STOCKHOLM May 28, 2007; Reuters reported that loss-making
Ford Motor Co. is planning to sell Swedish car maker
Volvo and German carmaker BMW could be a possible buyer, a Swedish newspaper said on Monday.
The Goteborgs Posten daily reported on its website that a source within
Ford said BMW has been studying a possible purchase of
Volvo.
The Financial Times also reported last Friday BMW was in informal talks to buy
Volvo.
"We cannot comment on speculation, this is a question for our owner," said a spokeswoman for
Volvo cars.
Ford bought
Volvo in 1999 and it is now part of the U.S. company's Premier Automotive Group, including Jaguar and Land Rover.
Ford does not disclose results for its individual brands, but taken together its luxury line-up lost $327 million in 2006.
Merrill Lynch has said
Ford could raise over $9 billion by selling the remaining luxury car brands.
Volvo Cars Chief Executive Fredrik Arp told Reuters in March that
Ford was committed to keeping the Swedish car maker.