Comments on: Ford names Tata Motors preferred bidder for Jaguar, Land Rover

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:38:28 +0000

jdasch1: you kind of have a very valid point about Ford focussing on their core brand.

I was reading an article in a UK Motoring magazine which suggested that Ford Europe’s own cars were so brilliant now, competing on levels beyond their original competitors… Blowing VW out of the water in most instances and even providing efforts to rival BMW (bar the fact they lack RWD models in Europe). They were also reviewing the Jaguar XF which has received great reviews with the UK motoring press (Top Gear, AutoExpress, Car, What Car etc) saying that ideally Ford have done well enough with their new Mondeo that they don’t NEED a “luxury” car like Jag anymore.

Lets face it, the press like the new Mondeo and the new Focus out in Europe so much that they don’t see a need for any other brand but their own…. If only Ford NA saw that.

Ford Australia do… They have a great well-developed chassis and platform for their Falcon, but have taken inspiration still from Ford Europe, especially the new Mondeo which is seeing the return of the Mondeo to Australia, where it initially was a flop in its older incarnations.

What is it about Ford NA that leaves them in such a pig-headed stance over the matter. Surely they could see the benefits of globalising the models?

Well, yes… the lastest news is the next incarnation of the Focus should be the same in Eurple and NA, so hold out until then America because before you know it Ford might be doing something right by you finally.

Best of luck to Jag and Land Rover, and indeed Tata… This could be a very worthwhile project or it could go horribly wrong, but I believe the project would do well, afterall, Corus Group is operating in Europe still, just more profitably now that Tata Steel has had its input. There’s a lot to be said for Tata that would inspire and bring awe to the few who may be intelligent enough to properly look at the history and success of Tata as it is.

-JB

By: jdasch1

jdasch1 — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:30:38 +0000

So long losers! Jag and Land Rover were stupid purchases under Jacko Nasser. Its good to see Ford rid itself of these distractions from their core brand…Ford! Maybe Volvo is next…we can only hope.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:58:00 +0000

BRIEF: For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2007, Tata Motors Limited’s revenues rose 38% to RS331.52B. Net income rose 21% to RS18.11B.

Which is better than Ford is doing….

Oh and, The Stig et al… Convenience stores?

Tata is huge and as well as being the fifth largest steel producer in the world (owning 100% of the immense Corus group too), Tata Tea is the largest tea brand in India, and the company they now own, Tetley, is the largest tea company in the United Kingdom and Canada and the second largest in the United States by volume…

They also have the largest IT Consultancy company in Asia and another IT company Elxsi which even has an R&D arm for Automotive technologies.

They also have a satellite company which has a deal with BSkyB to use their Sky name (Tata Sky). They offer Interactive Services which is a lot better than NTL could ever provide after years of promises…

Hell, they even have their own Research Institution, with a deemed university status…

The group itself has a wider scope of business including a power company, a chemical company, a watch company etc… they provide financial services, they have hotel affiliations and more.

Their own company Tata Motors had a revenue in 2006 of $9bn USD which is more than 4 times their bid on the companies…

So… I’m sure they can handle a pocket-money industry (Well their Corus group acquisition in the Steel sector was with a winning bid of 608p per share valuing the deal at $11.3bn USD really does make this acquisition seem peanuts) with brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover…

By: Veda

Veda — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:40:04 +0000

You guys need to read more. Lamborghini was once owned by the son of an Indonesian ex-dictator. That’s the biggest muslim country in the world. I don’t see that mentioned anywhere now and it hasn’t tainted Lambo’s image in any way. How bout Ferrari’s famous “reception” of the catholic church? Ultimately it’s whether your products are desirable or not. If you keep making **** decades after decades, your history doesn’t mean ****.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:27:21 +0000

Actually NustoTFL, TATA is keen to keep the three Jag/Land Rover factories in the UK employing appx 16,000 people… So… go figure.

By: V2

V2 — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:36:44 +0000

These 2 brands were on the verge of death at ford and now they are effectively dead. What the hell does Tata now about making prestige cars?????

By: Veda

Veda — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:39:45 +0000

gekko71: Heritage doesn’t mean **** if they now produce ****.

By: NutstoTFL

NutstoTFL — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:56:14 +0000

And as for Land Rover, why, why, why, when they are so profitable for Ford at the moment?????………….Oh yea I forgot Ford are just about to launch a ripped off Range Rover and call it a Lincoln, or was that Mercury, or ??????

By: NutstoTFL

NutstoTFL — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:53:44 +0000

Tata ????? Why Tata ?????? NNNNnnnnnoooooooooooo!!!!! Does this mean that Ford have now robbed Jaguar of all the quality British staff that it can, so it can send it to a destiny in the Dustbin under the Tata name????????

By: Rover3500

Rover3500 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:50:13 +0000

Land Rover is actually very profitable with perhaps the best range of SUV’s of ANY manufacturer, not to mention it IS a prestigious brand. Lets not forget, TATA is dripping with money…its kinda sad to think that most people here have a low opinion of them becuase they are an Indian company. You do know India is a leader in high tech fields such as medicine, computers and IT? The funny thing is, the brands might now actually receive the investment that Ford hasn’t been able to give. India is well on its way to being a superpower….people shouldn’t forget that.

