Ford: no talks on selling Volvo to Changan

Shanghai, December 10 (Gasgoo.com) Ford and China's Changan Automobile Group have not talked about selling Volvo Car to the Chinese automaker though Ford executives did meet with Changan officials, Wall Street Journal Asia reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The source said Ford just met with Changan officials to inform them "as a courtesy" that Ford was looking for a Volvo buyer.

Ford on Tuesday officially declined to comment on a Chinese newspaper report that Changan, one of its two Chinese joint venture partners, might buy Volvo. "It will take some months to assess all of our available options," the company said.

Zhou Qin, a spokesman for Changan, told the Financial Times: "This report [that Changan is planning to buy Volvo] is not accurate. We are looking for the source of that information now."

Zhou said the company's president had indeed talked to senior Volvo and Ford executives but he didn't know what was discussed.

The National Business Daily quoted an unnamed executive in its news report on Tuesday that talks [for Changan to buy Volvo] between the two parties took place in November at the Guangzhou Motor Show and there was a chance for a deal.

Ford said earlier this month that it was reviewing the options for Volvo and could sell the brand as it looks to conserve cash.

a row of Volvo cars awaiting shipment outside the main factory in Gothenburg, Sweden