The global head of Saab's sales claims the carmaker could be a profitable niche brand once split from General Motors.

Knut Simonsson, director of global brand and sales, has told a Dutch magazine that in the long term Saab could be profitable with annual production of 150,000 cars.

He claimed the company was profitable in Europe for the last two to three years, suggesting it is the US market that costs it dearly.

GM has said that its Saab brand, which is under review, has not been profitable for 20 years.