Urban Legend of a Magical Car the Finns Could Bring to Life, According to Swedes

Finland is set to host a major electric car event, with its founder envisioning a role for the country in revitalizing the classic brand. The event’s organizer, Gunnar Dackevall, believes that electric cars should be mass produced in Finland. He is the organizer of the E-Car Expo, which is touted as Europe’s largest electric car event.

Dackevall’s fairs have toured the Nordic countries and are scheduled to come to Finland next year. In a conversation with HS, he expressed the idea that Finland could contribute to the electrification of the bankrupt Saab brand. He thinks this would be a distinctly Scandinavian achievement.

Saab went bankrupt back in 2011, and Nevs, a company that designs electric cars, emerged from its remains. Nevs, which is reminiscent of a Tesla-Saab fusion, was close to finishing the Emily GT car with Chinese funding. However, last spring, Nevs announced it was going into “hibernation” and leaving Saab’s iconic Trollhättan factory.

Dackevall suggests that reviving a dormant car factory isn’t an easy task. It would require rehiring the entire staff and modernizing the facility, which hasn’t had major production for a decade. He believes that the Uusikaupunki area, where Valmet Automotive’s car factory is operating at full capacity, would be a better option.

The fate of the Euro tokens needs public discussion and game openings, according to Dackevall. He is concerned that Elon Musk only talks about Chinese brands as his competitors, potentially worrying for Euro brands. He also bought a fully Chinese electric car as a company car to get a feel for the development in the Far East.

Dackevall’s event is scheduled to come to Messukeskus, Helsinki a year from now in April. He believes that traditional fairs are even more important now, as it’s difficult for people to find cars. He noted that new brands don’t even bother to build large premises, preferring to go directly to the market with the help of online shopping.

The electric cars trade in the Nordic countries is slowing down, which Dackevall attributes to wallet issues rather than fear of new technology. He believes in latent demand, if prices and interest rates were lower and devaluation easier to predict. He encourages Finland to follow Denmark, which he sees as “perfect for electric cars”.

The E-Car Expo is still in negotiations about which cars will be showcased in Helsinki. With regards to the electric Saab, the project remains open. The current Canadian owner is inquiring about a contract manufacturing partnership to start production of the Emily GT.