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Ford has announced that it is to enter into "more detailed" discussions with Indian carmaker Tata Motors about the sale of its Jaguar and Land Rover businesses.

Tata, which has ambitions for itself in growing its car business in India and into Europe, emerged last year as the frontrunner to acquire the two companies, which Ford had decided were not core to its future operations.

A statement today by Lewis Booth, executive vice president of Ford of Europe and chairman of the Premier Automotive Group, which includes Jaguar and Land Rover, said that Ford was "committed to focused negotiations" with Tata over the sale of the combined business.

Booth added: "There is still a considerable amount of work to do and while no final decision has been made we will proceed with further substantive discussions with Tata Motors over the forthcoming weeks with a view to securing an agreement that is in the best interests of all parties."