Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/10/2020 in all areas

  1. Nautilus (and Edge) continue, NG models are in development. There are 2 new Lincoln products coming in the next 3 years. Both are worth getting excited about.
    4 points
  2. Wayne Assembly will generate more profit out of 10 Broncos than 100 Focuses ever did. Hermosillo is generate more profit out of 10 Bronco Sports than 50 Fusions ever did.
    4 points
  3. I don't know who needs to hear this, but: Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, and Taurus were canceled. Bronco Sport, Bronco 2/4dr, Mustang Mach E, Fusion CUV, Maverick, and 3* other unannounced projects are coming online. Ford is largely capacity constrained, but these new products will maximize the profitability of each production unit capacity that they have. FWIW, there were 2 quick options to get a traditional sedan (compact and midsize) back into the NA if the market demanded it. Obviously those plans are still collecting dust.
    3 points
  4. Finally a head to head video. Of course the Jeep guys will say it wasn't fair for reasons x,y, and z, but really this is all just for fun. Both Jeep and Bronco are going to be plenty capable for 95% of people out of the box.
    2 points
  5. That's damn impressive. That should put an end to the people who say the Sport is nothing more than an escape with a different top hat, but it won't.
    2 points
  6. https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/video-bronco-sport-crawls-44-degree-incline-at-moab.1179/ Bronco Sport on the rocks.
    2 points
  7. What? They’re replacing 4 models with 8 new ones? Not possible. Ford is shrinking and cost cutting their way to oblivion. You should also throw Ranger in there since it took the focus plant. So they’re trading around 500k units of cars with probably 750k and going from an average profit margin of 1% to something closer to 8% (at least) and with much higher ATPs and revenue. 500k * $25k ATP * 1% = $125M 750k * $35k ATP * 8% = $2.1B N there is some additional overhead With 8 models instead of 4. But the profit difference is huge. And if you push ATPs higher and get the margin closer to 10% it’s even better.
    2 points
  8. Now you are talking about something I know about (this was my job before I retired and I still have friend working in this area). First, the cost of computing and storage for software development for automotives is DIRT CHEAP theses days. Servers today cost $10-$20k. 20 years ago they were $100s of thousands ! A decent sized server room would fit in a large walk-in closet. 20+ years ago, you need a server room the size of a couple of tennis courts with multiple A/C units that were the size of 4 or 5 residential refrigerator. Ford HAS recognized that they need a better, probably standardized, software development process than the dozen (or more) different "ad hoc" processes that they have. Some people are trying to "build empires" on this premise. Middle and upper level management don't want to touch this subject because it is so foreign to them. The Ford IT Organization is a joke ! First level tech support is "off shore" and has no native English speakers. Second level support is local, but their response window is 48-72 business hours. Executives are insulated by having their own IT staff that is on call 24/7, including home support. Worse, the Ford IT organization are nothing but a policing organization. They are great at telling you what you can not do and do nothing about helping you "get the job done".
    2 points
  9. The ONLY (read that again, ONLY) reason the dividend was suspended was because of COVID.
    2 points
  10. I think power ratings may creep up a bit too - remember they announced "targeted" hp/torque.
    1 point
  11. For sure, I'm not worried about the trailer aspect, I'd just like the option of towing my Sasquatch Bronco with my base Bronco
    1 point
  12. I don't see a problem. The very largest popup campers, with side pull outs come in at just about 3500lbs. The largest off-road, lifted versions of popups are lighter yet 3000- 3300lbs. A nice mid-sized modern popup, standard or off- road, can easily be <3000lbs with everything you need and more. The Wrangler/4Runner crowd here in the Mtn West are all about those roof mounted tents. See a lot more of that set-up than Wranglers pulling RV's. Anyone trying to pull >3500lbs over the Continental Divide (10k-12k Ft above sea level) really needs to be using a well equipped truck.
    1 point
  13. Bronco, Bronco Sport, Ranger, Maverick, Mach-E and all the other new vehicle buyers will be much more likely to buy a F series than all those folks who were buying stripped down SE cars.
    1 point
  14. That's been the story of Ford for the last 20 years. By my count, here are a list of markets that Ford used to be in the top 3 on regular basis at the start of 21st century but no longer: 1. Australia 2. New Zealand 3. Taiwan 4. Philippines 5. Malaysia 6. South Africa 7. Brazil 8. Argentina 9. Chile 10. Mexico 11. Colombia 12. Ecuador Some of these markets are not trivial in size. I'm sure there are quite a few more... can't find very good historical sales stats for the Middle East for example. Also missing a bunch of European countries because the single EU market is masking Ford's huge decline in individual countries. For example, Ford used to be the leading non-Swedish brand in the Nordic countries but now is way down the list below all the Germans, Toyota, Hyundai and Tesla. A common theme in a lot of these markets is that Ford got there early, localized and dominated the market. Then the competition came and Ford just gave up. Hyundai is by far the biggest beneficiary of Ford's retreat in the last 20 years. You can basically timed the Ford's decline in most of these market by the timing of when Hyundai showed up in full force. The divorce with Mazda was another big blow since Ford's operations and products were bind tightly with Mazda in a lot emerging markets.
