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Analysts weigh on Ford situation

09/01/2006, 9:39 AM

By admin

It’s no secret Ford is in trouble. It’s also no secret Bill Ford Jr. and his team are hard at work trying to save the 103 year old company. Columnist Daniel Howes says whatever Ford comes up with, it “has to be viewed as credible, aggressive, accountable and reflective of a competitive reality that’s far more brutal and changeable than most of them, even the boss, were willing to acknowledge.” Howes says Bill Ford “isn’t going anywhere, which doesn’t guarantee he’ll be CEO until he’s 60 because he doesn’t have to be. He’s an owner and — this is the important part — will be regardless of his title, meaning he has more skin riding on his company’s future than any other industry CEO.” Meanwhile, Keith Naughton says quick cash — from selling vehicles at bargain basement pricing or selling off Jaguar or Aston Martin — “won’t fix the company in the long run.” Rather, Naughton says Ford needs “a plan and a partner, or two, who can look beyond the current chaos to find a true way forward together.”

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09/01, 10:07 AM

posted by:

al

ford should make less vechicles. only have like 4 or 5 in its lineup and make them good quality also Mercury should probably go and Lincoln should only have around 2 vechicles in its lineup with very good quality materilas and make.

09/01, 10:12 AM

posted by:

dan

i agree with al
maybe not exacty with the numbers but definatly ford needs to reduce its line up and focus on quality instead of quantaty

09/01, 11:00 AM

posted by:

dan

Ford should sell Mark Fields hairpieces. they would make tons more money

09/01, 11:02 AM

posted by:

ss

Fords Line up. Ka, Euro Focus, New Midsize car (FWD I4 and V6), New Full size car (AWD & RWD, V6 and V8) F150, Explorer, Mustang. Let Mazda and Volvo do there thing. Sell Aston Martin and Jaguar. Maybe Landrover…they seem to be doing ok. Let the union strike and hire new workers so they can build cars to keep up with market demands…not union demands.

09/01, 11:06 AM

posted by:

Jay

WHATEVER Ford does it has to be viewed as credible, aggressive, accountable and reflective? Umm… no unless they actually do something that fits that description…
Poor Ford, I would love to see them back on track. :(

09/01, 11:22 AM

posted by:

Wenge

Maybe Ford should just merge with GM to make one giant craptacular company.

Relax, I’m kidding.

Maybe

09/01, 11:31 AM

posted by:

what were you thinking?

heres an idea, maybe ford should just die. and gm too. just a thought.

09/01, 11:34 AM

posted by:

ss

they need to do what nissan did and do alot of platform and engine sharing. but not skip on the parts and make them high quilty pieces.

09/01, 11:50 AM

posted by:

Veda

Exactly ss, cost cutting like crazy in the beginning and bet on some exciting models, once they got some cash, focus on quality. Though I believe in Nissan’s case he cut too deep into cost cutting the interior of the vehicles.

09/01, 11:55 AM

posted by:

Veda

It’s sad that they actually got certain exciting vehicles like the XK and Vantage out but people are afraid to buy them due to the uncertain decision of the parent company.

09/01, 11:59 AM

posted by:

ss

and the fact that those cars cost 100,000!!! make something with that attraction for 20,000 and ford might have a chance…

09/01, 12:00 PM

posted by:

ss

veda…from your posts i gather you are not older then 15. your logic is baed off waht looks good on a poster hanging over your bed not on how much things actaully cost. put your daddys playboy down, clean yourself up, and go get a job

09/01, 3:17 PM

posted by:

Dave

Ford did not get in this mess overnight – they won’t get out that quick either. Ford has some interesting products – but they seem to find a way to make them unappealing. For example, I would love to buy a Ford Freestyle – except I can’t get a 2006 with Sirius Satellite Radio AND I can’t get any model with stability control. A $30K SUV/crossover that pushes superior safety BUT does not offer stability control? Why Ford? Why?

Ford needs to sell off brands that don’t fit their corporate culture (Land Rover, Aston Martin, Jaguar) and focus on what’s left. They need to make a commitment to compete at every level of the auto market from entry level cars, to family cars, to sports cars as well as they compete in the Truck business. If they took all segments as seriously as they took Trucks they wouldn’t be crying now.

09/01, 4:25 PM

posted by:

Richard L.

Ford needs new product. They are redesigning everything, but in Ford talk, redesign means sticking a ” 3 bar grille” and call it new.
That will not fly anymore.

The 3 bar does not FIT all vehicles. It looks cool in the Fusion, but it looks dumb in the 500, Freestyle and Focus.

Go find product in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Europe, Asia that fits the USA and invest the money in federalizing these vehicles in order to overhaul the line up. Ford has great product elsewhere, but somehow, stubborn Managers prohibit these from reaching the USA. If this gameplan continues, I will see Ford as a second-tier brand selling less volume than Hyundai.

What a shame. Henry Ford must be turning in his grave.

09/03, 9:02 AM

posted by:

greenirvana.com

As a CIT Manager at a major supplier to Ford, this is going hugely effect or business.

 
 
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