Ford in talks to sell Volvo to China's Changan

[Ozark Lee]

I tend to watch a lot of CNBC and the scroll this morning from the Detroit auto show was that Both Volvo and Saab are on the block from Ford and GM respectively - no details as to potential buyers.

I find it curious that same announcement, on the same day, from both Ford and GM occurred. It may be positive for us for keeping at least some kind of European heritage or we may be the Ling Chow motor company. With other postings (MAX) I suppose you can read into that what you wish or desire.

With the current PPS for Ford I think Matthew can buy the whole thing (Ford), keep Volvo, and spin the rest out at a profit but my guess is that the Swedish government is printing Krona to get the job done to buy both companies.

Is that good or bad - I don't know.

...Lee

[MadeInJapan]

I read over on S.S. that China went with a Mexican car builder and that Sweden said they will not own Saab or Volvo but that they are helping them out, in billions of dollars.

[billofdurham]

we may be the Ling Chow motor company.

It has happened here, although they have had the sense to retain a well respected British marque, MG.

British Leyland was the last major British manufacturer, holding 40% of the British market when it went down the tubes. It had roots going back to 1895, had incorporated many of the smaller manufacturers and changed names so many times we couldn't keep track. Some of the companies within BL were Jaguar; Rover; Land Rover; Mini; Wolseley; Riley; Triumph; Standard; Daimler; Vanden Plas; Austin and Morris.

In 1988 Rover Group, as it was now called, was sold to British Aerospace (BAe). We knew some of the cars were fast but didn't think they were that fast!!! BAe couldn't do anything with it so sold out to BMW who promptly closed the Longbridge Works and kept only the Mini, which was what they had been after for many years.

Longbridge was taken over by MG Rover who went bankrupt in 2005. Two years later saw the Chinese at Longbridge producing a sports car and, some say, an upper range saloon. The current owners, Nanjing Automobile, are supposed to be reviving the Austin marque in the near future.

Ford bought out Jaguar and Land Rover only to sell them
in March 2008 to TATA Motors of India, who also bought the three brand names: Daimler, Lanchester, and Rover - the intellectual property rights for which had been bought by Shanghai. Nanjing bought the MG brand.

How long it will take for the Chinese and Indian manufacturers to get a toe-hold in U.S. car manufacturing remains to be seen but I think it is inevitable.

Bill.

[Gimpster]

Unless the US government keeps propping them up, sooner than later I'd suspect.

However, Bush punted the ball down the field to Obama with those bridge loans. If you read the fine print, the loans they made in December were conditional guaranteed loans. If the metrics they agreed to arent met in March (I think?) they can call them. The only collateral GM & Chrysler have left are preffered stock I'd think. Effectivly nationalizing the companies.

We might not always like how the Chinese conduct business, but if we believe in capitalism they chips should've been allowed to fall where they may.

IMO, bankruptcy is the best thing that could ever happen to GM. They're in so many unfavorable labor, land and supply deals it boggles the mind. They are #1 or #2 auto manuf. in the world, I don't know which right now since they and Toyota are constantly swapping that title. To try and tell me that suddenly people would stop buying their cars because of a chap 11 is nonsense. If the government is dead set to do anything, it should be to backstop the warranty if they TRULY think they're solid.

Volvo & Saab being on the auction block ends an era for the "Big 3" I suppose. Thus ends Ford's failed "Premier Automotive Group" as Bill already noted. I equate it to Daimlers purchase of Chrysler. Neither side of the pond really knew what to do with it, and thus...

Ahhh and I'm rambling again.

[kariba kid]

volvo only sold the car side of things still own the trucks and equipment according to my source at volvo in Sweden.can you imagine a volvo badged with as a tata or mahindra

[Ozark Lee]

The latest rumor is Geely in China again.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009 ... 52871.html

Great - We get FEQ axles as standard OEM equipment.



...Lee