Just Two Bidders Left For Jaguar & Land Rover - India's Tata Motors 'Set To Win'

[TuffG929]

India's Tata 'Set To Win Jaguar Auction'

Reuters
17 December 2007
www.drive.com.au

Ford Motor Co is poised to name India's Tata Motors as preferred bidder for its Jaguar and Land Rover brands, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper reported.

An announcement could come in the next fortnight, with Tata expected to pay about STG1 billion pounds($A2.34 billion), it added.

Ford, which is spinning off the British luxury marques to focus on restructuring its loss-making North American operations, said last week it aimed to complete the sale in early 2008.

Tata is competing in the auction for the luxury brands with rival Indian group Mahindra & Mahindra and private equity firm One Equity Partners.

Folks might have snickered and sneered before -- and still might be -- but India's Tata appears to be in the catbird seat for the chance to gobble up Jaguar and Land Rover. After the other Indian bidder, Mahindra & Mahindra, dropped out because of a questions over the Ford parts supply, the two bidders left are Tata and One Equity Partners. Tata is being advised by Fiat in the bid, and One Equity is the private investment firm whose bid is led by former Ford exec Jac Nasser.

The British trade union Unite, which represents workers from both brands, met with the bidders and -- while it still opposes the sale entirely -- declared that "based on serving the best interests of the union members at Jaguar-Land Rover, the stewards agreed that...

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[DuSpinnst]

I'd rather see them independent.

That way the brands can live or die on their own merits.

[Bravada]

Brands do not have "merits" on their own. The manufacturer gives them "merits".

I still hope Mulally rediscovers his long lost brains and doesn't sell the crown jewels...

[TuffG929]

^ Not likely, Jag was a money pit from the beginning.

[plane]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Brands do not have "merits" on their own. The manufacturer gives them "merits".

I still hope Mulally rediscovers his long lost brains and doesn't sell the crown jewels...

Are you not supposedly an accountant?
Jaguar is a multi-BILLION Euro moneypit.

[1931Chevy]

Its a shame the Ford had to throw LR on the sale so that Jag could be sold, and I bet that if Jag dot make money the next owner might close it down and keep LR and maybe revive the rover brand

[rueben44]

Jag is a money pit because they have not developed good product but that is changing with the new XK and the new sedan that looks like a coupe I forget the name. I would keep Jag and develop them right. IF Ford was smart they would share platform's between large Volvo's, Lincolns, and Jaguars. Then share platforms between Mazda, Ford, and Small Volvo's.

[Ytriox]

The Jaguar XK and XF are fatastic, and just the kind of revolution Jaguar's been needing for a while. If Lincoln were getting vehicles like those, nobody would be snickering at the idea of Lincoln as a global brand.

[stevecmh]

its a shame that Ford is selling them

[I-Love-Pontiac]

I'm surprised some proud rich British company doesn't want them.

[PeterPuck]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

I'm surprised some proud rich British company doesn't want them.

Yes, I think those existed at one time...

[usa1]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

I'm surprised some proud rich British company doesn't want them.

Maybe they know too much about Jaguar to want to buy them. Jaguar and LR have been consistent in one thing for a long time... losing money.

Mark

[mang01]

Originally Posted by Ytriox

The Jaguar XK and XF are fantastic, and just the kind of revolution Jaguar's been needing for a while. If Lincoln were getting vehicles like those, nobody would be snickering at the idea of Lincoln as a global brand.

But surely Lincoln is- the new MKS is a reskinned XF isn't it? (Not that I've seen it mentioned anywhere but compare the greenhouse shape, the cut lines of the doors even the gas filler panel is virtually the same location, if a different shape).
http://digiads.com.au/car-news/new/i...1432-img_3.jpg
http://digiads.com.au/car-news/new/i...427-img_19.jpg

And there was an earlier shared model too, LS or something and the X or S type?

[AdmiralViscen]

The MKS is based on the ****ing Ford Taurus.

The LS was based on the S Type and never made money.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

I'd rather see them independent.
That way the brands can live or die on their own merits.

Their merits -- and even what can be considered the best goodwill in the industry -- aren't enough to survive in the cutthroat world of premium luxury automobiles. At least not now.