Premier Automotive Group
The Premier Automotive Group (PAG), is a group within the Ford Motor Company that oversaw the business operations of its three European luxury automobile subsidiaries: Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. Aston Martin was a member of PAG until it was sold into private ownership on 12 March 2007 [1] for £479 million; Jaguar and Land Rover are currently up for sale in 2007 and there has also been suggestion that Volvo will be sold by the end of 2007, bringing the PAG group to an end.[2]
North American headquarters
PAG is based in London, and its North American Headquarters in Irvine, California which is the first Ford building, and the first building in Orange County, to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. When the headquarters first opened, some of its floors were each specifically dedicated to one of PAG's brands.
Lincoln
Ford's luxury car division Lincoln was part of the Premier Auto Group as well in the late 1990s, but was pulled out in 2002 as part of Ford's marketing strategy to separate its "import" marques from its domestic ones. During the creation of PAG, Lincoln's line-up received a complete overhaul, beginning with the 1998 redesign of the Lincoln Town Car. The same year also saw the introduction of the Lincoln Navigator SUV and in 2000 the Lincoln LS, which shares its engine with the Jaguar S-Type, was introduced. All three cars were designed in Irvine, California, and were according to many critics heavily influenced by Jaguar design themes[1]. In both years 1998 and 2000 Lincoln was the best selling luxury car brand in the US. After Cadillac surged back into the market in 2002, however, Ford pulled Lincoln out of the PAG in what is according to Jerry Flint of Forbes Magazine an "impossible to make sense out of... strategy."
Rover
On September 18th 2006, Ford announced their buying of the Rover brand name from BMW. As part of Ford's initial buying of Land Rover in 2000, Ford had the option to veto the sale of the Rover name by BMW to any other company. BMW originally intended to sell the Rover name to Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, but had to wait 90 days to allow Ford time to discuss the deal. Ford decided in the end to buy the name outright and place it among the Premier Automotive Group. However, Ford does not plan to use the name in production, instead buying it merely to protect their use of the name Land Rover.[2]
Other Ford brands
In addition to the brands considered part of the PAG, and the Ford brand, Ford also produce vehicles branded Lincoln,
Management
PAG is currently headed by Lewis W.K. Booth.
- 1999-2002 Wolfgang Reitzle
- 2002-2005 Mark Fields
- 2005-present Lewis Booth
External links
References
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