Club Arnage

Just read this news and thought it would be of interest...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-03-25-ford-sells-jaguar-land-rover-tata_N.htm

I'm disappointed.

They are getting even for all that time as a colony!

I guess the reality is that they are buying Land Rover and getting Jaguar thrown in for free....

Jag have cost Ford billions since they bought them and LR seem to make money!

Ford are skint, and its seems that only the Indians and the Chinese have any money nowadays

I suspect that Jag and LR were becoming a drain and distraction on the upper management, taking efforts away from turning around the Ford brand.

How long until they say 'tata' to the workforce?

 >:( Not too long I'd say. It'll be far cheaper, the economics of the UK don't really stack up theanks to Gordon Brown and his meddling ways. Jags will soon be made by Indians in India, as opposed to the current workforce of Indians in England.  :(

I dont think they can do much worse than Ford in managing those brands. an interesting point that has been raised is that Tata wont have to "hold back" the Jaguar line like Ford has done due to its 'in house' rivals from the likes of Volvo and at one point, Aston Martin.

another little tidbit:
Tata to Take Jaguar F-Type into Production (http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080305.014/tata-to-take-jaguar-f-type-into-production)

Supposedly they are not allowed to close anything in the UK for the first 3 years. During the negotiations it was one of the 'must have' items from the unions.

The perfect way to market the different cars to match the tastes of the UK buyer.

The jaguar XF korma (diesel)
The Jaguar XF tikka masala (3.0 V6 petrol)
The jaguar XF jalfrezi (4.2 V8 NA)
The Jaguar XF vindaloo (4.2 V8 supercharged)

I think that one might fail the emissions test...

As long as it doesn't get parked under a duvet, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Excellent. 12 posts, and we're onto farting. Is that a record?

Just a thought,
With Aston now owned by Prodrive and therefore not in the Ford stable and Jaguar owned by Tata and not in the Ford stable that would mean no 'conflict of interest' in bringing Jaguar and the GT into endurance racing as 'Factory' teams... :)

Talking to someone from Ford Europe Management in summer last year he told me that all these sales (Aston, Jaguar, Land Rover) have just one simple reason: Ford Motor Company is in big trouble and in urgent need of cash - so now they sell everything that generates money (AM, Land Rover) or try to get rid of everything that looses too much money (Jag). My bet is that Volvo is next on the table.

Why hasn't anyone posted anything for nearly two hours?

Ha!

Busy day then Piggers?

Aww Rob. We were playing forum stare - out. You lost!

Relativly... for me anyway... amd I am in the office after 5!! Now thats unusual ;D

Get back up North you snow covered gypsy  ;)

Wanna buy some lucky heather - there's some under this snow somewhere, now, where did I leave my pegs and filthy children? ;D

Am I reading this in the wrong way?

As an english based welshman, I have been brought up to believe that 'tata' was a farewell, like goodbye. As in TTFN etc.

So, in about 5 years, the name Jaguar will only relate to classic cars and a very fast wild cat in Africa.

Hi Leftie,
            Jaguars ,the cat, live in South America  :o
Phil

This has been widely publicised, and Ford have made it clear that this is the reason!

I guess as an American Company they can't be seen to be investing (ie throwing away) good money in Jag whilst the American arm of Ford is losing soooo much money.  The revenue from the sales won't cover the losses for long, a few months probably, the bigger benefit is not having to put another billion or 2 into Jag!

Well as Volvo now becomes the only member of PAG then I'm sure they will be next to go, but will anyone want them????  Would the main manufacturers rather see them closed down????  Time will tell!

There is no doubting that in time to come that even as a minimum components (body panels, drive train, etc)  for Jag and LR will be made at Indian plants, it remains to be seen if they would move production there, maybe for a larger volume Jag?

Volvo would be a very attractive proposition for buyers. I believe that it is the division of PAG that made the most money, closely followed by LR. The two may have swaped places since my last info, however it's swings & roundabouts stuff. Either way, Jag & Aston were both money loosers. I don't believe Ford wanted to sell LR but the only way they could shift Jag was to bundle it up with LR and end up with a net gain.

Without having access to a set of Ford accounts it's almost impossible to know the real figures!

Like most big corporates they will have been "adjusting" figures as they saw fit,  but it is probably true to say that LR and Volvo made money, AM probably broke even (maybe even a small profit towards the end) and Jag was nothing but a bottomless pit!  I wonder how they attributed the shared technology and development costs around the group? 

The problem with Volvo is that they are pretty much a competitor for all of the manufacturers, so would they want to buy them?  Or will they join the VAG group and just produce another set of variants on the family platform?  Or will they head East to where the money seems to be these days???  Or will they stay Ford owned???  Probably not the last option, unless they can contribute loads and loads of profit!

Having seen an 08 plate today model ???... let  them buy Jag. It looked like all the other shite on the road these days.
Jags used to have an image that went with them.... That has now gone in my view.
Bring back the XJ12 or Daimler Double Six...
Colours should be the Lilac with vinyl roof or limeflower, turquoise etc
The new ones are dogsihte in my opinion... would rather have the chavalier! 8)

Rosso Red and the Jag version of Electric Blue were good.

Chocolate Brown and Mustard vinyl roof looks awesome too... am I sad? ;D

Not unlike HMG selling off the valuable bits of UK PLC then. Wonder what they'll do when they've nothing left to sell?