In an article from Jalopnik today:

"Aston Martin, the only major luxury marque not backed by a major automotive group, appears to be under the scrutiny of a number of potential suitors, including Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., as well as Toyota Motor Corp., which hired an auditor to look into buying the legendary British nameplate.

Bloomberg's confidential sources said that the Kuwaiti company that owns much of the brand, Investment Dar Co., had already approached Mahindra & Mahindra, but have thus far been unable to get what they paid for the company in 2007. The price Dar seeks is about even with the $807 million in revenue Aston Martin brought in in 2011."

http://jalopnik.com/5959156/aston-ma...for-a-new-home

 

Mahindra & Mahindra...perfect fit. Nothing like being bought by a tractor manufacturer for a 2nd time.

 

I saw that too. I've never thought of Toyota buying the marque, I somehow doubt that will happen. I don't know anything about M&M, so I can't comment there.

I'll use this opp to restate what I think would be a dream come true: BMW buying or partnering with AM. Those vehicles would be stupendous and I can see a business case for it:

- Leverage BMW engine, transmission, and cabin tech at costs that are already at profit-friendly mass production rates
- Leverage AM's pedigree, cache, and growing CF body capabilities

Neither dilutes the other. The above combo would result in a line-up that I would be extremely excited about. Anything less and I think AM goes the way Lotus appears to be heading.

 

German company buying Aston....fastest way to being a badge-engineered marque.

You want a non-prestige brand to buy them so that they are left alone for all practical purposes, like when Ford owned them.

A Japanese buyer would probably be OK, but M&M would be better...just like Tata buying JLR.

 

Can't argue with the Tata example. They have done a wonderful job with Jag.

 

M&M aquisition of AML would be best, they are well managed, quite liquid, and have the resources to invest in Aston....and like some of you said would leave Aston to grow and develop well within their own brand identy...

and no I'm not just saying that caust I'm Indian American lol! but it is kinda cool that now India has an F1 track and race, an Indian company is doing well with Jag, and Indians are making some of the most cutting edge software and technology here in the US.

 

I have to admit my Range Rover is amazing. I shied away from buying an RR for a long time but TaTa has done an excellent job with backing them. If M&M does for AM what TaTa did for RR bring it on.

 

yes, plus it's fun to say Tata

 

I find it amusing that so many people hope a potential new owner would treat AML like Ford did, when critics, "traditional" Aston owners and pundits criticized the use of their components in the cars. Ford was not perfect, but now it seems like people are realizing how good AML had it back then. I wonder if anyone in Gaydon does...

 

^^^Bottom line is that people fear change and unknown consequences.

 

I think folding it into the Tata arrangement might also work. They could get some scale that way and it would provide a way to push Jag tech up the food chain.

 

What he said.

 

For those who haven't seen it, here's an update from Autoblog:

"Bloomberg (parent company of Businessweek) reports that London-based private equity house Investindustrial has made a bid of nearly 250 million pounds ($401 million U.S.), with their overture trumped shortly thereafter by Indian automaking conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra. According to the report, a winner will be chosen from among those two companies, but instead of Investment Dar's entire 64-percent stake, the winner will get 40 percent equity and 50 percent of the voting rights. Investment Dar will hold onto 24 percent of Aston."