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Ford News

bigo08bigo08 Member Posts: 102
edited July 2014 in Ford
I recall that Ford "Way Forward" Plan stated that the company would be profitable by 08, but as a hard-core Ford guy myself I don’t see that happening, because I have seen what Ford showed at the NAIAS, and I have to say I was not impressed.. There were a few good concepts like the Lincoln MKR and the Ford Interceptor. The 500 and Focus were disappointing. Let me know what you guys think.
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Comments

  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    bigo08,

    I honestly think it will at least take until 2009' to see a turn around. I don't see the product out right now to have such a turn around by 08' IMHO. I honestly can't believe Ford, isn't going to focus on another Taurus to help speed up that turnaround. GM, made a camcord fighter with the current Aura/Malibu but where's Fords ? The fusion IMHO isn't the answer. Ford, needs another awesome FWD car and the Taurus name has recognition and once was the best selling car in america. Oh well their loss is GM's gain ! ;)

    Rocky
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I have to say I have been in the Milan, haven't been in a Fusion yet, and would say it is better then the current gen camry and equal to the previous gen Accord.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    What if Ford doesn't return to profitability anytime soon? A big chunk of the company's assets were hocked to secure a cash line, and if Ford goes kablooie the creditors will want to sell those assets off to somebody to get their cash back. How do you spell "Ford" in Chinese?
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    british,

    I wouldn't go that far... :surprise:

    Rocky
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    Mainly because it is small enough to turn itself around. Also does have the cash to do so here in North America. Its going to be painful for the 40,000 that loose their jobs. UAW is going down hard in the next 10 years. Unions and manufacturing just don't go hand in hand in the "new world economy" Flexibility is key to competition, and unions are not flexible..
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. Chamber of Commerce study about to be released estimates that the auto industry loses $12 billion per year because of the proliferation of counterfeit auto parts.

    http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119319

    Rocky

    P.S scape2, The UAW isn't going down. They are going to loosen up their work rules to allow more flexibility. This has already happened at a few plants already where the company wanted to expand at the plant but they would on only one condition and that was to redo the work rules at the plant.

    Rocky
  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    Ah yes, more news about our wonderful and favored trading partner the Chinese.
  • scootertrashscootertrash Member Posts: 698
    Where's Jack Bauer when you need him?
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,148
    Driving his Ford Explorer. Haven't you been paying attention? :)

    MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
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  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    Jack drives an Expedition, Kirstie! Apparently no concern over global warming. Which So Cal could have used a little of last week.
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,148
    Oh. Guess he traded up, or I'm stuck in season 1. Ford's been kind to him.

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,384
    Well, Ford didn't do itself any favors with the revised Focus and 500. That's a shame because both had the potential to be something instead of a warmover.

    I generally think the Fusion is on the right track but is only a solid single when they need a home run.

    I hope to see Ford turn on a dime. Lord knows GM isn't doing it.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/AUTO01/701250389

    Rocky

    P.S. Wow, bonuses for a few of the priveledge while everyone else faces major sacrifice. Welcome to corporate america :sick:
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/BUSINESS01/701250330/10- 14

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Slumping sales, big restructuring costs lead to $12.7 billion loss for 2006

    Holy-cow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Odie, we might be signing rookie arena league players next year at NFL league mininums :surprise:

    Rocky
  • midwesttradermidwesttrader Member Posts: 291
    NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Ford Motor Co. reported the largest annual loss in company history Thursday. The embattled automaker posted a fourth-quarter loss that was worse than analysts' expectations and the company warned of worse showings ahead.

    Weak sales of its key pickup trucks in the quarter and $9.9 billion in after-tax charges due to employee buyouts and plant closing plans resulted in $12.7 billion loss for 2006.

    http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/25/news/companies/ford_2006_loss/index.htm?cnn=yes
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ouch...

    Interesting to read the details though.

    - Europe Profitable

    - SA Profitable

    - Mazda Profitable

    - Asia/Africa almost profitable

    - PAG would be profitable if not for the anchor that is Jaguar not sure what is going to happen with that

    - NA HUGE LOSS

    Without going into more detail then that it seems like it would make sense to run North American operations more like European operations...

