric Vehicle Sweden, which started manufacturing the Saab 9-3 in 2013. However, a year later, the company lost its license to manufacture automobiles under the Saab brand.
Uniti Sweden AB
Introduced: 2016
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Lund, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Lewis Horne
Website: http:// www.uniti.earth
In 2015, Uniti began as an open innovation research project with the aim of conducting research into improving the societal and environmental impact of modern cars not only in Sweden but as well as in the world. The project developed into a highly innovative firm and in December 2017, Uniti unveiled the final prototype design in their first annual product launch event U17.
The prototype development was funded through an equity crowdfunding campaign on the Swedish crowdfunding platform FundedByMe, which was supported by 367 private investors from 29 different countries who invested €1,6 million.
This Swedish Car brand believes in the benefits of emissions-free mobility and introduced the first-ever high tech electric city car, which offers Digital Experience, Active Safety, Electrification, and Cloud-based Services within the car.
ESTHER
Introduced: 1987
Current Status: Production stopped in 2013
Headquarters: Ugglerum, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Lars Svensson
Website: Not Available
Do you remember Lotus 7? The two-seater open-top sports car by the British manufacturer. Of course, you do! Remember how effortlessly Marvel Comics superhero Wolverine drove a Lotus Seven? Esther, the automobile manufacturer from Sweden focuses particularly on producing replicas of this well-known Lotus 7.
This Swedish car brand developed many unique and new innovations of the Lotus 7 design. Many of the cars of the same Lotus 7 category used mk2 chassis’, which are now sold by the Esther. One very important edge this brand has over other Swedish car brands is that it can be built for a variety of engines, including Alfa Romeo, Volvo, Ford, and Opel, and can also feature either 4 or 5-speed transmission sets.
CARESTO
Introduced: 2004
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Angelholm, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Leif Tufvesson.
Website: http://www.caresto.se/
Caresto is famous for manufacturing the most reliable hot rod sports car. The founder of this Swedish sports car was a technician at Volvo Research and Development Department in Gothenburg and head of the Development Department at Koenigsegg for six years. He restored classic cars as well as designed and built four of its Hot Rod Sports Cars. After his time at Koenigsegg, he dedicated the time to his own company, Caresto.
The Caresto cars are based on specific customer requirements or built by hand in a minimalistic simple but elegant style. This Swedish brand has introduced many modifications of traditional hot rods and hardtop convertibles which have been used in various Volvo car shows, including the SEMA. Caresto has additionally assembled the limited-edition models of the C70 Volvo hard-top and won reputable prizes such as the ‘Most Innovative Car’ and ‘Hot Rod of the Year’ in the US.
SCANIA AB
Introduced: 1911
Current Status: Running
Headquarters: Södertälje, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Gustaf Erikson
Website: http://scania.com/
Scania A-B, shortened for’ Scania Aktiebolag’, is among the leading Swedish car manufacturers of commercial vehicles and specializes in heavy trucks and buses. Additionally, it develops diesel engines for heavy vehicles as well as marine and general industrial applications. The logo of this Swedish car brand shows a griffin from the coat of arms of the province of Scania, which represents power and king of all.
Before the formation of Scania AB, Scania was a part of Scania-Vabis brand. Later Daimler-Benz filed a case and Vabis was dropped from its name.
Today, Scania AB is fully owned by the German automotive company Volkswagen AG, forming a part of its Volkswagen Truck and Bus GmbH subsidiary. Some of the best vehicles introduced by this Swedish car brand include the BF80, OmniCity, and DS14.
AMG
Introduced: 1897
Current Status: Dissolved in 1906
Headquarters: Gothenburg, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Not Available
Website: Not Available
AMG, abbreviated for ‘AB Motorfabriken I Göteborg’ was a producer of stationary engines and boat engines at first but in 1899, this Sweden car manufacturer developed a keen interest in automobile manufacturing. AMG even began the import of French Richard-Brasier cars at the beginning of the new century.
In 1903, this Swedish car brand introduced its first vehicle in which twin-cylinder air-cooled engines from the German Fafnir Company were used. Unfortunately, due to overheating, they were soon changed to a water-cooled model. Except for the engines, all the other parts of the car were manufactured in Sweden but due to the lack of funds, only 10 cars were built before the company failed in 1905.
SCANIA-VABIS
Introduced: 1911
Current Status: Dissolved in 1969
Headquarters: Södertälje, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Gustaf Erikson
Website: Not Available
Scania- Vabis was formed through a merger of Malmö-based Maskinfabriks-Aktiebolaget Scania and Södertälje-based Vabis in 1911. Scania was first established as a bicycle manufacturer in 1900 while Vabis was a railway car manufacturer in 1891. However, Scania succeeded in constructing reliable vehicles, while Vabis was on the brink of closing down. The Managing director of Scania offered to purchase the shares of Vabis that led to the formation of this Swedish car brand.
The company produced bicycles, but in 1929 went on producing its first passenger vehicle. Later, the company moves towards producing commercial vehicles and introduced many buses, med trucks, and school buses. However, Daimler-Benz filed a case and Vabis was dropped from its name. Also, its brand logo shifted to a simple Griffin’s head and lead to the formation of Scania AB.
JOSSE CAR
Introduced: 1997
Current Status: Bankrupt in 1999
Headquarters: Arvika, Sweden
Founder/Parent Company: Not Available
Website: http://www.jossecar.com/
Jösse Car brand was known for introducing only one sports car, the Indigo 3000, a classic but still modern in design and choice of materials. This Swedish Sports Car manufacturing company built a car that combined the enjoyment of driving a sports car with the primary demands for comfort, safety, and environmental care.
Indigo 3000 was 2 seats open-roof roadster which was powered by the famous 3-liter engine of Volvo that gave it a top speed of 250 km/h. Sadly, only 44 cars were built before the company came to an end.
There are more Swedish Car brands of 20th Century that were dissolved or bankrupt in their early years:
• Allvelo (1903-1907)
• AB Nykopings Automobilfabrik (1937-1960)
• Atvidaberg (1910-1911)
• Hult Healey (1984-1990)
• Kalmar (1969-1971)
• Self (1916-1922)
• SAF (1919-1921)
Swedish Car brands have served their customers for a very long time and provided a trustworthy product that caters to the different needs of the people in terms of transportation. We tried to cover as many Swedish Car brands and their logos as we can, but do let us know if have missed any.