Mumbai: Italian auto maker Fiat is ready to provide technical support to Indian partner Tata Motors in its bid for Land Rover and Jaguar, the premium brands which Ford Motor is putting up for sale, a spokesman for the Italian car maker said at the annual auto show in Frankfurt, Germany.

"If Tata is interested in Jaguar and Land Rover, we are ready to provide technical support," the Fiat spokesman said.

The Tata group has said it is interested in Ford''s Land Rover and Jaguar brands - one of several potential bidders for the vehicle makers.

Fiat and Tata have a joint venture to make cars and engines in India.

Fiat''s vice-president for international development Alfredo Altavista had earlier denied Fiat was helping Tata in its bid.

The spokesman also clarified a comment made to reporters earlier in the day by Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne during a tour of the exhibits set up by the automaker''s various brands.

In response to a question about Fiat''s interest in Land Rover and Jaguar through a Tata bid for them, Marchionne had joked: "For completely different reasons, we are interested in both."

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, meanwhile, is reported to have roped in US buyout firms TPG and Ripplewood to bid for the two Ford brands.

Ford plans to have more details on the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover by the end of 2007 or early 2008.