JARFALLA, Sweden, May 11 (UPI) -- Swedish automaker Saab Automobiles said it would rehire nearly 200 factory workers who lost their jobs in the recent downturn.
General Motors Co. sold Saab to Dutch sportscar maker Spyker in February for $400 million.
Saab had laid off 700 workers in the spring of 2009, about 150 of whom were rehired last fall, Swedish news agency TT reported Tuesday.
Since then, Saab has hired 50 new salaried office workers. It has plans to hire an additional 100 for office work.
The company plans to increase production from 28 to 39 cars per hour this summer. The re-hired factory workers are scheduled to start June 14.
Saab said 187 factory workers would get called back to work, based on years at the company and competency.
"We're hoping that we will eventually be able to go up to two shifts," said Hakan Skott, chairman of the Saab chapter of the trade union Metall.
