Loss-making Ford Motor Company is planning to sell Swedish carmaker Volvo, and German car maker BMW could be a possible buyer, a Swedish news-paper said on Monday.

The Goteborgs Posten daily reported on its website that a source within Ford said BMW has been studying a possible purchase of Volvo.

No speculation

The Financial Times also reported last Friday that BMW was in informal talks to buy Volvo.

"We cannot commenton speculation, this is a question for our owner," said a spokeswoman for Volvo cars.

Ford bought Volvo in 1999 and it is now part of the U.S. company's Premier Automotive Group, including Jaguar and Land Rover.

Ford does not disclose results for its individual brands, but taken together its luxury line-up lost US$327 million in 2006.

Merrill Lynch has said Ford could raise over US$9 billion by selling the remaining luxury car brands. Volvo Cars

Chief Executive Fredrik Arp told Reuters in March that Ford was committed to keeping the Swedish car maker.