Ford Dropped to 4th Place in Market Share Last Month

The New York Times ^ | December 2, 2006 | Nick Bunkley

[Zakeet]

DETROIT, Dec. 1 — Sales by the Ford Motor Company declined even more last month than its management had expected.

The company fell into fourth place in November for the first time in its history, behind Toyota Motor of Japan and the German-American automaker DaimlerChrysler, figures released Friday show.

Ford sold 10 percent fewer vehicles than it did a year ago, sending its market share in the United States down to 14.8 percent from 16.9 percent last November, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank.

By contrast, Toyota’s sales increased 16 percent, giving it a market share of 16.5 percent, while DaimlerChrysler, which includes the Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz, sold 5 percent more vehicles to earn a share of 15.6 percent. General Motors is the largest automaker, with a share of 24.6 percent.

Ford’s numbers were particularly disappointing because they were being compared with last November, one of the worst months in company history, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cut demand for trucks as gas prices spiked.

[Zakeet]

This is a well-written article describing some of Ford's problems.

[napscoordinator]

It is a shame that Ford is losing ground in America. It is interesting to me that people yell buy American when discussing Walmart and other stores, but when discussing cars, there is no push to buy American. Interesting but not all consumers fault. If only American cars could be built better than I do believe that Americans would become patriotic and buy American. Hopefully this will change soon.

[Blind Eye Jones]

I see more Ford Escapes on the road than you can throw a stick at. Great great price and financing when we bought our 07 a couple of months ago. I don't know how they can be in bad shape with numbers I see on the road.

[PAR35]

but when discussing cars, there is no push to buy American.

Just to clarify, when you say 'buy American', do you mean GMs built in Australia, and Fords built in Canada with Mexican parts. Or do you mean Toyotas built in the US with engines and transmissions built in the states?

[Hydroshock]

My wife had a Honda a few years ago, it was made in Ohio and had over 70% of the parts made in the US. By contrast as friend of mine just bought a new Dodge truck, it was and its engine were made in Mexico. To my way of thinking the Honda was American made the Dodge isn't.

[goldstategop]

Ford is mortgaged and is in the red. They should really be filing for bankruptcy.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[napscoordinator]

Wow! I guess we can truly not buy American cars. I really had no idea that so many cars had parts from many areas of the world. Interesting to say the least.

[Hydroshock]

Reading the sticker is quite informative.

[JSteff]

"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cut demand for trucks as gas prices spiked"

So we have the real purpose of the story: Katrina=Bush fault and Katrina=High gas prices, High gas prices=Slumping Ford truck sales....

therefore Bush=slumping Ford sales....

...soon to be; Bush=unemployed minority, elderly, undereducated and disadvantaged Ford union workers. Film at 11:00; starving union workers children in flip flops and dirty torn t-shirts living on the streets during the hotest summer/or/coldest winter in history

Just watch.....

Next episode; Democrats pass multi-billion $$$$ aid bill to rescue our struggling union workers and their families, and unions in general....

...then also - ACLU sues GOP on behalf of the afflicted relatives of - unemployed minority, elderly, undereducated and disadvantaged Ford union workers and win. 9th Circuit court denies appeal and orders suit paid immediately -- Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and Chairman of the Department of National Health and Health Care Hillary Clinton says Supreme court may not get to appeal until the 2040 term and orders judgement to go forward until court hears case...

...coming January 2009- All Republican voters and their children and grandchildren by congressional bill approved by overwhelmingly ratified by senate ordered to pay a tax to provide retirement, health care, and educational benefits to: unemployed minority, elderly, undereducated and disadvantaged Ford union workers and their families. Signed by new president ??

....Rider on bill bans GOP and Republican voters (after their assets including future earnings are exhausted) are immediately sent to "reeducation and restitution" work camps in Alaska working on wind generated power farms.

And all because Katrina=Bush's fault! Have a nice day. /scarcasm off...??????

[JSteff]

"I don't know how they can be in bad shape with numbers I see on the road."

That is a natural psychological reaction because your mind sees more to help you justify your purchase and decision process. Really, think about it. FORD ESCAPE??

What is that telling you: Escape from what? From import cars? From following logical thinking?

How would I know, me - a psychologist? No but I did stay in a Holiday Inn parking lot in my Toyata Land Cruiser once.

Take some sushi with a couple of bottles of Saki, go to bed and sleep. Drink enough Saki and when you wake up/sober up you can go buy a Rav4.

[BigCinBigD]

I have always been a Ford man. I will buy Fords till I die. I would buy a ford it it was the last one on the last lot on America.

[JSteff]

"I would buy a ford it it was the last one on the last lot on America."

Funny, an old cowboy down the street from us said the same thing about his horse. Recently he shot the the old nag and caught up to modern times.

Now though when riding to cash his SS# check on these cold days loves his warm modern automobile.

Somewhere in there there is a valuable lesson or bad joke.

[AlaskaErik]

In my youth I had a 57 Ford pickup and a 68 Ford Ranchero. Both pieces of junk. So for my entire adult life I refused to buy Ford again. They lost me for life.

[BigCinBigD]

Horses don't have heaters?

[Blind Eye Jones]

What the hell is a Rav4? Rav... short form for what? Rave -- a car for all night dancing and great 4 sobering up in the parking lot? Ravioli? Ravel?

[gdaddy]

I had a garage full of Fords. I liked them all. Then Ford went public with being pro-homosexual by providing private "rights" to certain groups in the face of common sense. Ford took the chance to lessen their customer base. Now I have Hondas.

[BW2221]

GM is by far the strongest of the "Detroit Three." It has taken most of the steps necessary to return to profitability and is introducing exciting new products like the Saturn Sky and Aura, Pontiac Solstice and Chevy and GMC pickups.

Chrysler is a mixed bag with hits like Caliber and Nitro and misses like Aspen and Sebring.

Ford is pretty much a basket case.

[YaYa123]

I'm just toooo political! I read the headline,

" Ford Dropped to 4th Place in Market Share Last Month"

and my first thought is Harold Jr dropped lower than that...much to my delight!

[goldstategop]

They wouldn't be worth much if creditors bought out their assets. In the end only GM may be left around.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[southland]

Point well taken. Ford is violating my belief that support of perversion of same sex marriage is wrong.
Therefore I buy another american made car (Camry). Made in Kentucky.