Ford’s accelerated Way Forward plan is more detailed and serious than the preliminary strategy announced earlier this year, but Rick Newman of U.S. News is skeptical it will be enough. “The question is this time, is Ford serious? For the moment, the answer seems to be no,” writes Newman. Analyst John Murphy highlighted several shortcomings in a note to clients: “Capacity cuts are too shallow; there was no scheme for dealing with huge losses at Ford’s Jaguar subsidiary; there was no major news about speeding the introduction of badly needed new models.” Newman still seems a glimmer of hope, however. “Ford, like GM, still has ample time to make believers out of skeptics. It remains a huge company with lots of talent in the ranks, meaningful brand names, and considerable market muscle. Mulally and Fields still need to demonstrate, however, that they have figured out how to leverage those assets rather than squandering them.”
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09/15, 5:36 PM
posted by:
A4
I once liked ford, but now i want a Sierra with a 100,000 mile warranty to replace my Sport Trac hunk of ****.
09/15, 5:50 PM
posted by:
DetroitRockCity
Detroit the rebirth of american industry! it is now or never for america to rise and retake the induestral world … security threw industry…
09/15, 6:36 PM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
Oh yeah. A journalist from US NEWS is an expert on business structure.
09/15, 7:09 PM
posted by:
Hal
It did stand out that there was only one new model announced (Fairlane) I guess they don’t have the cash to invest.
Meanwhile across town…. http://tinyurl.com/rsemc
Looks like you’re out of luck Detroit :/
09/15, 7:43 PM
posted by:
del351
A4, you have that much faith in the GM 100,000 mile warranty? Not even Toyota, the company that some believe is the leader in quality will hand out 100,000 mile warreaties. Have you checked out the article from last week, I think, about how this could be a very very expensive move on GM’s part? Back to the article though, a US News journalists opinion isn’t much to me. Also, Hal, only one new model announced? What about the Edge, MKX, and MKS? Those vehicles are due out soon. Ford has a few new models out already that they are rightfuly updating to provide more “bold” designs. Anyway, I don’t think this american company will go out of business. Just give them a little bit of time.
09/15, 8:53 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Sure, Ford has talent in their ranks and there is talent out there in the job market. They just aren’t giving them creative positions to develop new products that we will care about.
So… put visionary people in hiring positions, Ford. They will know who to put into your core divisions to revamp your product line.
And here’s another one for you: I firmly believe that the designer of a car should also be involved in the drivetrain concept and the car’s philosophy and have some say over the vehicle’s production design. This means you don’t just get some artist to desing a cool, wacy looking picture and then figure out what to do with it– you get a guy with vision who has a certain car he wants to make and let him have creative control over all departments working on the car’s systems.
09/15, 11:08 PM
posted by:
3aboud
Bunch of losers FORD….meh
09/15, 11:56 PM
posted by:
Veda
Hyperion, isn’t that exactly what Ghosn did when he took over Nissan?
09/16, 3:48 AM
posted by:
Hyperion
Veda: I guess so. I’m not sure about the new Nissan approaching specific car model design in the way I described but they have been making steady progress addressing quality issues. I think there is some debate going on about how Nissan is actually performing as a profitable company but they are definitely in better shape than they were five years ago.
As for Ford… I hope the former Boeing CEO has that kind of vision. I think driving a Lexus to work every day and being proud of it makes a bold statement about what he expects. At least I hope he knows this. If not, he may just be driving a Lexus to work every day because he wants to drive a Lexus to work every day.
Ford needs someone who is visionary and love the best of the American and European Ford legacy, but also knows when to say “no, that sucks. Do it better or I’ll find someone who will.”
09/16, 10:19 AM
posted by:
Carnut4ever
What Ford needs now is another ” Car Guy” at the top like Bob Lutz is doing to GM. It accelerates the program wherein you build the cars that people really want to buy at sticker price without rebates and discounts. The decision of dropping a V-8 engine for the important Lincoln sedan might never happened if the Car Guys prevailed over the accounting staff LoL!
09/16, 12:47 PM
posted by:
The Stig
Cuts are too shallow? Cut one more – Mark Fields.
09/16, 3:19 PM
posted by:
Jameson
This is Ford’s way out of business, not a way forward. Who thinks of these names, anyway. What a load. What Ford needs to do is fire the entire staff of procuct planners and the bean counters who continue to force engineers and prduction workers to design and build crap. Its that simple. In addition, they need to completely revamp their crappy service and dealer network. Consider abandoning the “blue oval” logo that has left a sour taste in the mouth\s of millions of former Ford owners.
09/16, 7:40 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
The blue oval logo can stay. The shortsighted and unimaginative management can go.
09/17, 11:51 PM
posted by:
chevy490
they bolth can go gm and dodge can take care of america ford should move to france they would be more welcome there anyway wee wee!!
09/18, 9:48 AM
posted by:
A4
del351… thats exactly what it is.. a very expensive move on GMs part. not mine. why the hell do i care, as long as im not paying for the little nitpicking repairs, or whatever else breaks? Ford and GMs quality levels are even enough and id rather have them being screwed for the issues than making me pay for them.
09/18, 9:51 AM
posted by:
A4
also, del351, toyota doesnt NEED to hand out 100,000 mile warranties considering they can sell their cars without things like that. Look at hyundai.. they added the 100,000 mile warranty and it turned their company around. People trusted the warranty enough to buy their cars and it worked. I guarantee the 100,000 mile warranty move is certainly better than any incentive offers GM could ever put out. Id rather pay full price for guaranteed quality, than save a thousand bucks for a crap car.