They cant keep these things in stock....the problem is the UNIONS!!!!
Posted on 10/03/2006 7:16:27 AM PDT by laotzu
BALTIMORE - As Ford Motor Co. tries to right itself with plant closing and staff reductions, Baltimore area dealers wonder if Ford will try to close their dealership.
Two weeks ago, Ford officials announced a project called “Way Forward” with $5 billion in cutbacks that included reducing a third of its salaried workforce — about 14,000 jobs, closing nine assembly plants, and the possibly sale of its Aston Martin brand.
Company officials didn't announce specific reductions in its franchised dealership ranks.
But Ford is continuing to lose market share as monthly sales fall for the automaker, which for the past 80 years has been the No. 2 automaker in U.S. sales behind General Motors.
In August, Ford’s share of U.S. auto sales was about 16.8 percent compared to Toyota, which has a 15 percent share of the market.
Ford’s plant reductions and plans to stop selling several models would reduce its market share to about 14 percent by 2008.
That would mean it would need fewer than the 4,300 dealers currently franchised. Toyota sells almost the same number of vehicles with about half the number of dealers.
While Ford hasn’t announced how many dealerships it plans to cut, published reports from Detroit news agencies estimate that about 600 dealerships would be closed.
State auto dealer franchise laws protect dealerships from being arbitrarily closed without a hearing before a state board.
Ford has been offering dealers $100,000 to $300,000 as incentive to close, said Scott Donahoo, owner of Donahoo Ford in Baltimore.
Donahoo said he doesn’t understand why Ford wants to close dealerships.
“If you are struggling to sell your products, why would you reduce the number of dealers that sell?” Donahoo said.
That would put Ford back on firm ground.
Ford could rapidly be going over the edge and Toyota might become one of the Big Three US automakers. Ford however needs more than downsizing ... it's high time they seriously revamp their design and engineering groups and start to make vehicles the public wants to purchase.
The last thing I want to hear is a Auto Dealer whining. They Wreap What They Sow
Brilliant!
I passed a wreck on my way in this moring. A 2006 ford F150 full size truck was rearended buy a toyota corrola. The ford was noticable bent up in the middle, the frame was bent by the impact of a f***ing toyota!!!!!!!!!!! FOUND ON ROAD DEAD!!!!!!
bookmark
I have a '67 Cougar, and wouldn't mind seeing it appreciate wildly.
They cant keep these things in stock....the problem is the UNIONS!!!!
Wreally?
Every time I see one of those, it's driven by a 60+ balding fat old fart.
He's wright on!
I'll never buy a Ford, mostly because of the fact that so many of my relatives were GM workers, but also because the Ford Family have so bungled the Detroit Lions for the past 45 years that they may never win another NFL Championship. For the record, my dad was 2 years old the last time the Lions won a championship. He is now 52.
Dear Lord, we thank You yet again for the wonderful sport of NASCAR and the patriotic Americans who love her dearly.
But at this time, Lord, all Ford fans are placing their racecars into Your loving palms. We seek Your protection for this franchise. We ask that Your divine wisdom be imparted unto the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors and stockholders - that they may realize the perfect plan which will turn this company into a strong automaker once again. We ask that You do this for all of the true NASCAR fans who remain to this day, an overwhelming majority of Christian, conservative, pro-military and Republican voting Americans.
We thank You Lord for all Your blessings and especially for Ford which rhymes with Lord - Your constant earthly reminder to faithful NASCAR fans that You are on our team just as we are on Yours.
In the Lord's Name we pray,
Amen.
That was me!!....driving the wifes car....I prefer my older, '99 Durango.....you know the one with the NRA stickers...but she never does blow the thing out and once in a while its good to blow these things out.
thanks for the nice observations though/s
My pleasure. :)
Fords are fine. Won't buy new again though.
Had enough problems with "Mall Of Georgia Ford" when buying my first new car that I won't buy another new car, ever, from anyone. And they're supposedly one of the best dealerships in the country.
Since when did the Unions start deciding what to build and how many? The proplem is the MANAGEMENT!!!!
"I have a '67 Cougar..."
That is going to be my next project.
Ford would do much better, I think, if they sold some of their cool Aussie models here. Most of Ford's good cars are sold in Australia.
"Every time I see one of those, it's driven by a 60+ balding fat old fart."
16 year-old girls, too.
That's who should be driving them. They don't around here, though.
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