Stockholm  - Although US giant General Motors aims to sell its Swedish subsidiary Saab, the two groups have agreed to cooperate in future, financial daily Dagens Industri reported Wednesday.

Saab last month filed for bankruptcy protection while it attempts to reorganize its business. That move came after GM said it planned to shed the brand as part of its restructuring efforts.

"GM will remain a key partner for Saab during at least five to 10 years and where we, with a new owner, can access a lot of the technology we need," Saab Automobile's finance director Lars Hagerborg was quoted as telling Dagens Industri.

The agreement with GM would not cost cash-strapped Saab big sums.

"We will exchange their technology for ours and offer some of our safety technology, skills for chassis trimming and engine technology," he said.

Saab would keep its most advanced turbo technology, car safety technology and cabriolet technology to itself, he added.

Hagerborg said work was ongoing with the reconstruction of Saab. Although the group has historically rarely generated a profit, "lessons have been learned," he added.

Saab recently said it planned to shed 750 employees from its workforce of about 4,000 in Sweden.

Of the 750 employees, 650 were blue collar workers based at its plant in Trollhattan in the south-west of the country.

The group at present is making cars two days a week over weak demand for cars.

GM's interest in Saab - one of Europe's smallest car makers - dates back to the early 1990s. The company took full control in 2000.