Article from Autoblog:

You can stop wondering which brand in Ford's Premier Auto Group will be the first to go. It's Aston Martin. Though speculation had pointed to a possible sale of Jaguar and/or Land Rover, in a statement Ford indicates that Aston Martin makes the most sense because it has a completely separate dealer network, its products share few parts with other Ford brands and its size is much smaller than other members of PAG. Ford will be looking to sell either all or a portion of Aston Martin, supposedly whatever it can get for a good price while ensuring that the James Bond brand finds a happy home. As this process has just begun, no buyers have stepped forward and expressed interest.

Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover aren't in the clear yet, however. As to their future, Bill Ford says, "we've made no decisions, as our review of strategic alternatives continues."

Is this the right move? Aston Martin is arguably better off today than it was when Ford purchased it in the late Nineties, so there's definitely some equity in the brand that the Blue Oval feels it can collect. Keep in mind this announcement doesn't guarantee anyone's interested in purchasing Aston Martin or that a transaction will take place, but the For Sale sign has been staked in the front yard and Bill Ford's waiting inside with lemonade and cookies for prospective buyers.

[Source: Ford]

If I could, I would buy it. I absolutlely LOVE aston martin

Hmm, kinda saw this coming in a way.

I wonder how profitable LR is? The freelander flopped here. We'll have to see how well the new XK does and if they redesign the X-type and the S-type. Volvo has to be profitable, I see there cars everywhere, and there is a certain market that will only buy them.

volvo is more sucessful in europe than it is here, so they're probably going to stay. aston just doesn't seem like a high profit company. not at all suprised by this