    It seems like Ford is planning to do that so lets see if the actually do.
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    Let's not lose sight of the fact that a big part of that loss came in the fourth quarter and was non-recurring, related to restructuring and buyouts.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Yes a large part of it did but even without it the loss would still have been in the billions.

    If ford can't get the overall opperations into a near even position this year with moderate losses in North America then they will be in trouble.
  • goodegggoodegg Member Posts: 905
    A loss is a loss. Other car companies aren't taking these. You can always come up with scores of extraordinary items to write off. Regardless - they're still losses!

    Ford is in huge trouble. This thing will escalate. It will probably only be profitable at a third of its current size. Who's gonna just throw money down the Ford black hole?

    The company will end up being like Sears. Their assets are largely unrelated to their core business.
  • heyjewelheyjewel Member Posts: 1,046
    Yep, and now our friend Chavez in Venezuela is fixing to nationalize the GM and Ford plants there. Arent the commies wonderful?
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Just like those heating fuel commercials that say "from our friends in Venezuela!" Yeah, just like our "friends" in Iran and North Korea!
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    Yep, and now our friend Chavez in Venezuela is fixing to nationalize the GM and Ford plants there. Arent the commies wonderful?

    Yet another good reason to keep domestic manufacturing on our shores, not overseas or across the border.
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    Yes it's a loss, and yes it would still be large even without the extraordinary items. But, the losses were expected as part of restructuring, and if it turns the core business around to profitability, then that's what's needed. FoMoCo wasted many opportunities in the past and is now paying the price, but sometimes some pain like this is necessary to turn things around. It seems to be working for GM.

    Pointing to the current losses and saying it's over for the company is shortsighted, the same shortsightedness for which domestic auto companies themselves have been justly criticized.
  • ponderpointponderpoint Member Posts: 277
    Yes, you are right, but it was still devastating and Wall Street, from a lot of analysis, was NOT expecting this.

    It is almost like they're trying to screw up! No new ideas, except the concept of bonuses for doing nothing - yeah, that's a winner!

    What is that car over in Europe that's a hot seller?... Ford keeps making excuses as to why they can't do that here. I had a friend laughing so hard, I exclaimed that at this point, they should bring back the Ranchero - at least it would be something different! He actually thought about it, and said it wasn't a bad idea.... Population is getting older and he has often wished his pick-up bed wasn't so high....

    BRING BACK THE RANCHERO YOU TWITS!
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Ford Falcon Ute
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    How do you figure analysits were not expecting this?

    Look at the Ford stock price it did not drop with the news of the loss.

    In fact it actually finished yesterday at about even.

    http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/interchart/interchart.asp?symb=F&time=7

    Not sure if that chart will pop up but you can try it.

    Yesterday it opened at 8.15 and closed at 8.22.

    Looks to me like the market had already taken into account the loss.
  • ponderpointponderpoint Member Posts: 277
    Thanks Bumpy,

    Heaven forbid that vehicle should ever be sold here. Add another vehicle to the list of "Why doesn't Ford sell this here!"...... Morons.

    I don't follow the trades, does this have any chance at all in America? I think the kids (as well as their grandfathers) would love it!
  • ponderpointponderpoint Member Posts: 277
    Um...... It was so far off analysts expectations, it hit the nightly news (national) on the major networks. When something garners that much attention... A storm is brewing.

    I would say that pretty much illustrates some analysts did a double take.

    The stock can do anything it wants.... historically that happens all the time.... go ahead and invest.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Not the current one, since it wasn't designed with LHD in mind. Hopefully Mulally is kicking the right butts to have the next platform designed with global aspirations. Maybe by 2010?
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    GM's Holden also produces something like this. I remember thinking when I saw them "man, I wish they still sold something like that back home".
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    Um...... It was so far off analysts expectations, it hit the nightly news (national) on the major networks. When something garners that much attention... A storm is brewing.

    I certainly wouldn't expect what we see on the national nightly news to accurately reflect what the professional analysts were or were not expecting.
  • cklho818cklho818 Member Posts: 29
    Ford seems to never change their marketing strategy or they just don't care what consumers say and want!

