According to estimates compiled by Bloomberg, Ford's first quarter net income will tumble to $1.34 billion. If true, that would represent a 48 percent decline from Ford's $2.55 billion profit during the first three months of 2011.
"Ford has done a very good job, marketing wise, to position itself as the fuel-economy leader among the Big Three,"Â Brian Johnson, a Barclays Capital analyst, told Bloomberg. "But they're facing headwinds in Europe, South America and Asia-Pacific."Â
Ford's U.S. passenger car sales increased 8.5 percent during the first quarter, but increased competition from Asian automaker saw the company's U.S. market share slide from 16.2 percent to 15.5 percent during the period.
Despite the anticipated drop in profits, Fitch Ratings recently upgraded Ford to investment grade.
