Speculation submerged that BMW might be interested in the buying De Tomaso. This news has been confirmed by the secretary of the UILM trade union, which also stated there are talks with possible Italian partners who are interested in the former maker of high-performance sports cars.
De Tomaso has been declared bankrupt back in July, following a period of uncertainties and the failure to secure a Chinese buyer. This is the second time in ten years the Italian company went into liquidation, the first time was in 2004.
Former Fiat marketing executive Gian Mario Rossignolo purchased the brand in November 2009 and signed a deal with Pininfarina a month later to rent its Grugliasco plant near Turin. The De Tomaso brand was revived in 2011 when the Italians presented a five-door crossover named the Deauville. The revived brand also announced the return of the legendary Pantera for later that year, which would be followed by a limousine scheduled for 2013.
As we all know these plans collapsed, followed by the arrest of Mario Rossignolo for alleged fraud. In the mean time, the local governments of the Piedmont region contacted several car manufacturers ‒ including BMW ‒ to investigate their interest in acquiring troubled De Tomaso.
Back then, the Germans said they weren’t interested in the De Tomaso brand or in its sites. Nevertheless talks continued, but it is still unclear what is driven BMW’s participation in these talks. So more news will undoubtedly follow.
[Via Automotive News Europe]
AHEM ! I do believe you may of meant ;
” Emerged “
@GuitarSlinger: I do believe you meant “may HAVE meant”.