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Saab fans, take heart. The builder of distinctive Swedish cars with the ignition next to the gearshift says it has heard from many potential partners who might bid on the chance to buy the company and help pull it out of bankruptcy.

The New York Times reports, “Saab has been in contact with 20 potential suitors and hopes to reach a deal to sell itself before June, the court-appointed administrator of General Motors’s Swedish brand said Monday.”

The announcement came as part of a critical court hearing on the company’s future. The troubled company entered bankruptcy protection in late February, but that protection was scheduled to end on Monday until the court granted an extension. Autoblog reports that, under Swedish law, Saab can ask the courts to “extend its protection up to three times, until February of 2010, provided the business plan is deemed workable.” Saab’s business plan depends on “find new ownership or investors. General Motors will be booting the brand from its corporate nest by 2010, and the Swedish courts will decide if the brand Born from Jets will die from apathy.”

The Wall Street Journal reports, “Saab didn’t identify any potential buyers, but said in documents filed with the court that ‘currently there are more than 20 actively interested parties.’” The company told the court it “expects to be sold before the end of June.” Saab’s plan is ambitious. The Journal reports, “Saab said it estimates selling 150,000 cars in 2011. It sold 93,000 cars in 2008.”

To support that growth, Autoblog notes, “Saab wants to launch four new models” by 2011.

If you’re in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year’s best cars as well as this month’s best car deals.