Ford Motor (F) has revealed that its sales in China have shot up 79% to 119,338 vehicles in the third quarter of the year. The growth has vaulted an overall sales increase of 78% to 1.33 million vehicles across China .  This was driven by China ’s economic policies to spur auto sales. The Chinese Government halved taxes on purchases of small autos. It is also spending 5 billion yuan ($730 million) on subsidies for purchases of light trucks and minivans in the countryside, where the population density is high.  Considering the first nine months of the year, Ford’s sales grew 32% to 316,639 vehicles. This compared to a 34% rise in sales to 9.66 million vehicles across China , making it the world's top auto market. The U.S. ranked second in terms of sales volume, with the nine months’ sales totaling 7.8 million vehicles. ...

A U.S.-led group – the Crown consortium – has revealed its interest to acquire the ailing Volvo unit from Ford Motor Co. (F). The group included former Ford director Michael Dingman and former Ford and Chrysler executive Shamel Rushwin. In 1999, Ford had acquired the Volvo Car Corporation from Sweden-based Volvo Group for $6.45 billion. However, the company put up the unit for sale in December last year in an effort to cut costs and raise cash amidst plunging industry-wide auto sales. Ford had discussions with many automakers for the sale, including Renault SA and China’s third-largest automaker, Dongfeng Motor Group. So far, China's Geely Automotive has submitted the only concrete bid for the unit. Media reports have disclosed that Geely has valued the unit at around $2 billion. Rumors had spread that Crown consortium had offered significantly less than Geely, but both plans involved ...

Ford Motor (F) is trying hard to offload its unprofitable Volvo car unit by the end of the year. Finance Chief Lewis Booth recently said that the company had no plans of retaining the unit. Ford only wants to concentrate and strengthen its own in-house brand.

In 1999, Ford acquired Volvo Car Corp. from Sweden-based Volvo Group for $6.45 billion. However, the company put up the unit for sale last December in an effort to cut costs and raise cash amidst plunging industry wide auto sales.

Ford negotiated the sale with many automakers, including Renault SA and China’s third-largest automaker, Dongfeng Motor Group. So far, China’s Geely Automotive was reportedly the only company to submit a concrete bid, valuing the unit at about $2 billion. However, Geely later denied such reports.

In the first half of 2008, Ford sold its UK-based Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian auto

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Market conditions have recently looked promising for investors looking to get into a blue chip stock at deeply discounted rates. GM stock took a massive beating last week, closing at a 50 year low of $4.89 on October 10th. Forecasts portraying the future sales automobiles show a significant decline in sales due to the difficulties for consumers to obtain credit for purchase. Incentives by the auto industry have increased demand, but the problem of credit remains. While panic gripped the exchange last week, this morning seems to be showing a bit of that silver lining. The larger question to ask is: Is now the right time to jump into GM?

Speaking on condition of anonymity, executives at GM and Chrysler have both indicated that the market is ripe for such a consolidation. Auto manufacturers such as GM, Chrysler, and Ford could benefit from such a merger. Decreased costs would cut

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