Saab's owners have less than a week to come up with a credible rescue plan or else enter bankruptcy.
The decision by a Swedish court was in response to an application from the carmaker's administrator.
A possible agreement to sell Saab to two Chinese firms was blocked by former owner General Motors, because it objected to the transfer of intellectual property.
Saab still owes money to its suppliers and 3700 employees, who are still to receive their wages for November. Last week their two unions applied to the court for payment.
Car production has been suspended since April.
Saab's owner, Swedish Automobile, says it is still talking to one of the two Chinese firms, Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile, as well as a Chinese bank.
But GM repeated its opposition to a deal with a Chinese buyer. The BBC reports the company previously threatened to stop supplying technology and cars to Saab if it was sold to Chinese investors.
Youngman, along with Pang Da Automobile Trade, agreed to buy Saab for 100 million euros ($US138 million) before the deal was vetoed by GM.
That deal followed a previous court application by Saab's administrator to overturn the company's current bankruptcy protection, which is due to expire on 21 December.
