With all eyes on the proposed GM-Renault-Nissan tie-up, it’s easy to forget Carlos Ghosn was only recently in talks with the Dearborn automaker about working together. According to the Detroit News, Ghosn first turned to Ford when he began his search a little over a year ago ford a third member of the Renault-Nissan alliance. Those talks didn’t lead anywhere, but Ford later approached Ghosn about the job of running the world’s No. 3 automaker. He declined, but expressed interest in acquiring Ford’s Volvo Cars. That, too, never happened, but Ford and Ghosn remained on good terms. Now, some analysts feel Ford may be a better choice than GM, if Renault and Nissan are serious about a third partner. “It’s interesting to think about the idea. Could Ford step in here with an alliance with Renault and Nissan?” UBS analyst Robert Hinchliffe said in a teleconference with investors Monday. “I wouldn’t count it out. Ford could be a better partner.”
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07/11, 9:53 AM
posted by:
stuart
Don’t worry Honda or Toyota may be next in line for a merger with an american company
07/11, 9:54 AM
posted by:
Jon'O
It does seem like a better fit. However, Ford doesn’t need Renault in the way that GM does.
07/11, 10:14 AM
posted by:
GMrules
Bull ****. GM is the greatest car company in the world and doesn’t need some japcrap brand to ride our coattails to the top. Let Ford have this worthless brand so the both of them can go out of business together. Eventually, the country will smarten up and once again GM will rise to 50% or more market share anyways so a Ford/Nissan aliance would never threaten the General.
Let them all rot in hell. GM is all that matters in this country anyways
07/11, 11:48 AM
posted by:
Pruce
GMrules, you’re pitiful.
07/11, 12:19 PM
posted by:
JCwhitless
Why doesn’t Ford and Gm merge…
Imagine the jobs they could cut!!
/just kidding
//GM should spin off Saab and Ford should dump Volvo.
///imagine, two, separate northern europe car companies
07/11, 1:01 PM
posted by:
half-man-half-amazing
yeah so ford could own mazda and nissan, makes alot of sense. the last thing american companies need right now is a merger, they need to focus souly on product developments. and how to eliminate unions
07/11, 1:03 PM
posted by:
David
Honestly, I think I like a Ford Motor Group – Renault – Nissan alliance a lot better. Ford is really in a make it or break it mode right now. I like a lot of the things I’ve been seeing come out of Ford the last couple of years. I think that where Ford is attempting to head and where Renault/Nissan are right now are on parallel courses and makes much more sense than GM – Renault/Nissan.
07/11, 1:09 PM
posted by:
Bryan Detty
Ford is worse off than what GM is by far. You just don’t hear about it because GM is the top dog that gets top Headlines. Heck Ford has been considering going Private.
07/11, 1:16 PM
posted by:
4th yr Kindergarten
I thought this was just an end run around the UAW…
07/11, 2:07 PM
posted by:
Dre
Ford doesnt need a merger. It needs to work on developing its products, improving quality (or at least public perception) and figuring out ways to make a profit. Ford has THE best brand portfolio of any company in my opinion, they dont need anymore. They have their full range of vehicles in an american brand and a japanese brand (ford-mazda). They have american and european (light) luxury brands (lincoln-volvo). Premium cars & exotic sports cars (Jaguar-Aston Martin) and Premium SUV’s (Land Rover)….what else could you ask for?
07/11, 2:29 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
….but if Renault [part gvmt. owned] pulls down either; I’d rather the General get demoted. ……besides they act French already.
j i m
07/11, 2:59 PM
posted by:
Jason Parry
much better fit! GM buys honda engines and toyota makes the vibe, whereas Ford has partnered with Nissan in the past on the Quest, so this could be really cool. not so much a merger but ‘lets take on the world with mazda6+altima, make some hybrids, make some killer small sports cars and supercars, and leverage the g35/m35 for a large sedan to take on the 300, etc etc’
07/11, 7:14 PM
posted by:
Foster
If only ford could do with there cars what they have done with there trucks, they would be better off. If GM go’s with the japs then Ford will be the only American Baged cars left. It they can build there own chassies for a 500 replacement and fusion.
07/11, 9:14 PM
posted by:
V V
Can someone tell me the benefits of this alliance stuff. I don’t see any point to it? Thanks.
07/12, 3:27 AM
posted by:
Binge Drinkah
It benefits the shareholders, that’s it. Platform sharing only works up to a point. THe masters at VW are still trying to find out how to differentiate a Seat from a Skoda or Audi and then convince people to buy them.
07/12, 3:30 AM
posted by:
Georgina W Bushy
Porsche stayed solo and now controls VW and after Bmw dumped Rover they are doing great. Peugeot-Citroen is independent and doing well. Mergers/alliances are dumb ideas take over a company instead.
07/12, 5:25 AM
posted by:
BB
Lets set this straight. The word “alliance” in these cases should not be interpret to be a merger of equals. Make no mistake, it will the Renault-Nissan management that will control such alliances. Clearly GM and Ford past and current management are not up to task to keep their companies in profitable shape. That’s why they both went after Carlos Goshn (current CEO of Renault-Nissan) for their CEOs and he flatly turned them down. Now it would seem that he’s poised to take it all and whip their silly asses into shape if such an “alliance” ever occurs.
I admire what Goshn did with Nissan [streamlined departments, closed Japanese factories (unheard of in the past especially by a non-Japanese CEO), and brought them back from almost extinction] and can’t wait to see him tear down the bureaucracy of the sad #1 and #2 car makers in the world. The next 3-5 years will be interesting no doubt.
07/12, 3:32 PM
posted by:
Darren
but ford & nissan had built the 1st & 2nd generation of villager/Quest 13 years ago & only the 1st one sell well. Ford/lincoln should build like Toyota/Lexus offer & try to match.