Free Republic

We haven’t checked in on the state of affairs in the auto industry recently, but it may soon be back in the news in a big way. Ford is making noises about the fact that they are losing money on the smaller, high efficiency cars which they must produce to stay on top of the eco-minded consumer market, such as the Ford Focus. So what’s a business to do? One suggestion being floated is that they just give up on turning a profit in Detroit and head down south of the border. Ford Motor Co.’s decision to end production of...

Ford plans to move production of two of its smallest cars from its assembly plant in Michigan to a plant overseas by 2018 to maintain competitiveness. Ford did not say where it would relocate production of the Focus and C-Max, amid media reports that Mexico was likely. The Focus is already produced at several locations around the world. 'We currently are reviewing several possible options,' said spokeswoman Kristina Adamski. 'We are committed to continuing to improve competitiveness and to invest where it makes the best sense for our business.' The announcement came as Ford and the other two large US...

It was a milestone month for FCA. For the first time ever, Chrysler has outsold Ford in US retail sales, reports Reuters. Retail sales refers to only cars sold directly to consumers, not counting sales of fleet vehicles to corporate customers. Including fleet sales, Ford moved 223,666 cars and Fiat Chrysler group sold 186,864. General Motors, meanwhile, saw sales slip slightly year over year and sold 265,825 cars. For the industry as a whole, it was another good month as car sales continue to go up. 2015 is expected to see even more growth in car sales, as the market...

American business magnate, Donald Trump said in his announcement to run for President on Tuesday, that he will levy punitive taxes on America’s second largest automaker, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) if the company continues with its $2.5 billion expansion plans in Mexico, which he said will cause thousands to lose their jobs in the US. Referring to “Ford’s head” – likely the company CEO Mark Fields – as someone he knows, Mr. Trump said he will call him to share the “bad news”. (exerpt, please follow link for full article) http://www.bidnessetc.com/45870-can-donald-trump-really-block-ford-motor-company-from-expanding-into-mexico/

QUESTION: Do you hear anything that would indicate that Donald Trump would make a positive difference in the “Big Bang” should he become president? He says he will jawbone Ford Motor Co/ to not build a plant in Mexico and that he will use some form of tariff to “fix” the trade balance between China and the U.S. ANSWER: Trade is not our problem, debt is. The Donald knows all about debt since his corporations have filed for bankruptcy twice. Donald Trump has become infamous for his TV show yelling, “You’re fired!” every week on primetime television. Yet, after Trump’s...

Republican presidential hopeful and billionaire Donald Trump wants to bring the pain via punitive tariffs to Ford for manufacturing vehicles in Mexico. During his announcement of his 2016 campaign Tuesday, The Detroit News says Trump vowed he would levy a 35 percent tariff on Ford parts and vehicles imported from Mexico if the automaker presses forward with a $2.5 billion investment in the nation, claiming the move would “take away thousands” of jobs from American workers. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/06/republican-hopeful-donald-trump-threatens-ford-with-tariffs-over-mexico/(

One of the inherent rights of owning a vehicle is the ability to get on one’s backside — a wrench in one hand and a grease rag in the other, and just tinker to your little heart’s desire. Since the vehicle was invented, it’s been an important facet within the community of gearheads. General Motors — the same company responsible for 87 deaths related to faulty ignition switches, FYI — wants to take that right away from you citing safety and security issues. Along with a few other big names. It’s called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). It’s been around...

Ford is to sell a car that can read road signs and adjust its speed accordingly to ensure the vehicle is not driving too fast. The speed-limiting tech can be activated via the steering wheel and briefly overridden by pressing firmly on the accelerator. The car company suggests the facility will help drivers avoid fines and could reduce the number of accidents. However, one expert said the innovation might only serve as a "stopgap". "There's a plan for speed restrictions to be beamed to your car's computer systems and controlled from there, rather than requiring street sign visual recognition systems,"...

Much as we'd like to emulate our NASCAR heroes, breaking the speed limit often comes at a price. Ford is hoping to prevent accidents and speeding tickets by introducing cars that can see what the speed limit is and preventing heavy-footed motorists from driving any faster. Ford's Intelligent Speed Limiter tech will first appear on the new Ford S-Max that's launching in Europe that could just change the way that we drive.

