Based on Ford’s (F) recently posted third quarter earnings, the company is getting better at running its core car business. But apparently not good enough to think it can turn around its flagging Jaguar and Rover brands. That’s a shame.
Ford will probably not get a lot of money for the two brands because they are so damaged now. They would certainly be worth more as part of the No.2 US car company if they were operating successfully two or three years down the road. Niche car company Porsche has a market cap of $22 billion.
Word from Reuters is that India’s Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra , and One Equity Partners are the final bidders for the two brands. Estimates are that Jag and Rover could bring in as much as $1.5 billion.
Ford would be better off just hiring the management of the two Indian companies to run its global auto operations.
Douglas A. McIntyre