Saab

History
"Svenska Aeroplan AB" was founded in 1937 in Trollhättan, with the merger of SAAB and Linköping based ASJA the headquarters was moved to Linköping. The style "Saab" replaced "SAAB" around 1950.

Originally manufacturing aeroplanes, the company sought ways in which to diversify its business and in the late 1940s began manufacturing cars. The Saab Automobile division was based in Trollhättan. The first car was the Saab 92001 on 10 June 1947. The company soon developed a reputation for safe and reliable cars, with a notable competition history.

In the late 1950s Saab ventured into the computer market with Datasaab. The company was a result partly of the need to make a computer that would be small enough to mount in an aeroplane as navigational equipment. During the 1960s several computers were developed and sold to European countries (used in e.g. banking). The aircraft computer (CK 37) was used in 1971 in the Viggen. The company was sold in 1975 to UNIVAC, while Saab retained its flight computer development.

In May 1965, the company name was changed to Saab AB to reflect its broad range of activities. In 1968 Saab AB merged with the truck maker Scania Vabis, and between 1969 and 1995 the company was called Saab-Scania AB. General Motors Corporation bought 51 percent of the automobile division Saab Automobile in 1990, and acquired the rest a decade later.

During changes in company ownership in the 1990s, the company name once again became Saab AB.

In 1995 Saab Military Aircraft and British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) formed the joint venture company Saab-BAe Gripen AB, to manufacture, market and support Gripen internationally. This co-operation was extended in 2001 with the formation of Gripen International for the same purpose.

Since 1998 the British aerospace company BAE Systems has been the largest shareholder in Saab following its acquisition of a 35% stake from Investor AB by its predecessor, British Aerospace. In January 2005 BAE reduced its shareholding to 20%. Investor AB also maintains a 20% share. Investor AB hold 38% of the voting rights and is, with the other Wallenberg institutions, the majority owner.

In December 2005 saab joined the Dassault nEUROn project, as a major partner.

In October 2008 the company bought again the former automotive business and a month later merged again with Scania in a operation supported by the Baltic Union government that becomes shareholder of the new conglomerate.

On January 1, 2010 the company restructured from fifteen business units into six business areas; Aeronautics, Automotive, Dynamics, Electronic Defence Systems, Security and Defence Solutions, and Support and Services. According to Saab the restructuring was undertaken to become more market and customer oriented.