Ford is screwed

[mercury maid]

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...-on-the-cards/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070528/...ScSwFeB6eyBhIF

Volvo is the star of Ford's PAG in Europe. They've already lost Aston Martin. If Volvo goes, what's next Mazda?

Ford has seriously got to get out of this quick-fix mentality.

[Bucket]

Ok..Your right.. might not be the smartest thing for Ford to do considering the ammount of stuff Ford and Volvo share but dont you think a title like "Ford may Sell Volvo" would be a little more constructive??

[PepeLePew]

Wonder if the XR5 would live on in a post-Volvo Ford world...

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

Wonder if the XR5 would live on in a post-Volvo Ford world...

It would just get the engine it should have had, the 2.3litre Duratec Turbo that's in the Mazda 3 MPS. More powerful then the Volvo 5-cyl motor anyway.

[Elks]

I for one disagree.

FoMOCo has spent enourmous amount of R&D making quite fin cars such as Volvo Jag Aston Martin et al when these should have been Ford and Maybe Lincoln marketed on a global basis.

Why can't Ford (or GM for that matter) produce a world car when Toyota can?

Why can PAG produce vehicles for global consumption and Ford cannot?

I say use the the efforts put in to Jag for new licoln/fairlane. Then carry the concept across the range.

The problem with the the PAG is it the defines all other for Ford product as a lesser product.

It is an alocation of scarce resources, make a V40 ad call it a Focus. Instead of a Jag have a fairlane, instead of an Aston, have a Mustang Cobra.

The trickle down effect from Ford product being a quality brand as it has been for most of the last century can only be beneficial. T

In a market where fleet is diminshing and individual choice is increasing,
the local strategy of using the quality euro product vs. GM's Korean focus should work. Provided that they have the nerve to persevere. Everything is ok when its new.

[RAREV8]

Originally Posted by myts

I for one disagree.

FoMOCo has spent enourmous amount of R&D making quite fin cars such as Volvo Jag Aston Martin et al when these should have been Ford and Maybe Lincoln marketed on a global basis.

Why can't Ford (or GM for that matter) produce a world car when Toyota can?

Why can PAG produce vehicles for global consumption and Ford cannot?

I say use the the efforts put in to Jag for new licoln/fairlane. Then carry the concept across the range.

The problem with the the PAG is it the defines all other for Ford product as a lesser product.

It is an alocation of scarce resources, make a V40 ad call it a Focus. Instead of a Jag have a fairlane, instead of an Aston, have a Mustang Cobra.

The trickle down effect from Ford product being a quality brand as it has been for most of the last century can only be beneficial. T

In a market where fleet is diminshing and individual choice is increasing,
the local strategy of using the quality euro product vs. GM's Korean focus should work. Provided that they have the nerve to persevere. Everything is ok when its new.

Do you really think that a Lincoln or Fairlane would have the world appeal that the Jag has held in its demographic? They have both been around a long time but only one has the appeal, even if it hasnt been cost effective.

Again, Mustang versus Aston....not likely as they are two great cars that have different demographics and vastly differing prices.

Ford have provided a global car, its the Focus but you are right, compared with Toyota, we have a long way to go!

[05MkIIFutura]

PAG has never made Ford any money. Get rid of it I say.

IIRC Mazda is not part of PAG, and makes a considerable amount of money for Ford.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

IIRC Mazda is not part of PAG, and makes a considerable amount of money for Ford.

So it should be, every car they have is doing well in its segment!

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by Polyal

So it should be, every car they have is doing well in its segment!

Hasn't always been this way though, Mazda was forced to reinvent it self in the late 80's and 90's after a good run through the 70's. Mazda actually went through an identity crisis through this era!

Mazda is now a good luck story and a good role model for other struggling car makers of today.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

PAG has never made Ford any money. Get rid of it I say.

NQR...............

PAG has been turned around and made a pretax profit of US $191 Million in Qtr 4 2006 !!

Ford expect much more in the area of profits from them in 2007. If the turnaround plan for PAG has been robust it could now become the company's "Cash cow".

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

PAG has never made Ford any money. Get rid of it I say.

IIRC Mazda is not part of PAG, and makes a considerable amount of money for Ford.

It was the highest earner in the first quarter of this year too. PAG is just getting into stride. Volvo and Land Rover are now making money and Jaguar isn't far off.

As for Ford worldwide, things are getting better. 1st quarter last year was a $2.3 billion dollar loss, this year it was only 250 million dollar loss, a sure sign things are improving, and a lot quicker than they were expecting. They don't expect to be back in the red until 2009, but if they keep up these recent improvements it may be quicker as they have only just started making the changes they wanted in plant closures and employee layoffs. Still a long way to go but stemming the bleeding is the first step.

[sleekism]

I would rather a Ford than a Volvo.

The problem is that Volvos products compete with Fords products so owning Volvo is disadvantageous.

Volvo has been in long decline and it's engines are Ford Duratecs so all Ford would be selling is a overpriced platform and a badge.

Same deal for Aston Martin.

Land Rover is a cash cow keep it.

