Posted on 05/19/2009 3:42:10 AM PDT by IrishMike
The Ford Motor Company says it will not match big dealer cuts made by General Motors and Chrysler, and expects to benefit from the elimination of nearly 2,000 competing showrooms. The company’s director of North American sales, James D. Farley, said in an interview Monday that Ford had been pushing steadily to consolidate its dealers, rather than trying to end contracts or let them expire. Ford has reduced its dealer network by 700 since 2005, leaving it with 3,700 nationwide. Mr. Farley declined to specify Ford’s targets for additional reductions, but said they would be small compared with the cuts by G.M. and Chrysler.
Last week, Chrysler, which is in bankruptcy, said it would terminate nearly 800 dealers, or 25 percent of its total, by next month.
G.M. said it would cut 1,100 dealers next year in the first phase of a plan to reduce its dealers by 40 percent, to about 3,600 from 5,900.
Ford is not accepting any government bailout money, in contrast to its two crosstown rivals. It is taking every opportunity to highlight the difference, even as it searches for ways to match some of the cost-cutting structural changes at G.M. and Chrysler.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
After what has happened I can't imagine any right thinking person taking money from the government. Judging from the description of the cars GM's Chairman (Obama) wants to sell, I s'pect I'll be switching to Ford. I've been driving GM's since about 1975.
BO is going after them today with new standards. Ford claim to be happy about it. Ford will effectively be a car company in the employ of the gov’t rather than of their prospective customers.
I will now try my best to purchase a Ford the next time I need a vehicle. I just hope they make something better than the Focus for the car I want to buy for my daughter next year.
I'm a dyed in the wool GM guy, not a fan of Ford a'tall.
However I had a chance to drive my brother-in-law's Focus rental car. The "sportier" version, a Z somethingorother.
Honestly, I was impressed.
Tight feel, steering. Handled very nicely. No rattles, squeaks. The little quad four exceptionally peppy. Very good MPG. Amazing amount of space. Decent styling.
If you haven't driven one recently drive one now yourself, again. ;^)
I wish Ford well too. They have benefitted greatly from the vision and moves made by their new CEO before the credit crisis housing ponzi scheme collapse. They got leaner and meaner.
This included selling Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Range Rover off so they could take that money and reinvest it back into R&D for their domestic business and build up their cash reserves. Sales at all three of those companies have fallen off a cliff in the past year. Bravo Ford.
New ad slogan for Ford:
“Ford, an American Company giving the finger to socialism.”
Unless FORD can get rid of the UAW it will not matter if they take Gov Money or not.
If FORD does not meet every demand of the UAW they will just run to Barry and say we want the same treatment as the GM workers cause its only fair.
Game Over.
Good for Ford. I haven’t figured out yet why Chrysler’s advertising budget was slashed in half by the O-Sh!t administration and their dealers are closing down. Seems like they would need all the exposure they can get??
Always been a Ford individual:
85’ Mustang GT
98’ Mustang Cobra
04’ Mustang Cobra
Hey folks, in all the euphoria about Ford being the only All-American car company we have left, keep in mind that they were kow-towing to the gays just a year or so back ...
After what has happened I can't imagine any right thinking person purchasing a government vehicle from Chrysler or GM.....
There are 3 Fords in my garage....
I am an F-150 man...2 F150s and one 4X4 King Ranch....
Before you say that remember that Ford funds a lot of left-wing radical causes.
While GM is forced into making windmill cars, Ford will continue to make real cars.
“keep in mind that they were kow-towing to the gays just a year or so back ...”
Name one company that doesn’t do that.
Time to buy more FoMoCo Stock(I already have 150 shares)!
LLS
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