Mulally says Ford in a "race against the clock"

DanielXR8 · 06-11-2007, 08:20 PM

From Autoblog..

Mulally says Ford in a "race against the clock"
Posted Nov 5th 2007 8:28AM by Damon Lavrinc
Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford's CEO Alan Mulally admitted in an interview with Automotive News that the Blue Oval's future is uncertain and that, after 14 months on the job, he is still unsure about when the company will turn the corner. With all of Ford's assets – right up to the automaker's shiny logo – mortgaged and potentially on the block, the former Boeing head is regularly asked if Ford will make it out the other side. His answer: "Don't know – race against the clock. Are we working on the right things? Absolutely... Do we have enough time? No idea."

The AN piece is peppered with a number of unanswered questions, ranging from what will happen if the automaker isn't turning a profit by 2009 and what could happen when the mortgaged money runs out. Although the tone of the interview has an air of desperation, Mulally gives the impression that both a plan and the troops are organized and making headway. When it begins to show, however, remains to be seen.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

dave351cid · 06-11-2007, 08:50 PM

hope they make it.

i dont want to have to replace my BA ute with a proton jumbuck.

not to have new fords would be the end of the world as we know it.

:

something interesting though and being a bit more serious, if they have the blue oval morgaged then some other company must be poised and ready to take it over. would it be another auto maker wanting to lock the name away to help eliminate opossition or would they use the blue oval on there own cars, ie - toyota with ford badges.????

or maybe one of these investment groups that seem to be taking over the world , ready to let the company declare bankrupsy, all debts wiped out, buy the name/assets for a song and carry on business as usual but without the massive debts to worry about.

RSgerry · 06-11-2007, 09:54 PM

i dont know what Ford's strategies are, bu they really ought to look at build quality of cars as a priority. a friend recently got a terry ghia and the interior light wouldnt turn off, so it had to go back to the dealer to fix it. not a big fault, but one that should not happen on a $50000 car. you wouldnt find that on a japanese car. maybe for items like this, Ford could go the extra mile and have a mobile service to fix little faults like this at the customers workplace. sme of the Ford boys would do very well to walk around Mazda and talk to their execs about how a car isd built. maybe they would learn something.

however, i cant see Ford failing to exist in some form or another. would imagine that there would be considerable butchering of the global empire, and no prizes for guessing which insignificant little market will suffer.

sleekism · 07-11-2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSgerry

i dont know what Ford's strategies are, bu they really ought to look at build quality of cars as a priority. a friend recently got a terry ghia and the interior light wouldnt turn off, so it had to go back to the dealer to fix it. not a big fault, but one that should not happen on a $50000 car. you wouldnt find that on a japanese car. maybe for items like this, Ford could go the extra mile and have a mobile service to fix little faults like this at the customers workplace. sme of the Ford boys would do very well to walk around Mazda and talk to their execs about how a car isd built. maybe they would learn something.

however, i cant see Ford failing to exist in some form or another. would imagine that there would be considerable butchering of the global empire, and no prizes for guessing which insignificant little market will suffer.

I really don't think Fords are built any worse than the Japanese. Take a look at Toyota for example they have a reputation for good build quality right? Well have you seen the huge service costs and the short FIXED service intervals they have for the Toyotas? Of course nothin has gone wrong with your Corolla at 100,000 kilometres because by that time they have already replaced every component in your car before it has gone wrong.

This is made worse by the fact that the Ford service departments don't do their job. I'm sure everyone here has stories to tell about how their car was treated. I only went once, paid a fortune for an oil change and found out next morning when checking the level that they hadn't changed it they had overfilled it and that they had booked time for vehicle inspection and changing globes yet one headlight and one tailight wasn't working.

The Ford vehicles a built perfectly fine but what is in a mess is the dealer network. I don't know how the Japanese dealerd do it but they have a greater aura of professionalism. Maybe a corporate takeover of the dealer network is in order? Or at the very least fix all the bullshit. Maybe offer financial incentives for no warranty claims instead of the current system of encouaging things to go wrong.

If Ford does go under maybe the equity group that took over Chrysler will take over Ford?? Can anybody spell Ford XR8 Hem??

Hopefully these equity groups aren't corporate raiders though...........

ClevlndStemer · 07-11-2007, 08:12 AM

Ford have quality problems and design problems (USA).
Quality issues exist mainly in the US and Australian cars. The BA/BF is horrible in terms of build quality and lets not forget the US models.
The design of the US cars are dated and horrid. Ford (USA) should be using the Kinetic design, many over there love the look of the Euro Fords and the Aussie Fords and would snap one up straightaway.
I wonder if Ford would take notice of this and actually scrap their current designs? I doubt it.
I don't want to see ford disappear, that would be disastrous. However I do not feel sorry for them, they only have themselves to blame, when you don't listen to what the customer wants then you will get bitten on the ***.

Paxton · 07-11-2007, 03:06 PM

The sooner Ford's Kinetic design language (Mondeo, soon to be Focus) becomes the world standard the better. Ford need to get rid of the god-awful American stylings, and towards something that looks good, and will work in all markets, which the Kinetic language will do.

Look at the American Focus. The poor thing doesn't stand a chance. They'll struggle to move enough of them to make the re-design worth it, when for nothing (or very little), they could have brought over the European/Our Focus, which is newer than theirs, and a whole lot better looking. They are spending money for the sake of spending money. How much did the Taurus re-brand cost?

