News - Ford

Ford-General Motors merger reports 'all talk'

Lucid tongues: Ford-GM merger talks have jolted the car industry.

News of merger talks between Ford and GM have set tongues wagging

21 September 2006

By TERRY MARTIN

THE Ford-versus-Holden rivalry that defines a healthy slab of Australian motoring could change forever if merger talks between Ford Motor Co and General Motors bear fruit.

US auto journal Automotive News reported this week that senior executives at the world’s two biggest car companies had discussed a merger or alliance, however the outcome of the negotiations was unclear.

Ford and GM officials in the US have refused to comment, although one senior Ford Australia executive told GoAutoNews the merger talks were just the result of another Friday afternoon beer for senior members of both companies, which apparently happens on a regular basis.

Many United States automotive analysts believe a merger would not be beneficial to either party.

GM is at present in talks with Renault-Nissan about a possible sharing of technology.

Let’s wait and see.

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