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday evening, and protested remarks made by the latter during his election campaign against the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israel's Arab citizens. Obama did not accept the explanations Netanyahu provided during an interview with NBC, in which he backtracked on some of the statements he made during the final days of the election campaign. According to a senior White House official, Obama told Netanyahu that the U.S. will need to reassess its options regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in light of the prime minister's new...

I'm in the market for a compact pick-up truck. The old Ford Ranger would have been perfect, but Ford's motto in that regard is: Shut up and by the F-150. Is there anything out there that approaches the Ranger? Thanks for any advice.

The last time Ford made a GT, it built more than 4,000 of them and sold each one for around $150,000. Judging by the premiums at which they later traded, they were evidently worth a lot more than that. But this time, the new Ford GT will be far more expensive and far more scarce. Official performance, production and pricing figures have yet to be released, but upon the new American supercar's European debut in Geneva, Ford performance chief Dave Pericak indicated it would be priced competitively with the Lamborghini Aventador – which carries a base sticker price approaching $400,000,...

It is one of Hollywood's classic films. So fans of Blade Runner will be delighted that Harrison Ford is set to reprise his role of Rick Deckard in a newly-announced sequel to the 1982 smash-hit. The 72-year-old actor will return to the cult classic in the screenplay written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green and directed by 'Prisoners' filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.

Liberal philanthropist George Soros and the Ford Foundation have lavished groups supporting the administration’s “net neutrality” agenda, donating $196 million and landing proponents on the White House staff, according to a new report. And now, as the Federal Communications Commission nears approving a type of government control over the Internet, the groups are poised to declare victory in the years-long fight, according to the report from MRC Business, an arm of the conservative media watchdog, the Media Research Center. “These left-wing groups not only impacted the public debate and funded top liberal think tanks from the Center for American Progress...

That icon of police transportation, a vehicle so sturdy and beloved and ubiquitous that it became virtual wallpaper on TV cop shows and local streets – the Ford Crown Victoria – is dead. The upshot is this: For many police agencies, it’s time to buy a new car. Ford stopped making the Crown Vic four years ago, saying sales to the public had fallen to the point that the car is no longer viable, even if demand from police agencies remained strong. Fuel efficiency (or in the Crown Vic’s case, inefficiency) played a role.

So I opened the email and to my surprise up popped "SAVE THE ERF" from Ford. The narcissism of this junk science has reached it's peak "imo" in every aspect of our lives feeding us the propaganda of Big Government and Socialist agendas. Those people who are doing this have no clue how truly useless they've become when they take junk science like this and promote it thinking they're going to Save the Planet. What audacity and utter incompetence. Fellow humans must be in an out of control egotistical state to actually think that we can control this planet. Earthquakes,...

DEARBORN, Mich. – A former contractor for Ford Motor Company has filed a religious discrimination complaint, alleging that he was fired for speaking against the company’s support of homosexuality. Thomas Banks has worked as a design and release engineer for Ford since 2011—that is until last August when he was fired on an accusation that he had violated the company’s “anti-harassment” policy for responding to an email employee newsletter from the company. The newsletter contained an article regarding the 20th anniversary of Ford’s Gay, Lesbian Or Bisexual Employees advocacy group (GLOBE). Banks replied with a comment to express disagreement.

DETROIT, MI, February 4, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- A former contractor with Ford Motor Company has sued, saying the auto giant and contracting firm RGBSI violated his civil rights when he was fired for his religious opposition to same-sex "marriage."In a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and provided to LifeSiteNews, Thomas Banks said that he was fired after commenting on Ford's policy related to same-sex relationships. According to Banks, Ford invited employees to comment on the policy, which Banks -- who was an employee of RGBSI at the time -- did.Within two weeks, Banks had met with a...

Ford, like most American car companies, is known for being pretty progressive. It's so progressive, in fact, that it was rated one of the best places to work in 2015 by the Human Rights Campaign. And working in such a place got one guy so upset, he vomited out a disgusting, hate-filled rant for which he was allegedly fired. And now he's suing. Of course, Thomas Banks says he was fired from both Ford and Ford subcontractor Rapid Global Business Solutions, Inc. (RGBSI) for his Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs. Those Beliefs being, apparently, his right to be a total jerk...

Ford did it. They actually went and did it. It's been rumored about and speculated on for months, but now we know it's real.This is it: the new Ford GT. Ford just dropped a bomb on the rest of the world, and it's got a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, if you can believe it.