    Lets take an example, look at the all new 2008 Focus! Come on guys, don't we have talented people in America. Compare it with the Europe version of the Ford Focus...sigh! Oh, how about that new Mondeo briefly showed up in the latest Bond movie, Casino Royale? It's sexy and attractive. You do the pick, drive the 500 or that suped up Mondeo!

    My family once had 3 cars from Ford, they are just disappointing. We will never go back to Ford unless we see new changes.

    How about bringing in some European models like?
    Mondeo (vs the 500 in US)
    S-Max (vs the current Focus wagon in US)
    Focus (vs the 2008 Focus in US)
    Focus ST (vs the 2008 Focus in US)
    Galaxy (vs the Freestarin US)

    Europe has less line ups, sell less cars but more profitable.

    Something really wrong inside of Ford. :sick: I hope Mulally can do something about it. Heard he studied what Toyota did when he was with Boeing back then.

    More info: www.ford.co.uk or any other sites that features Ford outside of U.S.

    The world is changing and Ford thought Americans are still living with phone lines and local broadcasting only! :sick:
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    When companies come out with earnings that are well below expectations then the stock price plummets.

    Ford's stock price held steady for the most part therefore the price of the stock had already dropped enough to take into account the poor earnings reports.
  • ponderpointponderpoint Member Posts: 277
    Then go ahead and invest......
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    I already have some Ford stock. I was looking to buy a little more if the poor earnings report drove the price down some more. At that point the stock would truly be undervalued and a great bargin.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Motor Company has announced that its base 2008 Escape XLS will start at $19,245, including a $665 destination charge, which is a $740 reduction over the 2007 Escape. The '08 Escape Hybrid also gets a price cut of $580 versus the '07 model. The vehicles will be in showrooms by March.

    http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119386

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is considering a plan to bolster its North American lineup with a limited group of Europe-built models, according to new boss Alan Mulally. Among the models under investigation for sale in the U.S. market are the upcoming fourth-generation Mondeo, the European Car of the Year award-winning S-Max and the Transit Connect commercial vehicle.

    http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119405

    Rocky
  • ponderpointponderpoint Member Posts: 277
    Hee Hee...... You got the ball Alan. Show 'em the brain cells!

    BRING BACK THE RANCHERO!
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/AUTO02/701260391/- 1148

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    2007 will be key year for Mulally-led turnaround

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/AUTO01/701260393/- 1148/AUTO01

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070129/UPDATE/701290398/- 1148/AUTO01

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070130/AUTO01/701300337/- 1148

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,014
    Automaker blames decline on cutbacks to daily rental business; in first month, sales of new Edge crossover look solid.

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070201/AUTO01/702010351/- 1148

    Rocky

    P.S. Man Ford, is ill at the momment. :surprise:
  • bigo08bigo08 Member Posts: 102
    yea :cry: hopefully not for to long ;)
  • dtownfbdtownfb Member Posts: 2,918
    While their current sales may look dismal,this is necessary for ford. Part of their turn-around has to involve changing their business practices. Dumping cars to fleet and rentals kills resale value. So if they have to endure a couple of more years of slumping sales and in the mean time they improve their products and control production, they will be a much stronger company. The problem is it will be a painful two years and who knows if they have enough money to sustain these sales slump.
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    My fear is that as they downsize and restructure they won't be able to attract and retain the necessary engineering talent to affect a turnaround.

    The question was raised on ABC whether USA needed an automotive industry in today's world. Attracting, training, and retaining domestic engineering talent is one reason we need an auto industry.
  • savethelandsavetheland Member Posts: 671
    According to our elite America needs only consumers. Last patriotic call was about everyone going to shopping malls, restaurants and boarding airplanes to spend money. It is so different from what was called patriotism several decades ago. The question is how long Asian countries agree to provide us with free money. In the end it is kind of infinite loop – they lend us money to buy their stuff so they get money back. It is a typical American innovation – we are so smart!
  • displacedtexandisplacedtexan Member Posts: 364
    I couldn't agree more.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    We new this was coming. Much of this was due to no fleet sales. I thnk this is VERY smart of Ford to stop fleet sales. This is a HUGE market correction for Ford in its North American markets. I think 1 or 2 more years of declines and then we will start to see Ford rebound. What sickens me are the Americans wanting a part of our nations history to fail. :sick:
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