Saab has become the fastest growing premium car brand in Australia this year.

With competitive value pricing and new product, Saab achieved 281 new car registrations in Australia in June; its highest monthly sales result in four years.

Saab sales are up 47.7 per cent year-to-date and up 83.7 per cent on June last year, giving Saab the best monthly and year-to-date growth among the eight premium brands.

Sales of the Saab 9-3 range, including Sport Sedan and SportCombi, have been particularly strong, more than doubling for the month and year-to-date.

New Director of Saab Australia and New Zealand, Parveen Batish, says the strong sales reflect the performance and value Saab offers in the premium segment.

“Saab’s turn-around plans in Australia are delivering record sales results this year,” Mr Batish said.

“In the second half of the year we will continue to communicate the value of our products, but also focus on building and celebrating the Saab brand and our achievements in innovation and design.”

Saab’s Australian sales results also reflect the global success Saab is enjoying this year. Globally, Saab broke a new best ever sales record for the first half of 2006 with 70,846 cars sold, up 10 per cent on 2005.

Saab’s European market is up 24 per cent, with record monthly sales results also recorded in Great Britain, Spain, Belgium and Canada.

In Sweden the 9-5 BioPower, which runs on 85 per cent ethanol fuel, is also the best selling environmentally friendly passenger car, with more than 1,000 registrations in June.

2006 Saab 9-3 V6 turbo range