Ford says no comment on reported Volvo sale to Changan

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Ford Motor (F.N) said on Wednesday it was still evaluating an option to sell its Volvo car unit but declined to comment on a local media report which named its China partner Changan Automobile Group as a potential buyer.

National Business Daily reported on Tuesday that Changan president Xu Liuping held discussions with Ford and Volvo during last month's auto show in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.

The report did not provide details of the talks, but quoted a Changan executive as saying there was a chance for a deal.

"We will not comment on speculation or rumours, nor will we comment on regular business discussions that we have with our partners," Ford said in a statement.

The Chinese executive cited by the newspaper told Reuters that he was "misquoted" and he had no knowledge that Changan, one of China's six biggest auto groups, had ever held discussions with Ford on a Volvo deal.

"I told the National Business reporter that there is a chance that Changan might consider cross-border merger and acquisition eventually. It wasn't meant for the Volvo deal specifically," the executive said.

"Chinese automakers will become global players some day but we are not strong enough now to make major oversea acquisitions and turn around distressed assets," added the executive, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Ford and Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) operate a car venture with Changan's listed arm, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co (000625.SZ), which makes mid-sized Focus sedans, Volvo S40 among other brands.

Ford, which owns Volvo, and General Motors Corp GM.N, owner of Saab, are trying to sell some of their assets as they seek a multi-billion dollar government bailout.