Despite Hedin closing the UK branch of Saab Original, genuine parts aren’t going anywhere. A trusted local distributor has taken over. UK Saabs will stay on the road with authentic Saab Original parts!
When Hedin Parts & Logistics announced the closure of the UK branch of “Saab Original”, many Saab owners feared the worst. Would the promise of supplying parts “until the last Saab is off the road” finally come to an end? The answer is a resounding no — and the story behind it is great news for all Saab enthusiasts.
A trusted name in the UK Saab community “Saabtech Parts Europe” has stepped up to take the wheel. Thanks to their efforts, genuine Saab Original parts will continue to be available, ensuring your beloved cars stay on the road for years to come. But how did this happen, and what does it mean for you?
The Origins of Saab Original
When Saab Automobile AB went bankrupt, one of the conditions of liquidation was the continuation of spare parts production. As they said back then, “as long as there’s at least one Saab on the road.” This led to the creation of Orio, the division responsible for sourcing manufacturers, maintaining quality control to original specifications, and managing logistics and distribution of Saab Original parts through hubs in Sweden, Germany, the UK, and the US.
For 10 years, this system worked successfully, bringing joy to Saab owners worldwide—and a classic headache to the Swedish government (the majority shareholder), who found it too costly. In 2022, Orio was sold to Hedin, a European auto parts giant with Swedish roots, which believed they could make the operation more profitable.
At the end of 2024, Hedin decided to close the UK branch, including its logistics hub, as it didn’t meet their expectations for efficiency. It seemed like the end of the road for Saab Original in the UK—until a respected UK-based Saab parts distributor stepped in. They acquired both the rights and the business model, ensuring that Saab owners in the UK can continue to get genuine parts.
What’s Changed?
Saabtech Parts Europe has long been known as a reseller warehouse, stocking the most popular items from the Saab catalog. Now, they’ve become the sole official distributor and representative of Saab Original in the UK, and will continue to handle imports, orders and distribution for authorized Saab service centers via a dedicated portal — and for other resellers through systems like Trade Accounts. They still and already stock several hundreds parts in their warehouse with the immediate availability, including the most in-demand parts and consumables, with regular replenishments from European hubs, using their own and previous dealers’ figures on demand and planning.
For end users, parts can be purchased through their eBay store, directly, and from any authorized Saab service center. If a part isn’t in stock, customers can contact the distributor or visit a nearby authorized service center to place an order, which will then be imported.
Impact on Saab Owners
Yes, some parts now fall into the “backorder” category, with delivery times of 5–7 days. This has pushed some Saab owners to buy aftermarket equivalents from universal auto shops instead of waiting. However, the key takeaway is that Saab owners in the UK no longer have to worry about losing access to genuine parts. For at least the next 10 years—or more—we’ll still be able to install genuine Saab Original parts and accessories without the hassle of searching worldwide, relying on friends in other countries, or questioning their authenticity.
That iconic white box with “Saab Original” sticker on it guarantees top-quality, factory-spec parts.
Saabs in the UK aren’t being left behind. Saab Original genuine parts are here to stay — and so are our beloved cars.
Boost to all!
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