http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...&refer=news





"Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., after almost three decades as an investor in Japan's Mazda Motor Corp., is considering selling its controlling stake, a person familiar with the deliberations said.



A sale of the one-third holding in Mazda isn't certain, said the person, who asked not to be identified because no decision has been made. ``We do not want to comment on speculation,'' Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford said yesterday in a statement.



Unloading the stake would end an era in which the second- largest U.S. automaker used Mazda to help groom executives including its incoming finance chief and its current head of North American operations. Ford faces a mounting cash drain as the U.S. auto market sinks to the lowest levels since 1991. "

 

Chrysler and GM might get in bed with each other





Ford should sell Volvo

 

Yea wow chrysler and GM that would be great, lump the shittiest cars available under one company.

 

So the worldwide automobile would be two categories Korean/**** and Japanese/European.

 

doubt ford will release mazda....

its a sector they are actually making money on...

 

thats exactly the reason for selling! i guess ford and gm have a pretty serious cash flow problem, it seems like selling the profitable part off is buisness as usual.

 

while being profitable, it may not make alot of money. Its like selling 10 things at $10 that cost you $5 each to make making you only $50, compared to selling 5 things making you $25- you are more profitable, but your not making money.

 

Isn't the Mazda 6 platform the basis for every mid-size vehicle Ford makes? If Ford is relying heavily on Mazda for new vehicle development, how does it make sense for them to sell it off? What are they going to do, go back to making nothing but F-150's and Crown Vics???

 

I think its sort of the other way around, I believe it was Ford who developed that chassis, as a global unit.



The 6 comes with Ford motors- so whats Mazda going to do for a motor?

 

I think the Ford family is going to be trimming back thier product lines. They carry Ford, Merc, and Lincoln versions of the same crap- none of that can be profitable?

With things as bad as they I would expect ALOT of dealers closing.



I dont know how many of you are aware how bad it really is right now for these guys, dealerships cant afford the floorplan interest rates they are getting- those that can still get loans that is, add in the fact that banks are not lending money to people for cars and major banks DROPPING car lending all together and you can see why they will start to close thier doors.



Its a scarry world out there right now. Boat dealerships and manufactures are closing up daily due to the same problems.