The Sunday Times newspaper has reported that Tata is leading the pack of prospective buyers for Ford’s Jaguar and Land Rover operations. Citing sources close to the negotiations, the report says Tata has had ‘positive meetings’ with trade union and government officials, but still faces tough competition from interested private equity firms.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The report also says that Ford could choose a preferred bidder within three weeks.


Other bidders include One Equity, an American private-equity group, and Mahindra, the Indian car group that is bidding with Apollo, another American buyout firm.


While Jaguar is loss-making industry the newspaper cited sources as saying it will lose about US$500m this year, while Land Rover will make more than US$1bn this year.


The sources say that the likely US$3bn price tag will include a one-off payment into the companies’ pension funds. They are in deficit, and negotiations with trustees over the level of the payment are continuing, the report said.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Auto Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Auto Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving automotive industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now