: ~m

: : Article in the front page of The Sunday Times Business section states that the Quant family have agreed to sell BMW and as they hold 47% then BMW is sold.

: : The assumption is that Ford will get it with an out side chance of VW. GM are interested but do not have the money. It is thought the deal will be struck within the next 6 weeks and the actual sale go through next year when the Capital Gains tax in Germany is set to drop and thus help the Quant family keep more of Ford's money.

: : The message is Ford will stick BMW into the same group as Lincoln, Jaguar and Volvo with BMW being repositioned as a brand under Jaguar and concentrate on saloons. Suspicion is that Ford needs another factory in the US like a hole in the head and does not need yet another 4x4 particularly since it just got Land Rover. Spartanburg (?) and the next Z3 look vulnerable.

: : Here ends the news from London!