    1 point
  15. I gotta say you stated it better than me. Ford has spent a lot of money on the Edison Project site and rehab of old train depot continues. That is one huge site and mucho dollars to bring it to fruition. The challenge will be to create something very profitable from it and attract the skills needed to bring it to fruition. I would like to see Ford change its name to Ford Mobility and Technology Company. It's the 21st Century and time to change. Big time changes are brewing at GM and hopefully at Ford also with the VW Alliance. Would like to see Ford/VW build a huge battery factory so big that they could easily supply their needs and also sell to other customers. To me, the only positive legacy Hackett has is the hook up to VW. Hopefully it will be beneficial to both companies. And the Edison Project if Ford can turn it into something tangible.
    1 point
  16. Well said FordBuyer sir. For a long time, Ford technology has been "reminiscent of cheap china knock-offs" as snooter mentioned in another thread, or full of design and engineering problems (like the 1st version of MyFordTouch). Hackett said earlier this year that Ford cannot keep straddling the old and new worlds forever. Part of Ford's old world was a lack of technological leadership. That lack of leadership also played a role in Ford's stagnation or decline over several decades. But that's starting to change. Hackett brought "design thinking" into the Ford organization. This helps bring people and technology together better. And Farley spent time working with Argo AI and some of Ford's other new technology ventures. Also, Farley earned a degree in computer science. I think Farley is the right person to improve Ford's technology development process more in the years to come.
    1 point
  17. Now that's unexpected and impressive! The Sport is going to sell better than most people expect.
    1 point
  18. Should things recover in a reasonable timeline and the current product cadence continues, there won't be much excess capacity to speak of. I doubt any plant will be running only 1 shift a couple years out.
    1 point
  19. Strictly speaking, Ford is not capacity constrained, it chooses to have its four main plants on three shifts for increased efficiency. All of the other vehicle manufacturing plants are on one or two shifts. So there is some spare capacity but Ford chooses not to build lower profit vehicles and who can blame them.
    1 point
  20. Stock price is a terrible indicator of success (or lack thereof) when it comes to Ford, and will remain so while their current stock structure remains intact. Through that structure, the Ford Family retains control of Ford, which means that the big venture capitalists and institutional investors will stay away because they can't buy the one thing they actually want: control. That does keep the stock price artificially low, but it also keeps the control in the hands of people who give a sh*t about the long-term health of the company.
    1 point
  21. So why isn't Ford involved in some of these business ventures? Instead of maybe scooters and electric bikes? They used to have a defense business, but gave that up many years ago. Also a mass transit business. I have owned Honeywell stock many years and thinking about buying more with their avionics business beaten down. Most auto stocks have been stagnant for years because there isn't much growth or profit margin. So the real challenge going forward is to be seen as an industrial TECHNOLOGY company, and not just a traditional industrial company. Hope Farley can start that process.
    1 point
  22. Guys- yes, I meant MAF, not MAP. Also as I had posted this issue before, I did check the intake gaskets. Has been running fine since the trans service.
    1 point
  23. It had been #1 the 2 previous years though and the point is still valid. They were losing their asses while they were #1.
    1 point
  24. How many times do we have to explain why the stock price Isn’t a good indicator? Time to call the Wahhh-mbulance.
    1 point
  25. Motor1/BR has almost 700 comments on the Territory review. 99.9% are either criticising or making fun. How many of them Ford will sell is hard to say at this early point but most commentators seem to agree they will struggle to put the first lot of 250 (!) vehicles on the streets at these prices. For a reference, Jeep sold 60k+ of locally made Compasses last year (with starting price a little over U$20k) and VW sold around 15k imported Tiguans (starting at around U$24k). I really hope Ford makes a profit on this product in order to bring more and better products. But unfortunately I doubt it. I myself a Ford enthusiast wouldn't consider buying it - and driving a Ford guy into a rival dealership means something. The impression I have is Ford's name is deteriorating consistently in most international markets, despite the superb lineup arriving in North America. I know some markets are not easy, including/especially "mine", but other brands seem to manage so it becomes frustrating. I hope that, now that Ford is going in the right direction in its home market, they can recover elsewhere.
    1 point
  26. I'll understand it better when I see Ford's market share, profit margin, stock price, credit rating go up. And its stock dividend reinstated. Until then, