Mazda: Ford Hasn't Yet Decided to Sell Stake

Mazda denied Saturday that a decision had been made by troubled Ford Motor to sell its stake in the Japanese automaker, but didn't rule out a possible deal.

Japanese media reported Saturday that Ford was considering selling its one-third stake in Hiroshima-based Mazda Motor Corp. Public broadcaster NHK, without citing sources, reported that Ford would maintain some of its stake in Mazda and management ties.

"Nothing has been decided," Mazda said in a statement received Saturday. "Any important decision will be disclosed."

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford said in a statement, "We do not want to comment on speculation."

"Our relationship with Mazda has not changed," Ford said.

The move, should it happen, would be a symbolic retreat for U.S. automakers in Japan. General Motors similarly sold off its stakes in Japanese automakers in recent years.

Selling shares of Mazda, which makes the RX-8 sports car and Miata roadster, would furnish Ford with cash as it tries to turn around its business.

Ford has struggled amid a drastic downturn in U.S. auto sales, burning through nearly US$11 billion of its cash stockpile in the past year. It reported its worst-ever quarterly loss of US$8.7 billion in the second quarter.

Speculation has risen that Ford may file for bankruptcy, although it has denied that. Ford's stock price has also suffered, plunging to its lowest level in 25 years.

Ford formed a capital alliance with Mazda in 1979, taking a 25 percent stake. That was raised to 33.4 percent in 1996 -- a controlling share in Japan.

Over the last decade, Ford helped engineer a turnaround at once-struggling Mazda, sending executives and sharing technology and auto parts to cut costs.

Mazda, Japan's fourth-biggest automaker, has been a bright spot in Ford's otherwise-gloomy fortunes of late. Mazda posted a six-fold surge in profit in the April-June quarter.

In an interview with The Associated Press in Detroit on Friday, CEO Alan Mulally denied Ford was about to run out of cash.

Mulally did not rule out asset sales as a way to raise money, but did not refer to Mazda specifically.

"Cash is really, really important, so we are managing that very carefully," Mulally said.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.