After rumors about a possible sale of Volvo to BMW surfaced early this week for the second time in the past month, a Ford spokesman has flatly denied the reports.
“Ford Motor Company is not in discussions with BMW or any other company regarding an interest in the Volvo Car Corporation,” the company said in a statement released Tuesday.
“We have seen this kind of speculation for the past year, as Ford Motor Company has been assessing our operations and portfolio — as any good business does and we will continue to do.”
British auto magazine Autocar, Swedish newspaper Goteborgs Posten, and U.K. business daily the Financial Times all reported BMW is or was in informal talks with Ford about an acquisition.
It’s not the first time Ford has been forced to issue a statement denying rampant media speculation. Earlier this year, the company was forced to issue a press release saying it had no plans to build a Mustang sedan and station wagon, after Autocar and AutoWeek claimed such projects were underway.
05/30, 10:08 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Was their any doubt? Volvo is a mover, and with the introduction of the C30 should boost sales alot. There’s already a big buzz in the aftermarket tuner community.
05/30, 10:20 AM
posted by:
Madcapp
There goes Volvos chance to get any better.
05/30, 10:22 AM
posted by:
hfry
We knew this wasn’t true… Unfortunately… I wish volvo still had swedish/european culture. Shoot, IPD is all us now. or maybe they always have been. hmmm.. dunno
05/30, 10:42 AM
posted by:
Kenny W
I don’t see why people where claiming this was such a good thing if it turned out to be true. Volvo under Ford isn’t doing badly. The new S80 is a fantastic vehicle with good dynamics, a very nice and classy interior and sticks to the traditional Volvo design language on the outside. The C30 is a good vehicle with unique looks (that aren’t too polarizing), a nice interior, an excellent chassis, and good engines. The S60 isn’t a terrific vehicle, but it remains competent in a very difficult field of competitors. The Volvo name isn’t being tarnished by Ford’s and Ford can use the extra revenue, R&D, etc that Volvo brings in. As an addition to PAG, Volvo is the easiest choice to keep.
BMW on the other hand would bring nothing to the Volvo group that they don’t already have and Volvo would do nothing more than conflict with BMW sales. BMW already has Mini for the low end, BMW for everything in between, and Rolls for the true upper echelon of marques. Why would they want a small volume, FWD, subtle luxury auto-maker? If BMW was so brilliant at managing other luxury makers why did they dump Range Rover for a huge loss (to Ford nonetheless! Talk about irony).
05/30, 10:57 AM
posted by:
Madcapp
That’s a pretty darn accurate assessment Kenny, except Volvo is not a “subtle luxury auto-maker”, they are a pseudo luxury auto-maker.
05/30, 11:09 AM
posted by:
Jazz
Volvo is integral to Ford’s plans right now. This was rumor is bogus.
05/30, 11:19 AM
posted by:
Egbert Souse
it was just news for leftlane to entertain its readers with, think about it, would it make any sense at all for BMW to buy Volvo?
05/30, 12:01 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
At least Volvo ain’t going down the toilet with Renault-Nissan, that’s for damn sure.
05/30, 12:21 PM
posted by:
rey323
Kenny covered it. I cannot begin to think what value purchasing Volvo would bring to BMW.
05/30, 12:30 PM
posted by:
LP640
well i dont doubt autocar for even one second. in 2002 they had info about the BMW M5, M6, M3 & M1 and they’ve all turned out to be true. the M6 & M5 illustrations were perfect, so maybe even if it doesnt happen now BMW acquiring Volvo its bound to happen sometime in the future.
05/30, 3:12 PM
posted by:
GarbageMotorsCo
Good news. Ford would be really, really, really stupid to let Volvo go. Their safety aspects alone should be enough to keep them in the Ford arena. I can’t believe the idea was even out there…
But if BMW were shopping, maybe they should look at taking Saab off of the hands of crumbling GM. Hell, they should be good for at least 10 bucks or so to them. Just think how much that ten bucks could go towards better interiors on GM products? Even that much would be enough to improve the Cobalt interiors.
05/30, 4:56 PM
posted by:
Renton
I’m glad.
I did not want Volvo to get anywhere near BMW. Volvo’s need to stay crappy so I can bash them.
If BMW got involved, then they would become good.
05/30, 6:39 PM
posted by:
Egbert Souse
^ haha, yeah my friend got a volvo s40 and i laughed at him and its a total lemon, now he knows why i laughed at him
05/30, 7:50 PM
posted by:
Captain Spadaro
Why in the name of James T. Kirk would BMW want Volvo, anyway? They (BMW) already have an impressive safety record.
05/30, 9:46 PM
posted by:
waywardboi
Hate to say I told You so Ford ain’t that stupid and Bmw More or less couldn’t afford them
05/31, 8:02 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Ford need Volvo, BMW don’t… it makes sense…
Volvo is one of the greates things to happen to Ford, and I don’t think anyone can deny Volvo have come into their own ever since Ford have had them… it’s been mutually beneficial, if a little more biased to Ford benefiting…
05/31, 1:36 PM
posted by:
sharpie
Thank God this isn’t true. It will just be another British Leyland diseaster waiting to happen otherwise. BMW seems to always bite off more than they can chew.
05/31, 2:00 PM
posted by:
Htay5500
good, then ford is a disaster if volvo is sold. they make gr8 cars especially the S80
05/31, 2:09 PM
posted by:
Saud
I’m not suprised, it was dumb enough to sell Aston anyway.