| Earlier this year, the auto industry saw the luxury brand | | | | cars built for driving pleasure. Both brands are also |
| Aston Martin being sold by its owner, the Ford Motor | | | | known for their concern for the environment and the |
| Company. The sale took place as Ford is seeking | | | | two brands making developments together is seen as |
| funding for its turn around plan. The past years have | | | | one of the reasons for BMW’s rumored interest on |
| been tough for the Dearborn, Michigan-based car | | | | Volvo. Although the auto industry is filled with these |
| manufacturer as they incurred their biggest loss in their | | | | talks, Ford, Volvo and BMW have yet to make a |
| storied history. | | | | comment on the issue. |
| After the sale of Aston Martin to a consortium of | | | | This silence from the camps concerned has led to |
| buyers led by David Richards of Team Prodrive, there | | | | speculations among industry trend followers. It is |
| were talks about whether Ford will sell another brand | | | | predicted that if indeed BMW will acquire Volvo from |
| that it owns under the Premiere Automotive Group. | | | | Ford, the Swedish brand’s larger vehicles will be |
| While there were talks then that the Jaguar may be | | | | delegated to BMW to share platforms with. On the |
| the next brand to be put on the auction block, Ford | | | | other hand, smaller Volvo vehicles will be sharing |
| declined to comment. Recently though, a part of | | | | platforms with the MINI brand which BMW has so far |
| Ford’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG) is being | | | | successfully revived. As Volvo’s larger vehicles are |
| reported to be taken over by German car company | | | | merged with BMW’s, these vehicles will be |
| BMW. | | | | introduced to the market with either a rear-wheel or a |
| Word has it in the auto industry that BMW is interested | | | | four-wheel drive configuration. For smaller vehicles, |
| in buying the biggest brand under the PAG - Volvo. | | | | they are believed to continue using the front-wheel |
| The Swedish brand may be suffering from reduced | | | | drive configuration. |
| sales in the United States but it is still one of the most | | | | While these are merely speculations, they have a ring |
| valuable brands that Ford owns. Talks about the | | | | of practicality in them. If indeed Volvo is sold to BMW, |
| possible takeover of BMW at Volvo came after BMW | | | | Ford will have an additional short-term financial boost |
| is reported to have requested for a complete | | | | while BMW will have a strong brand under its portfolio. |
| breakdown of Volvo’s financial status from a | | | | To this issue, online consumers affirmed that they |
| European bank. The said inquiry has raised the issue | | | | could not see for selling Volvo to BMW. One point |
| that BMW may be interested in purchasing Volvo from | | | | raised is the fact that Volvo has been helping Ford and |
| the struggling company. Experts in the industry agreed | | | | Ford has been helping Volvo since the car maker from |
| that BMW may be looking to expand their offering to | | | | Dearborn has acquired the Swedish company. Some |
| consumers. | | | | consumers pointed out that selling Volvo will not make |
| Another reason for BMW’s interest in Volvo is the | | | | sense for Ford since even if Volvo is posting reduced |
| reported plan to further expand the MINI brand by | | | | sale in the United States, the brand is turning a profit |
| sharing Volvo’s platform with the small cars of the | | | | globally. It was also pointed out that Jaguar may be the |
| MINI brand. | | | | one that Ford needs to sell although at the brand’s |
| Some industry insiders are reported to have said that | | | | state right now, it is hard to find a company willing to |
| Volvo will be a welcome addition to BMW’s | | | | purchase a dying brand. No matter what BMW has in |
| portfolio. The reputation of Volvo being a producer of | | | | mind for requesting Volvo’s financial status, the rest |
| safe cars as well as for producing vehicles with | | | | of the world needs only to wait since a sale such as |
| reliable parts such as Volvo motor mounts, suspension | | | | this (if ever) will be hard to conceal from the rest of |
| assembly, steering systems, and the likes will surely | | | | the industry. |
| complement BMW’s image of being a producer of | | | | |