Ford of Europe are the ONLY profitable arm of Ford at the moment. Australia ain't too good, however they are fairing better than Holden. If push comes to shove, Europe could run themselves, and take Australia and Asia under their wings. The Americans are their own worst enemies when it comes to Foreign achievements. Falcon NEEDS to be on sale in the USA. NOW. Not two years, not on a shared platform, but the Australian Falcon, as is in the US.

Bah. If Ford go under, I'll just buy a Mazda/Volvo/Jaguar Falcon.

FordFella · 07-11-2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

If push comes to shove, Europe could run themselves, and take Australia and Asia under their wings.

Don't think the US would let them do that. Then they'd consistently be losing A LOT of money.

Future is looking a bit cloudy for Ford ATM though. Then, GM isn't doing too well either, but at least they're not ugly. Ford needs the Falcon in the US, NEEDS! Either that or a change to our laws that put the tarriffs up again. The reason the tarriffs were removed in the first place was because Australian car industry was doing TOO well, and producing uncompetitive products. Now we're doing crap, and our cars are world class. Why are the laws still in?

Paxton · 07-11-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFella

Don't think the US would let them do that. Then they'd consistently be losing A LOT of money.

Future is looking a bit cloudy for Ford ATM though. Then, GM isn't doing too well either, but at least they're not ugly. Ford needs the Falcon in the US, NEEDS! Either that or a change to our laws that put the tarriffs up again. The reason the tarriffs were removed in the first place was because Australian car industry was doing TOO well, and producing uncompetitive products. Now we're doing crap, and our cars are world class. Why are the laws still in?

The thing is, the Government can't let things go backwards. I'd be happy if a 3 Series BMW started at $90,000 however that won't happen. The Government got us into this mess, and whinge every time they have to help out. Don't expect Rudd to fix anything either.

FordFella · 07-11-2007, 08:15 PM

I guess the issue is that they want to bring the tarriffs down, which even Toyota is begging against.

ExAreSix · 07-11-2007, 08:20 PM

The Family (The Ford's) need to have to company taken from them. Their thirst for cash is insatiable.

:

Pedro · 08-11-2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

The thing is, the Government can't let things go backwards. I'd be happy if a 3 Series BMW started at $90,000 however that won't happen. The Government got us into this mess, and whinge every time they have to help out. Don't expect Rudd to fix anything either.

Come on!
Ford, Holden etc. are companies run by highly paid executives who have to come up with strategies to make their companies profitable whatever the playing field. Don't blame the Government.

Pedro · 08-11-2007, 01:34 AM

[QUOTE=RSgerry]i dont know what Ford's strategies are, but they really ought to look at build quality of cars as a priority. a friend recently got a terry ghia and the interior light wouldnt turn off, so it had to go back to the dealer to fix it. not a big fault, but one that should not happen on a $50000 car. you wouldnt find that on a japanese car. maybe for items like this, Ford could go the extra mile and have a mobile service to fix little faults like this at the customers workplace. sme of the Ford boys would do very well to walk around Mazda and talk to their execs about how a car is built, maybe they would learn something. QUOTE]

You're spot on. I could fill this whole page with the faults and problems I've had with a $65K Typhoon. The dealer service is non-existant and Ford/FPV don't give a damn.

By contrast, my wife's Mazda SP23 is now 2 years old (40,000 km), has never had a warranty claim or been back to the dealer with any problems. There's not a panel gap on the entire car over 2.4mm. The LHS rear door on my F6 has a panel gap of 4.7mm. Ford build quality ... don't make me laugh.

DanielXR8 · 08-11-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

You're spot on. I could fill this whole page with the faults and problems I've had with a $65K Typhoon. The dealer service is non-existant and Ford/FPV don't give a damn.

By contrast, my wife's Mazda SP23 is now 2 years old (40,000 km), has never had a warranty claim or been back to the dealer with any problems. There's not a panel gap on the entire car over 2.4mm. The LHS rear door on my F6 has a panel gap of 4.7mm. Ford build quality ... don't make me laugh.

Agreed. Traded in a BA GT after having had enough of the dodgy build quality and poor customer service of Ford. Fourth Ford in a decade with warranty claims and it was the worst of the lot of them. Went and purchased a Mazda 6 MPS and the build quality is noticably better in every way. Not one warranty claim on the car either.

Dan

McobraR · 08-11-2007, 08:20 PM

Maybe ford US might turn things around afterall. check out the lincoln MKS spotted without any camo on the set of the new batman film. The rear takes a while to get used to but overall, i think its one handsome looking car. Only problem is that since its a lincoln, price mite be pretty high and it mite not capture the sales Ford US needs. Also maybe theres some Orion in the MKS as well?
pics taken from:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/04/s...filming-again/

[img]http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/n82701256_30383559_1814a.jpg

pertuan · 08-11-2007, 08:24 PM

I actually quite like that Lincoln. I notice it has the new Euro style front lights.

outback_ute · 08-11-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave351cid

or maybe one of these investment groups that seem to be taking over the world , ready to let the company declare bankrupsy, all debts wiped out, buy the name/assets for a song and carry on business as usual but without the massive debts to worry about.

Trouble is many of the creditors will be Ford's suppliers who would probably also fall over if this happened

Scott · 08-11-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave351cid

something interesting though and being a bit more serious, if they have the blue oval morgaged then some other company must be poised and ready to take it over. would it be another auto maker wanting to lock the name away to help eliminate opossition or would they use the blue oval on there own cars, ie - toyota with ford badges.????

Nah, the brand would remain. Struggling though they may be, there is still a huge loyalty base out there that would still want to buy Ford cars. Just the same as all the other brands that have been swallowed up.