Ford has brought Rover

[Jake]

According to a Reuters report Ford is to buy the Rover car brand from BMW.
Chinese carmaker SAIC was prepared to purchase the British brand but Ford was offered the first right of refusal.
This was part of an agreement with BMW when Ford purchased Land Rover in order to protect Land Rover from any sort of Rover branded 4x4's.
Ford will most likely shelve the Rover brand for now.
The purchase of Rover to protect Land Rover does suggest that Ford have no interest in selling Land Rover any time soon.

 :D

[Rich_P]

Or possibly sell it with Land Rover.  There was a rumour of the two wheel drive 'baby' Freelander being badged under Rover, so that Land Rover will continue to be known for off-road vehicles.

[V8MoneyPit]

How old is this? BMW haven't owned the MG Rover name for years! Or am I missing the point?

[the loon]

the rumour I heard was ford wanted to buy the rover name so that no one could sell a vechicle with similar name to land rover.
Not sure I would read much into this but does sound sensible

[V8MoneyPit]

the rumour I heard was ford wanted to buy the rover name so that no one could sell a vechicle with similar name to land rover.
Not sure I would read much into this but does sound sensible

But that goes back to 2000 when BMW were selling it off. But, of course, it was bought by the ill fated management team.

I guess the name might be up for grabs now that the company has folded, but it isn't from BMW unless they had a clause in the sale contract that they reclaimed the title if it went pop.

[smo]

Or possibly sell it with Land Rover.  There was a rumour of the two wheel drive 'baby' Freelander being badged under Rover, so that Land Rover will continue to be known for off-road vehicles.

You mean the vehicle that doesnt exist yet, and probably never will, unless the sales of freelander 2's are massively biased towards the premium spec leaving a gap at the bottom end of the market?