Technology Sharing Key to Sale of Saab, Volvo

Volvo Car Corp. and Saab Automobile have much in common. Both are based in Sweden, and both are on the block by their American owners, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., respectively.

And what the two brands offer to potential buyers also is similar – a U.S. retail network and, perhaps more importantly, access to valuable technology, industry analysts say.

With GM depending on federal loans to stay afloat, the auto maker is under more pressure to part with Saab ...