The Biggest Non-Story Never Told: Ford Doesn't Regret Selling Jag and Landie

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

OK, that’s it. No really. That’s the whole story. Ford CEO Alan Mulally told reporters at the Paris Auto Show that he doesn’t regret selling-off Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors for $2.3b. But you knew that, ’cause you read the headline. And you’re not brain dead. Pithy quote? Not really. “Our number one goal in Ford is to focus on Ford.” You know; aside from Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The real question: what in the world was Automotive News [sub] reporter John Revill thinking when he asked that question? So, Al, do you regret getting out of those money pits when there was still a sucker around willing to take them off your hands, or do you wish they were still in the FoMoCo portfolio, sucking bodily fluids from the emaciated body corporate? God forbid Revill should have asked Big Al excatly how many days’ worth of cash his employer has left. Or if GM files for Chapter 11, will you follow suit? Or… is your pension bankruptcy proof?

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • DearS DearS on Oct 07, 2008

    I think regretting anything is a waste of time. Still perhaps if Ford had a car as good as the XF they will perhaps have had a nice Lincoln counter (lol) part. It may be helpful to Ford to recognize the opportunity they have in such a situation. Oh well, I guess as long as the XF is available I have an opportunity myself.

  • Billc83 Billc83 on Oct 07, 2008

    Jaguar's sale was necessary, if a bit ill-timed. Jaguar had been losing money for quite some time, but Ford sold it right before the XF came out. I'm not sure about Jaguar's profits (or lack thereof) nowadays, but the XF certainly has helped to invigorate the brand. If I were Ford, I would've either dumped the leaper a bit earlier OR held on a bit to see how the XF turned out. If only because the XF was designed with Ford money, it should only be right Ford reap the benefits...

  • Blowfish Blowfish on Oct 07, 2008

    Tata is not having a swell time, hearsay that the factory build on troubled land has gone Ta Ta too. The Untouchables were being backed by some opposition Politician to re-gain the land. The costs to Tata was $350 mil. Now the World market has totally tanked, came to a grinding halt just like Titanic had plowed into the Iceberg. Is irrelevant what the new XF is going to do unless it get 85 MPG not too many middle manager will be sitting in it anytime soon. Sveral mths ago was told NYC has sacked few thousands middle managers in the fin sect. Now the Barbarians were inside is not going to be a pretty sight. Ford & Daimler were super brilliant as both had unloaded their leeches. Dr. Z was saying last yr if they had sat on it longer for another 3 more weeks the Three headed Hound namely Cerberus wouldn't have take the bite either. As he say the analysis paralysis. Ove ranalytical cause it to miss da boat. Now both Ford & D can both open the Dom Perignon at least the blood letting had been stopped.

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