Britain's Birmingham Post newspaper has gone out on a limb and reported that Tata Motors will be named the winning bid for Jaguar and Land Rover as soon as tomorrow – Friday, December 21st. Neither the seller, Ford, nor the buyer, Tata, have confirmed that an announcement will be made tomorrow, and in fact Ford has repeatedly said that a buyer will not be named until early next year. The British paper reiterates the same estimate we've heard before, that Tata will be doling out around £1 billion, or $2 billion USD, for the right to own these two storied brands. Of course, we'll let you know tomorrow if the announcement does actually happen.[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
2010 Chevrolet Camaro revealed!
Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid Prius-fighter caught
Best shot yet of the Transformers 2 mystery Vette
Spy Shots: Subaru WRX STI spec C
In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG
First Drive: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 w/VIDEO![In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Flex Limited [w/VIDEO]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/ford-flex45015_thumbnail.jpg)
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Flex Limited [w/VIDEO]
First Drive: 2009 Mazda6
Should've bought a Garmin? Testing the iPhone 3G's GPS capabilities
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mark @ Dec 20th 2007 3:59PM
Wow, thats all it takes? I would have thought it would have been more $.
EJ25RUN @ Dec 20th 2007 3:59PM
Damn it
Dolemite @ Dec 20th 2007 10:13PM
Yes, because God forbid a non-American, non-European, non-Japanese company make cars.
If your xenophibic views prevent you from owning cars made by either Indian or Chinese companies, or cars assambled by Mexicans (the three favourite targets of racism here on Autoblog), then simply don't buy them. They certainly are not going to force you to buy their cars, so I don't understand what the lamenting is all about.
EJ25RUN @ Dec 21st 2007 12:23PM
mr dolemit..... lets begin.
#1. I dont know why you got in to the whole racist whatever rant...but
here is the real scoop.
i am not racist at all! i am an auto entusiast that feels nothing is sacred. i never even liked the fact that Ford owned jag and rover!
its like when tvr left blackpool to be made in italy. i feel the heart of the auto industry is dying to a war against the $.
if it werent for big business i woulnd feel this way. Again cars mean more to me than a piece of metal so seeing jag and rover move again is why. Its the same reason i liked the idea of B.L. in the 70's, of coarse bl was a major failur but its the idea i liked. There, never take what i say in racist terms. Its all about the attempt at keeping the automobile a gloriuos piece of machinery instead of the displosable form of transport it has just become.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 20th 2007 4:02PM
The "confirmed" seems to conflict with the "sources say" part.
Is it confirmed or just reports right now?
mike @ Dec 20th 2007 4:03PM
Now the question is dies this change your oppinion about Jaguar.
Ford is an American company that kills everything it gets its hands on, Tata on the other hand is Indian(no auto history) but it is a veru successful company.
Dave @ Dec 20th 2007 4:37PM
Ford doesnt kill everything it gets its hands on.
The fact that Ford acquired Volvo, Jag, LR, and Mazda is a direct result of their already being at death's door.
They could have gone the way of Austin and MG.
DesiAuto @ Dec 20th 2007 4:08PM
I love it when Indian cos buy British icons. (i.e. Scotch Whiskey was the first one)
I will wait for official news to come out before celebrating!
TATA is one of the world class giant, I put it in line with GE, Toyota, P&G etc.
DesiAuto @ Dec 20th 2007 4:12PM
I hope Indian businesses one day conquer all UK businesses ... you know Mahatma Gandhi, he believed in non-violent ways ...
Nick @ Dec 20th 2007 4:16PM
Free Curry Chicken with purchase...
oliver @ Dec 20th 2007 4:21PM
hahaha...curry chicken hahaha. I don't know what "Indian" does for brand cachet. I am a land rover owner (insert joke here), and this bothers me a bit...
jonathan @ Dec 20th 2007 5:15PM
All that I can say is that you must not have even finished high school. All that you can think of is curry chicken when you think of India. try to read the newspapers (good ones like NY times) and stop listening to news about Britney Spears!
Mat @ Dec 20th 2007 7:14PM
Jonny...relax, it was a joke.
Jon @ Dec 20th 2007 7:14PM
@ jonathan
All I can say is you need to learn to take a joke. And Britanny Spears has nothing to do with curry chicken.
Xcountryflyer @ Dec 20th 2007 4:25PM
TATA - just one of those names that really don't work in English. www.urbandictionary.com
If you own two TATA vehicles--"I just love your TATAs."
Guenther @ Dec 20th 2007 4:40PM
Dammit!!!!! beaten to the punch once again.
...we now return you to an otherwise sensible blog.
Doogie Fullhouser @ Dec 20th 2007 4:59PM
... Tata's...huh... aw, f-it...
Pat @ Dec 20th 2007 9:24PM
In Québec-French it means an idiot !
godda9u @ Dec 20th 2007 4:30PM
it's all fine and dandy as long as all tata built cars will not get the yield to cows sensor
oliver @ Dec 20th 2007 4:33PM
hahaha.