Ford is Mazda and Mazda is Ford, selling Mazda is a cash cow.

I bet if you put a Mazda badge on a Focus you would sell twice as many.

Ford is not screwed they repaired Mazda in the 70's which was a wise move and is probably why the company is still here.

The main problem for Ford is they have an identity crisis much like Mazda did and are not sure which way to go.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Volvo has been in long decline and it's engines are Ford Duratecs so all Ford would be selling is a overpriced platform and a badge.

Ummmmm.....................No.

Volvo sales are at an all time high and with the C30 / S40 / V50 Volvo plant is struggling to supply what dealers want. Volvo is the most profitable of the brands in PAG.

Volvo engines are just that. Designed, engineered, tested , and manufactured by Volvo in Volvo Plants (the V8 I'm not sure about though, is that made by Yamaha ?).

The Volvo plant that makes the I5 is at capacity and can't keep up with demand - the Focus ST / XR5 is on restriction because Ford can't get their hands on enough of the I5 VOLVO engine.

So the facts are:

1. Ford uses the I5 VOLVO engine (made by Volvo) and calls it Duratec. It may also use other Volvo engines in the future and put them in other Ford brands.

2. Volvo's going Ok. The C30 is booming and younger buyers are coming to the brand. They also have a lot of exciting product on the way in the next 3 years.

3. Ford are now using Volvo engineering and design expertise in safety and other systems. They are also using Volvo platforms in other vehicles and will be in future products.

[sleekism]

*Jaguar not Aston Martin sorry

[sleekism]

Fruk my typing is bad try n interpret

[Elks]

[CODE]Do you really think that a Lincoln or Fairlane would have the world appeal that the Jag has held in its demographic?[/CODE]

Um, No, not initially, But if some told you 25 years ago that a land cruiser would be what it is today you would have laughed.

the thing is in the same period that FOMOCO rebuilt all these nieche brands it lost its way with its braed and butter IMO. I may be wrong which is probably why they dont employ me...

But I just think if the effeort was put into Ford core product so that it was world class Mustangs that were fast, Luxury cars that were luxury cars not simply LWB versions of ordinary cars etc etc the Ford brand would build and the it would be seen as something to be proud of. no reminicing the good old days.

[Cruise]

does the media actually hate ford?

[Nikked]

Ford doen't seem to have a global thinking stratagy...

Fomoco US have deserted there customers it seems, the F-trucks and mustangs being the oly good pionts, US people are lusting after the Falcon and territory. Most Us models are ugly to, i don't think that helps :

Toyota can do well because they think global, most products of theres are sold world wide, tailord to a local market.

just a ranty thought

[phillyc]

PAG is now run by Geoff Polites. Same Ford Aus boss who brought us the BA Falcon and Territory and turned Australia around.

He has been promoted overseas and was initially brought over there to oversee the European operations and has been for a while now in charge of the PAG.

His efforts are now being rewarded with sales growth and profitability.

Aston was sold off, but as much as I love them, it was probably a wise move and good Aston as well as Ford. Apart from engines, there was no commonality between Aston and any other PAG or Ford brand. The aluminium chassis was unique.

PAG will continue to thrive, Mazda will continue to make excellent money, Ford Europe seems to have turned the corner and the hard decisions are being made in the US.

The US head office are now also realising like GM that their Aussie outposts does RWD much better than they do. I personally expect that Ford Aus will be unleashed with this model Falcon.

Good luck to Ford.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by phillyc

PAG is now run by Geoff Polites. Same Ford Aus boss who brought us the BA Falcon and Territory and turned Australia around.

He has been promoted overseas and was initially brought over there to oversee the European operations and has been for a while now in charge of the PAG.

His efforts are now being rewarded with sales growth and profitability.

Aston was sold off, but as much as I love them, it was probably a wise move and good Aston as well as Ford. Apart from engines, there was no commonality between Aston and any other PAG or Ford brand. The aluminium chassis was unique.

PAG will continue to thrive, Mazda will continue to make excellent money, Ford Europe seems to have turned the corner and the hard decisions are being made in the US.

The US head office are now also realising like GM that their Aussie outposts does RWD much better than they do. I personally expect that Ford Aus will be unleashed with this model Falcon.

Good luck to Ford.

Geoff Polites is the head of Land Rover/Jaguar, not PAG.

Also, the Aston V8 Vantage shares the same platform as the new Jag XK, and its 4.3 litre V8 is based on the Jag 4.2.

[robertjp]

As stated earlier, how much money has FORD shovelled into PAG and what return has it seen. I do think that a lot of the trouble has been caused by a board that cant see past the American market, sacking JacK Nasser for Bill Ford must rank as the most idiotic moves ever.

At least Mr. Nasser had a vision, which was PAG, now another "AUSSIE" gets to fulfil this adventure. P.S. Will history repeat and will Mr. Polites get a shot at the big chair in the future?

[flukey77]

Check this out lads, Beattie doing his bit to kick the local industry while its down. Applies to QLD only just to clarify.

http://www.qbr.com.au/index.cfm?stor...aystory&type=s