bloggingbuyouts

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) is cutting production at its Volvo unit, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move, which could affect one-third of workers -- some 700 -- is seen as an attempt to cut the costs and losses at the upscale Swedish brand.

The question everyone is asking is whether this move is done in preparation for a sale. According to "people familiar with the matter" who discussed such things with the Journal, CEO Alan Mulally is interested in putting Volvo, whose sales have been declining, on the block. Of course, to analysts, Mulally sang a different tune last month, saying the priority is improve the Swedish auto maker operations "dramatically."

As Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. continues to build its stake int he company, he may also have a thing or two to say on the matter.

For now, Volvo is cutting where it makes larger, less popular vehicles, and it plans to make fewer cars overall. But can this make Volvo more profitable to Ford, or at least more attractive to buyers? There are costs associated with producing a smaller number of vehicles, but with Volvo reporting 22,000 fewer vehicles sold during the first quarter, cutting production makes sense. Another matter Ford has to consider is the massive losses it suffered lately just from the kronor-dollar exchange rate.

It was nearly a year ago that speculation ran amok that German carmaker BMW could be interested in buying Volvo. Could it still be interested? Years back, Renault was interested too. With the credit crunch still crimping deals, and with some major players like private equity -- keeping in mind Chrysler's sale to Cerberus -- absent, it's likely such a sale could be postponed.

After selling its Land Rover and Jaguar units to India's Tata Motors Ltd. (NYSE: TTM) in a deal worth $2.3 billion, and Aston Martin for $848 million to investors led by David Richards, if Ford sells Volvo, it will be left only with Lincoln as its luxury line.