Sweden's Saab is being sold to Dutch luxury carmaker Spyker, General Motors (GM) has confirmed.

通用汽车证实，将要把瑞典撒布轿车出售给荷兰豪华汽车生产商世爵。

Saab has not made a profit since 2001

GM has been trying to sell Saab since January 2009. Earlier this month, it said it would start to shut down the firm while still looking for a buyer.

But GM said wind-down逐渐减少 activities would be immediately suspended暂停, "pending¹ the close of the transaction".

Spyker sold 43 cars in 2008, when it posted a loss of $35m (£21m). It has yet to make a profit in six years.

Spyker has agreed to pay $74m in cash for Saab, John Smith, GM vice-president for corporate² planning公司计划，统筹性规划 and alliances, told reporters.

Under the deal, GM would also get $326m worth of preferred shares in Saab.

The Swedish government has also agreed to guarantee a 400 million-euro (£349m; $563m) loan Saab had requested from the European Investment Bank, which was seen as key to the sale.

"Now the deal between Spyker and GM has been finalised, so the government has today taken the decision to give loan guarantees to Saab Automobile," Enterprise Minister Maud Olofsson said.

'Great news'

Saab lost 3bn kronor克朗 (£255m; $412m) in 2008, and has not made a profit since 2001.

US group GM rejected an earlier offer from Spyker for Saab in December.

Shares in Spyker were earlier suspended on the Amsterdam stock exchange, with the Dutch financial market regulator saying the move was "pending待定，悬而不决 [a] press release" from the company.

Its shares were 2.8% higher before the suspension, after having risen more than 60% on Monday.

"Today's announcement is great news for Saab employees, dealers³交易商，经销商 and suppliers, great news for millions of Saab customers and fans worldwide, and great news for GM," said GM's John Smith.

"General Motors, Spyker Cars, and the Swedish government worked very hard and creatively for a deal that would secure a sustainable future for this unique and iconic图形的，形象的 brand, and we're all happy for the positive outcome," he said.