Saab Joins the Team of the Tenacious

After months of deep negotiations, General Motors has agreed to sell Saab to Spyker Cars NV. The smaller automaker will form a new company, Saab Spyker Automobiles, and could possibly compete with GM's Opel brand in the future.

"Today's announcement is great news for Saab employees, dealers and suppliers, great news for millions of Saab customers and fans worldwide, and great news for GM," said John Smith, GM vice president for corporate planning and alliances.

The automaker did not release details of the sale, but has set a 2 p.m. conference call with reporters to discuss the deal.

GM had said it was beginning to wind down the brand, but analysts said that was likely just a negotiating move in the sale. The Swedish government intervened, sending dignitaries to Detroit to plead with GM to keep the brand open. The plant in Trollhattan, Sweden, employs 1,400 workers.

Spyker Cars N.V. is a Dutch hand-built automobile manufacturer. The company's motto is "Nulla tenaci invia est via", which is Latin for "For the tenacious, no road is impassable."

USA Today has contributed to the report.