By: Justacarguy

Justacarguy — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:47:10 +0000

My “priend” Rashimir “bill” be “nes” “beek” at Mumbay, He “bill” buy several seven eleven to sell all that Jaguar cars, it “bill” produce in India.

Attn Rajalmani Patel

By: autonut

autonut — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:59:09 +0000

India needs Range Rover. Moon has better surface then best Indian roads.

By: LP640

LP640 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:03:28 +0000

Ford are stupid for selling Jagur and LR to Tata, not that they were worth much anyway. I gues we’ll be seeing more RR’s in India than anwhere else on the planet

By: LP640

LP640 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:02:29 +0000

Mr Patel your new Taguar XJ “India Special v6″ is here sir

By: autonut

autonut — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:28:41 +0000

I think it is a brilliant idea. They already have dealers network in US: 7/11.

By: corvette

corvette — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:03:44 +0000

just a matter of time before they start using these companies as gateways to flood the market.

By: enzomedici

enzomedici — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:05:54 +0000

That will be the last Rover I own if Tata wins this.

By: Italiafan

Italiafan — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:22:45 +0000

TaTaguar……
damn…my XJ aint worth **** anymore….I’m going to have to drive that sucka into the ground!

By: Get Real

Get Real — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:54:11 +0000

The former colonial masters have been humiliated.

ANY citizen from India will be glad to rub English nose into this story every single day of their life ….. until the next re-incarnation.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:27:23 +0000

HoosierHero, I think Jag’s prob has been that even THEY coudln’t recreate smething to recapture the hearts of their publlic like the E-Type did…

Tata has a JV with Fiat, which won’t help them much I reckon…

Sod it I have no clue as to what will happen. Tata can be smart about it or **** it all up… We just have to wait and see.

By: The Stig

The Stig — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:10:46 +0000

I hope Tata wins for the sake of “what goes around, comes around” irony. And later they can combine a convenience store with a car dealership.

By: gekko71

gekko71 — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:55:15 +0000

I think its a little concerning that a wonderful English Brand is going to India. Sure Ford has been hopeless but for those of us who love the historic Jags and what they represent, (great design, style, a touch of decadence) this sale will represent a new low for the Jag brand.
Jaguar needs to go back and have a look at its heritage, what made the cars great and worthy of ownership and i dont mean just copying an old model and trying to mass produce (eg S-Type). Im talking about determining and understanding the values Jag holds to be true and designing cars which reflect these values. The XF concept looked great but the mods (esp the front) are a big let down. I just dont see how companies such as Tata who mass produce generic looking cars as cheaply as possible can possibly contribute to a Jag turn around

By: GhettoMAX

GhettoMAX — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 02:22:38 +0000

As much as I love TATA and M&M’s enthusiasm, having owned “flagships” from both of them, I SURE HOPE whomever gets FORD’s business is planning on learning from Landrover and Jag and using the pairs expertise (which despite their shortcomings is far better than TATA and M&M both) to bring their own products up to some sort of decent standards. If they are planning on just getting the pair to use the brand power and market their own products as they are! that WILL NOT go well… IMHO

I respect TATA and M&M for their great work in bringing decent vehicles and competition in Indian automotive market, but they’ve both got a lot to learn before they can attempt to mess with even the likes of Hyundai.

By: F451

F451 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:39:46 +0000

Shall we rename the companies now? Taguar and Tand Tover

By: Commodore

Commodore — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:02:22 +0000

I have said and maintain that Tata will win.
Indians just want to own a piece of Britain.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:53:54 +0000

…didn’t Aerosmith do something called ‘a taste of India’? I think this is going to leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.

By: Get Real

Get Real — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:13:57 +0000

Isn’t there a song about this… “take the money and run” ?

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:01:24 +0000

so you’re proposing a RIMjob

By: Spingood Tanoya

Spingood Tanoya — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:51:47 +0000

Well, as Tigger would have said to his friends Jaguar and Land Rover in the Hundred Acre Wood: “TaTa for now!”

By: CTS DRIVER

CTS DRIVER — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:42:42 +0000

rotman if you are looking for a business partner i can come up with the additional 27.52usd to make an even hundred.

By: CA36GTP

CA36GTP — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:35:09 +0000

This is a damn shame. I think Jaguar was finally ready to begin a turnaround. I don’t think the change of ownership to an Indian company will be beneficial. Even if the previous owner was Ford.

By: Rotman

Rotman — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:20:06 +0000

The Rotman Investment Management Group has cumulated all its assets and we are proud to announce our bid of 72 US dollars and 48 cents for Jaguar and Land Rover. We are fairly confident Ford will choose the RIM Group as the final buyer, due to our long experience in reading and commenting on internet car news blogs and forums.

By: LP640

LP640 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:11:20 +0000

lol @ johnnycanuck, “curry in a hurry”
well i guess that Jaguar is now going to become Indian. I was hoping that somone like Bmw or the VW group would buy them and sort them out.

By: nitinsharma1000

nitinsharma1000 — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:55:36 +0000

They will be makin a jag model with the tata indica just like ford did with the mondeo.

By: CTS DRIVER

CTS DRIVER — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:54:29 +0000

a run over dog? that`s funny as hell….good one lp640.