ZURICH, Switzerland, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- UBS AG has been named to advise Ford Motor Co. of Dearborn, Mich., on the sale of luxury car brand Aston Martin, the Swiss bank said Friday.
The automaker wants to sell the Aston Martin, best known on the big screen as James Bond's car of choice in the 1960s, as part of an effort to shore up its finances.
UBS bankers were scheduled to fly to Ford's headquarters next week to discuss the sale.
Aston Martin, made in England, sold 4,500 cars last year, and analysts estimate Ford could get as much as $500 million dollars for it, the Detroit News reports.
Among the potential buyers are German sports car maker Porsche AG and French company LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate.
