Ford (F) looks likely to pick Tata of India to buy Rover and Jaguar. The Times of London says the price for the sale will be slightly over $2 billion.

The upcoming sales begs that question of why Ford is selling the companies at all. Jaguar has certainly lost a lot of money and its sales have been sliding, but, if another car company can make a fix, what is wrong with Ford?

Ford is struggling in the US. Jaguar and Rover are global brands. The would appear to be ideal leaders for Ford’s moves into fast-growing markets like China, India, and Russia. They are certainly better lead products than the Mercury Sable or Lincoln Navigator.

Ford has new world class management. They ought to act world class, turn the brands around, and build some shareholder value from them.

Douglas A. McIntyre