General Motors may sell Saab for 1 dollar as it can save as much as $145 million from not shuttering the loss-making carmaker.

A partnership between Genii Capital, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and Swedish businessman Lars Carlström will offer General Motors one dollar for the loss-making Swedish automaker, according to Fox News.

A sell-off would save GM the cost of shutting it down, which would cost between 72.5 million and 145 million dollar.

Still, there is more to the equation that just gaining a dollar instead of spending $145 million. Winding down the Swedish carmaker would most likely generate a significant amount of money from the liquidation. There are also noteworthy values from research and development of the new 9–5 model that could be used.

Last week a partner of a consortium led by Swedish sports car maker Koenigsegg Automotive, that failed to acquire Saab in November, said they were close to acquire Saab for the symbolic sum of 1 krona (0.15 dollar).

GM's chief executive Ed Whitacre said at the Detroit auto show that his company wanted 450 million dollars for Saab.

Lars Carlström told Reuters Tuesday that Genii Capital group remained hopeful about its chances of buying Saab.

"We are still optimistic that a deal can be concluded with one of the parties," said Lars Carlström, who is coordinating the bid. "As we understand it, the wind-down is on hold until a statement from GM on the sale ... we're still hopeful."

Also Dutch sport carmaker Spyker's Chief Executive Victor Muller said it was still in talks with GM over a deal to buy Saab.

GM has hired the consulting firm AlixPartners "to supervise the orderly wind-down of Saab." The liquidators not yet started dismantling the firm.

GM took over Saab in 1989. Under GM's stewardship Saab rarely posted a profit and 2008 lost 3.0 billion kronor (241 million euros, 341 million dollars at the time). It's projected to post a similar loss this year.