Tata Top Bidder for Jaguar / Land Rover?

According to a number of sources, Tata Motors' bid for Jaguar / Land Rover seems to be gaining an edge over other interested bidders. Tata Motors Limited is India's largest passenger automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturing company was established in 1945 as a train manufacturer. Tata could be offering a premium for Ford's luxury nameplates with the hope of leveraging economies of scale with its existing infrastructure.

Unions are due to meet the shortlisted bidders later this month. Ford plans to sell the business by the end of this year or the beginning of 2008.

Regardless of who wins control of England's storied brands, Ford may want to hang on to an equity stake in the operations in order to lock the buyer into long-term supply deals with its network of engine and transmission plants in the UK.