Who thinks ford can turn around?

Question

i want honest answers from people who know the facts because so far, it looks like fo.mo.co is at 8.2 in the market and that goes for ford, lincoln, mercury, volvo, mazda, ect. knowing this, it doesn't look like ford could ever bring their company up and will go bankrupt. but now since we have the new CEO who turned Boeing around, who knows. so what do you people think?

Answer 1

Ford could very easily do a turnaround and become extremely profitable, BUT the problem has absolutley NOTHING to do with their vehicles like everyone seems to think. Ford has SEVERAL #1 vehicles Ford has more #1's than any other manufacturer. The REAL Problem lies with all of the profits that the company brings in being paid out to retirees for pensions and medical coverages. The Union is the REAL Problem that both Ford and GM face Not Jap-Crap Vehicles who do not have the financial burdens imposed upon them by American Unions

Answer 2

The main issue plaguing domestic manufacturers overall, not just Ford, is that bean counters run the company. GM has Bob Lutz, probably the last great car guy heading up a division, yet the bean counters run everything. Mulally comes from Boeing, last thing I knew Boeing didn't build cars. It takes truly building cars that people are passionate for to bring back the spark. Why would I want a Ford Five Hundred, which by the way was supposed to turn the company around. A Fusion? How about the Edge which they stated was the new company turn around vehicle. If so, why are the already putting 500 dealer cash on the car to try and move the vehicle. Last quarter, Ford dropped 12 percent, Chevy and Chrysler 9. Toyota recorded its highest quarter ever for sales, up 12 percent over last year. Now, I don't believe Toyota builds a better vehicle, I truly don't. But, if you look and sit in an Avalon, or Camry, the overall feel is there. I hate Toyota's. (German cars are my passion) But that is where in the problem lies, with the exception of Cadillac, which is doing decent, and has some great cars, there is no manufacturer stepping up to the plate to deliver cars the public HAS to have. The Chrysler 300 is a great example of a Domestic Vehicle that people want and enjoy. Even then, though it had to be backed by the so called Mercedes family....For Ford to really get back into it, they need to deliver on their Bold Moves campaign, and truly engineer the excitement that they can acheive. Build some units that the public has to see, that are attainable to JOE Public. Not the 150k GT, or even the GT500 Stang. Build a sharper designed 500, or Taurus as they are going to call it, put some balls in it, make the interior not so damn plasticky, get some decent handling capabilities. The American public would love a domestic 3 series fighter that could truly challenge it in all aspects, especially price. Unfortunately, as stated before, the bean counters always win, therefore, the public, and quite frankly Ford Motor Company, loses.

Answer 3

Who knows what the future holds? I do know that Ford isn't going down without a fight. They are making some good cars and are improving all the time.

the trouble with the old Big 3 is their overhead. Paying people 95% of their pay while they are laid off is nuts in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, it's great for the hourly person, but come on, how long can a company pay these wages in a competitive environment? Everyone blames the union, but the reality is the union is trying to help the Big 3 by accepting cuts on benefits and wages and easing rules to help the company out.
We are in an economic war with Japan right now and we are losing, if we don't wake up soon, there may be no American car companies in the future.

I saw an article in the paper, saying how some of the Japanese management were worried about selling too many cars and trucks too fast, because if they did, it would cause our government to start imposing tariffs and level the playing field for the American manufacturers and the Japanese sure didn't want that to happen.

I also saw in the news that in 2005 Nissan, Honda, and Toyota made and extra 10 million dollars profit just on the exchange of currency into Yen. That's why the keep the price of the yen cheap.
That's the way I see it, and I am a UAW member.

Answer 4

I had to laugh at one person's response regarding Ford and homosexuals. When will people learn they need to mind their own business? I can tell you if I make a product, I'm going to do my darndest to make a profit. Single gay men are a great demographic and psychographic because they tend to have high income and are educated.

That being said, Ford's problems are its own. They did not look at the long-term and plan their portfolio to anticipate gas prices, for example. And, organizationally, they have much too much fat. Bean counters run the brands. Nothing gets done quickly or well - they are more interested in cutting cost in a car rather than instilling quality.

Check this out: People are bitching about high gas prices, especially late last year. But where was Ford advertising the Focus? They didn't do it at all - why? Wouldn't it make sense to bring buyers into the Ford fold, even if Ford doesn't think the car is as profitable as their Explorer?

What about the 500? It came to market as a bland, nondescript vehicle. Now it has some hp, and they've facelifted it and renamed it the Taurus - LMAO! This should have been done from the BEGINNING! What were they thinking?

Two years ago, I don't think people would have imagined that Ford could sink lower than GM, but they have. Pity the poor people of Detroit, because they have to deal with the poor reputation of the city, and now they have to deal with being unemployed.

Answer 5

It takes a long time to build a reputation and such a short time to lose it. One person can't come in and turn a company around....just like that. They may sell off all non-profitable divisions of the company........and focus on their strengths, which is making work trucks. I am not a fan of Ford as I owned one and it was the worst and most costly car in terms of repairs. I would never purchase another one in my life. The union is another issue and the waters are going to a little rough.....they have so many issues. I don't see a good future for Ford. The Mazda brand is very good, and they are great cars. I could see Ford selling off the money losers and focusing on the money makers, but I don't see them making a dramatic turn-around. The competition is too stiff.

Daniel

Answer 6

They could build a car that lasted twenty years but then they would not sell enough to pay for the high wages and high retirement plans they have already committed to . Union workers will tell you thats not true , but if you pay somebody $42 an hour to install parts on an assembly line and then give them a healthy retirement what do you expect ? I have no problem with giving an employee a bonus for work done but when you commit to a high wage and the market slips you cant lower the wages to a fair level . Do you think the unions would agree to $15 an hour and a percentage of the profits ? NO .

Answer 7

Mulally did a good job at Boeing, and certainly has the potential to do well with Ford. The company will have to do some significant downsizing and emphasize its more profitable product lines. The union contracts are a major impediment; the Japanese makers are coining money with their US plants with the aid of non-union help and plants in states with friendly tax structures. (Michigan emphatically does not qualify.)

Answer 8

One big thing that would help Ford is if they quit putting so much money into supporting the homosexual lifestyle. I am by no means putting the homosexuals down as individuals, but I strongly believe the lifestyle is wrong. Thus I will not support a company who encourages the lifestyle.

"DiversityInc Media, a top national homosexual activist organization promoting the homosexual lifestyle and same-sex marriage, has announced the winners in their ranking of corporations supporting the homosexual agenda. Ford Motor Company is ranked fifth highest in the nation of all companies and tops the list of automakers."

"Ford’s actions show they are more concerned with supporting the homosexual efforts than listening to their customers. Nearly 700,000 individuals have pledged to boycott Ford."

Answer 9

LoL!!!! You said turn around!!!

Answer 10

nope they will never recover