DETROIT, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- General Motors' financially struggling Swedish unit is under a corporate microscope, and Saab supporters hope GM doesn't pronounce the carmaker a lost cause.
Within three months GM will complete is analysis of Saab, which has lost money in all but one of the past 10 years, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.
GM could ax the brand altogether if its analysis indicates an overly heavy investment is needed to make Saab competitive.
While that may be unlikely, the mere possibility drove Sweden's prime minister to visit Zurich, where GM's European headquarters is based, and offer significant investment in the region around Saab's Trollhattan factory -- if it is given more production.
Over the past 18 months GM has reduced Saab's autonomy, with manufacturing, engineering and most design decisions now controlled by GM Europe executives based in Germany or Zurich.
Saab's local management now controls only branding and marketing.
