Want a Louis Vuitton DB8?

[DNW]

Ford to sell Aston Martin as part of restructuring. LVMH emerges as a likely buyer. It's quite smart of Ford to sell a division of theirs that's actually decent and making money.

The world's two biggest luxury goods firms including the conglomerate behind brands like Moet and Louis Vuitton are locked in a battle to buy Aston Martin from cash-starved Ford.

Ford announced today that the British sports car manufacturer would be sold and CAR has learned that Swiss-based Richemont and the French holding company LVMH have emerged as most likely to take on Aston despite having no previous experience in the car industry.

Ford desperately needs to tap into the potential $700m-$1bn the sale of Aston could generate and hopes to finalise a deal by the end of the year. That deal would include the Aston name, the company's facilities at Gaydon and Newport Pagnell, the full research and development department and the management including boss Ulrich Bez.

Contrary to rumour Ford hasn't spent a great deal on Aston since taking charge in 1993 and would actually make a reasonable return on its investment.

Finding a buyer for Aston will certainly be easier than offloading stricken Jaguar and not just because of the far healthier books. Apart from its engines, which it takes from Ford in Cologne, Aston is able to operate largely independently of Ford thanks to the low number of shared parts and technologies.

Jaguar on the other hand will have to be bundled together with Land Rover and Volvo just to persuade anyone to take it. A good thing you might think, but that would mean any buyer making a long term commitment to dealing with Ford - an unappealing prospect given the American's perilous financial state.

Things are so bleak for Ford that even if it does manage to squeeze $1bn out of Aston's buyer, the cheque will be a drop in the ocean of Ford debt. But the break up and sale of the Premier Automotive Group is a symbolic gesture by a Ford keen to show that it is taking important steps to reverse its fortunes.

Words: Georg Kacher

Link: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/news.php?sid=133&page=1

 

[imageWIS]

You mean DB9? Anyways, for is only looking at the possibility of a partial or full sale, and there at the moment no definite buyers, or interested buyers for that matter; anything said is just pure speculation on the part of the media (not like the media ever speculates about anything). http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/bu...rtner=homepage Jon.

 

[DNW]

No, I meant DB8. It's now called the AMV8.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

No, I meant DB8. It's now called the AMV8.

Well, it's been always called the "˜AM V8 Vantage' in production form, that's why I was confused. Either way it doesn't matter; you would think Ford would keep AM since they are one of the few divisions that actually make it money.

Jon.

 

[Kent Wang]

Bold move.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Bold move.

TouchÃ

.

By "˜Bold Moves' I think Ford is actually means "˜stupid moves'.

Jon.

 

[Kent Wang]

Jon, I don't think you know how to properly use 'touchÃ

'. This short clip (QuickTime) will explain.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Jon, I don't think you know how to properly use 'touchÃ

'.

This short clip (QuickTime) will explain.

No, I know how to use it, but apparently you didn't understand why I used it since this is anything but a Bold Move. Now you get it?

Jon.

 

[RJman]

If LVMH buys it the prices will go up and they'll probably have Skoda make them.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by RJman

If LVMH buys it the prices will go up and they'll probably have Skoda make them.

In which case it would just make AM, what? A VW?

Jon.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by RJman

If LVMH buys it the prices will go up and they'll probably have Skoda make them.
Limited editions with Berluti skin seats, and a bottle of champagne.

 

[edmorel]

In 10 years, American car manufacturers as we know them today, will cease to exist.

 

[Kent Wang]

Jon, unless you were speaking on behalf of the Ford corporation that touchÃ

was inappropriate. TouchÃ

cannot be employed by a third person in a conversation. The phrase you were looking for is "Ooooh, burn!"

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by edmorel

In 10 years, American car manufacturers as we know them today, will cease to exist.
So it'll all be Tuckers, DeLoreans and Homers?

Originally Posted by LabelYing

Berluti skin seats.
Man, I'm not Olga's biggest fan but that's just cruel... Wonder if she tans by moonlight?

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Jon, unless you were speaking on behalf of the Ford corporation that touchÃ

was inappropriate. TouchÃ

cannot be employed by a third person in a conversation. The phrase you were looking for is "Ooooh, burn!"

Ok Kent.

"˜Inappropriate', indeed.

Jon.