VOLKSWAGEN, which emerged last week as a potential buyer of Rolls-Royce, is this week also claimed to be bidding for Volvo. A German magazine reported that Volkswagen was in the running to buy Volvo which in the past has succeeded in fighting off overtures from Renault.

A UK spokesman for Volkswagen declined to discuss the report but said that a German spokesman for the Volkswagen group had no longer ruled out either acquiring a company or a shareholding if it was core to the company's business. Meanwhile, it has also reported this week that Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone had joined the bidding for up-for-sale luxury car maker Rolls-Royce. He joins a list which is also reputed to include BMW and Ford as well as Volkswagen.