Fords buys BMW

[grizzo@domain.elided]

 One new interpretation of GM vs. Ford  is now Alfa vs. BMW  (not exactly Camaro
vs. Mustang is it?)

<<Only a week after one of Williams' sponsors Castrol was taken over by rival
firm BP, new worries have arisen for Sir Frank Williams. According to a report
in the London Daily Mail Ford has negotiated a deal with the Quandt family, the
majority shareholders of the German car manufacturer, to buy BMW. The German
marque will supposedly be integrated into the portfolio of luxury brands of
Ford's Premier Automotive Group. 
The Daily Mail quotes an undisclosed source from within the Munich based firm
confirming the 10 billion British Pound deal. Lawyers are said to be in the
process of preparing the papers in order to allow the transaction to take place
in October. Alongside Aston Martin, Volvo and Land Rover Formula1 newcomer
Jaguar is also part of PAG. 
It remains to be seen whether Ford would allow two brands within the Group to
compete directly with one another in a high profile technical marketing showcase
like Formula1. As Jaguar's entry in the Formula1 World Championship has been
marketed with enormous effort and considerable budget, the withdrawal of BMW
from Formula1 would seem more likely.>> 

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