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