P.M. BRIEFING : Ford Hints Interest in Jaguar

Ford Motor Co., the profit leader among U.S. auto makers, may be interested in acquiring British luxury car maker Jaguar PLC, according to an interview with Ford Chairman Donald Petersen published today.

“Jaguar fits our standards,” Petersen told the Chicago Tribune before an address to a business group. “We must have an interest and a presence in Europe beyond what we have today. We’re giving serious consideration to a series of actions in Europe,” he said.

Ford already owns British car maker Aston-Martin, but talks with Fiat and Alfa-Romeo reportedly have fallen through. The company has relied on the European market as a healthy profit center.

Among other ties between American and European auto makers, the Tribune cited Chrysler Corp.’s interest in Alfa-Romeo, Lamborghini and Maserati, and General Motors Corp.’s purchase of Lotus.