We’ve already discussed the fate of Iveco’s previously-held 15 per cent piece of Ashok Leyland.

Volvo had been viewed as a front runner in this race, with Scania a close second. No longer – it seems that talks with Volvo have broken down for the same reason as the Scania discussions went nowhere: both Swedish OEMs wanted management control, and the Hinduja boyz – the owners of Ashok – were having none of it. A fact which presumably precludes any DC interest.

We assume that this derailment has caused a bell or two to ring in Bellevue, Washington. Paccar – as discussed previously here – is rumoured to have taken a look at Ashok before, and we rather like the look of the fit. Indeed, there’s some irony here: if DAF’s management had been slightly more long-sighted a couple of decades ago and acquired a piece of the Indian OEM as part of the whole Leyland debacle, then this situation would not have arisen today. As it is, we rate an Ashok-Paccar deal as a good solution – albeit one now 20 years overdue.