BMW Eyes Bid for De Tomaso
BMW AG is among the prospective buyers of Italy's De Tomaso supercar brand holding talks with bankruptcy court officials, according to the UILM union.
#labor
BMW AG is among the prospective buyers of Italy's De Tomaso supercar brand holding talks with bankruptcy court officials, according to the UILM union.
Labor leaders say the negotiations were confirmed by the Italian Industry Ministry, which aims to begin the sale process by mid-October. UILM says some of De Tomaso's Italian investors also are interested in acquiring the marque.
BMW said in May it was not interested in acquiring De Tomaso. Analysts speculate the carmaker is seeking a performance brand to compete with Volkswagen AG's Lamborghini make.
Previous owner Gian Mario Rossignolo, a former Fiat SpA marketing executive, bought De Tomaso out of bankruptcy in 2009. He aimed to revive the brand with three models to be built at a rented Pininfarina plant near Turin.
But no vehicles were ever produced, and the company filed for bankruptcy in July, leaving 1,000 workers unpaid and unemployed. A week later, prosecutors arrested Rossignolo in connection with a fraud probe.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Tesla Fires Hundreds of Employees It Considers Sub-Par
Tesla Inc. dismissed roughly 400 hourly and salaried employees last week, according to The Mercury News in San Jose, Calif.
-
Marchionne Cancels Trip to Paris Auto Show
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne has cancelled a planned appearance at the Paris auto show on Thursday.
-
Targets of U.S. Aluminum and Steel Tariffs Declare Counter-Measures
As expected, the European Union, Canada and Mexico have announced a broad array of counter-tariffs in response to U.S. import taxes of 10% on foreign aluminum and 25% on foreign steel that went into effect at midnight.