A SAVAGE attack on BMW has been launched by one of Britain's leading motor industry academics, who believes the manufacturer will be bought by General Motors. Professor Garel Rhys, head of the economic section at Cardiff University Business School, said: 'BMW has completely lost the plot. I don't think they can run a bath, let alone a car company. BMW has fouled up.

Three manufacturers are said to be in the frame as potential buyers of BMW - General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen with Rhys speculating that General Motors - is the most likely buyer as the company has no major luxury car brand.

'BMW could stay independent for five years but I don't think it will be longer than that and it could be a lot shorter,' said Rhys. 'BMW is a rudderless company whose position in the market is untenable. The company decided to get bigger and now the board has gone back to its pre-Rover days. You cannot do that because size is required now more than it was in 1994.'