After Ford Motor Company posted a record annual loss yesterday, CEO Alan Mulally says he’s calling on the United States government to offer incentives to help spur new car sales – much like some European governments have done. Ford has already lobbied for government aid to automotive suppliers, though the company says it doesn’t need direct government assistance like General Motors and Chrysler .
“Anything that can incentivize the consumer, especially with regard to automobiles, would be great, because it’s such an important part of the economy,” Mulally told The Detroit News. “I know that they know how important the automotive sector is.”
Analysts have questioned Ford ’s strategy of requesting indirect aid.
“It certainly helps Ford indirectly if the consumer can get some help and suppliers can get some help and, to some extent, it helps Ford if the industry as a whole starts doing better,” Rebecca Lindland of IHS Global Insight said. “It’s an interesting strategy, because we’re not 100 percent convinced that they won’t need money at some point in time.”
