Ford plans to offer employees and retirees a glimpse of the future at a closed-door event at Detroit’s Cobo Arena late this month. Called “Showroom of the Future,” the conference will reveal most of Ford’s plans up to 2010.
The idea came from employee focus groups that indicated workers didn’t have confidence in Ford’s future product plan, according to the Detroit News. “We’ve spent a lot of time during the past year talking about our new customer-focus,” Susan Turner, Ford’s human resources communications manager, said in the invitation. “Now, employees and retirees will not only see how that results in the new sheet metal, but they should walk away with a better understanding of how the business plan, brand plan and product development plan all come together.”
Ford will require attendees sign a confidentiality agreement before viewing the images, animations, short videos and actual vehicles that will be on display. Of course, we suspect we’ll be hearing at least some details from the event after its conclusion.
11/16, 12:35 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
This will be Ford’s last chance to capture interest in the public. If not, I don’t see them making a profit anytime soon and falling into serious debt.
11/16, 12:42 PM
posted by:
A4
yeah really, but its good to see all their most recent decisions have been good ones
11/16, 1:15 PM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
…… “Ford plans to offer employees and retirees a glimpse of the future” …
.
.
Ford’s gonna show employees how to work a breadline?
11/16, 4:05 PM
posted by:
lanapat7
They will show the Fairlane!
11/16, 4:14 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
….i’m sneaking in!
11/16, 5:14 PM
posted by:
GL1
They had better have one HELL of a quick turn around plan in mind and some up to date and RELIABLE cars for sale in the next few years or they won’t be around at all anymore if they don’t..
11/16, 9:37 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
I smell ‘viral marketing’. It would be easy enough for Ford to also show this line-up to a more important group: *future buyers*
Instead, they will create an aura of mystery with “confidentiality agreements”, then have a handful of UAW workers sneak out some pictures. These will then popup on LLN et al; to be discussed, analyzed, and flamed to death, while Ford Marketing sits back, watches, and adjusts appropriately
Next topic: Grassy Knoll, 1 or 2 gunmen???
11/17, 12:23 PM
posted by:
Robert
For probably the 1,000,000th time, Ford’s reliability is vastly improved and the real difference between domestic and foreign auto makers is negligible at best these days. Design and material quality is a somewhat different story in some cases, but your Cobalt will run as long as your Corolla, Civic, Focus, Sentra, etc. If you still believe your GM or your Ford will fall apart after 10k, then you really need to do some research. Just for starters, the Fusion is rated better than the Accord or Camry in the CR’s reliability measurements, and it appears that cars like the Five Hundred and the new Edge are following (or will follow) this trend.
What is more important is that Ford has real, competitive product in the pipeline. And if they can convince the analysts and their workers (and ultimately, us losers on this board) the sooner the pressure on their company starts to ease.
Perception is often a large part of the equation… and hopefully (really hopefully) this is a good step towards improving that perception a little for the people who have the most to lose by Ford’s issues.
11/17, 6:30 PM
posted by:
davidg1977
but Robert, you’re forgetting that the Cobalt is putrid looking and simply a Cavalier retread.
I agree on your points, I just don’t think the Cobalt is the best example of it…
I would be very interested to see Ford via Mercury bring in the Euro Focus (Tracer was a good name), Euro Mondeo (Mondeo might even work) and an S-MAX (looks like a new Monterey to me) and then have them be 10-15% more expensive than their Ford “American” peers.
I’d love to see some of the sneak peaks of the RWD Sedan based off of the Mustang that should fit nicely in size and demographic between the Fusion and the Five Hundred.
And I’m sure there will be some B-car segment vehicle (maybe the Euro Fusion or Fiesta) and also what become of the SIN-U-S and/or Bronco Concepts.
11/17, 9:29 PM
posted by:
Northeasterner
ha ha, confidentiality agreement my ass. Ford employees will be giving out the details of the Ford’s plans very soon.