New York  - A group including Black Oak partners and several dealers is eyeing the purchase the Saturn subsidiary of General Motors (GM), the US carmaker said Wednesday.

But GM said that if the sale of Saturn is not "viable," then the line's "operations would be wound down over time."

In a statement, the Detroit automaker said that a panel of Saturn dealers had been "studying the feasibility" of a sale or spin-off. The only buyer GM identified by name was Black Oak Partners.

GM has also considered selling its Hummer line.

GM, kept afloat with more than 13 billion dollars in US government loans, is under the gun to be financially viable by May 31 or face bankruptcy.

Washington extended GM's viability deadline by two months in late March, when it took the extreme measure of replacing GM's top manager Rick Wagoner. (dpa)