Which mythological creature appears on the Saab emblem?

The mythological creature on the Saab emblem is a griffin.

Saab’s emblem used a red griffin with a crown, a symbol connected to the coat of arms of Scania, the Swedish region where Saab automobiles were produced. The griffin has the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle in traditional mythology. The crowned red head also appeared in the branding of Scania, the Swedish truck and bus manufacturer that shared historical roots with Saab.

Saab Automobile and Scania were once linked through the Saab-Scania group. That corporate history explains why the griffin appeared across related Swedish industrial brands. Saab’s automobile business later separated from Scania, but the griffin remained strongly associated with Saab cars.

The griffin is not a dragon or phoenix. Its combination of lion and eagle features is what makes it a distinct heraldic and mythological creature.