Saab owners, according to a study, have the greatest ”psychological involvement” with their cars. But for General Motors, the time for emotional attachment is over.

Despite Saab's loyal following, in two decades of GM ownership it has had one profitable year. Sales dropped below 100,000 last year, and US and European sales through to end-October this year are down 60 per cent. If, as seems likely, GM cannot find another buyer, it should close it.

The collapse of Saab's acquisition by Koenigsegg, the Swedish supercar maker, is GM's third failed brand sale since it exited Chapter 11 in July. When it failed to flog Saturn to Penske Automotive last month, GM shut it down. But it decided against selling Opel/Vauxhall to Magna, opting instead to keep it.