Electric Borgward for Europe production

This will be the first Borgward built in Europe for half a century, writes Brian Byrne.

It’s an electric version of the Borgward B7 SUV, built in China by the owners of the Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC).

The vehicle will be produced in new manufacturing facility which the company will build in Borgward’s home city of Bremen, Germany.

BAIC debuted the B7 at Frankfurt in 2015 and began sales ion China last year. A second, smaller B5 is also now on sale.

Borgward was founded in 1929 and ceased production in 1961. It was revived in 2008 by Carl Borgwards grandson, Christian Borgward, with his partner Karlheinz L Knöss, and assistance from Chinese investment.

The brand’s most famous car was the Isabella of 1959, pictured above by Lothar Spurzem via Wikipedia.

BAIC also produces cars based on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 technology, though not as Saabs.