Aston Martin likely to end up independent

Up to 30 buyers are reported to be interested in buying Aston Martin from Ford, and none of them are other automakers. According to the U.K.'s Guardian Unlimited, a bidding war could push the price of the company over Ã'£1 billion ($1.9 billion).

Interested buyers are required to submit their initial bids by the end of the month, according to the report. The list of interested parties is made up of private equity firms and wealthy individuals, the newspaper said.

So far, no automaker has come forward to express an interest in Aston. BMW recently said it has no desire to acquire the company. Analysts have also said a Japanese buyout of Aston Martin is unlikely. Accordingly, it looks like Aston Martin might become and independent organization -- a rare arrangement in the automotive world these days.