Alfa's return ( with a blue oval.......????????????)

[graham.frisby@domain.elided]

Alfisti,

Given the drive (!) for globalization in the motor industry at the volu=
me end
(not the real niche makers like Morgan,  Caterham and TVR) it's pretty =
obvious
that there will be some more take-overs and mergers in the next few yea=
rs.
Several of the Far East manufactures are carrying sizeable debt burdens=
 and
probable the strongest there is Toyota. It's still too early to call on=
 the
Renault/Nissan merger, but there's rumour that Nissan's carrying =A316 =
Billion
debt. Of the European manufactures BMW will probably continue to be ble=
d by
Rover. VW already has a low cost manufacturing base with SEAT/SKODA. Of=
 the US
makers, Ford is the most aggressive for acquisitions. It has no real lo=
w cost
manufacturing base equivalent to SEAT  ....... yet. They tried for Alfa=
 back in
1986 and were blocked by FIAT. Maybe this time around they'll just buy =
FIAT. The
problem child then becomes Ferrari/Maserati. Without the bankroll from =
FIAT they
would have a hard time financing the development needed.

Regards,

Graham
(Nomex suit fitted and ready to wear!!)
=

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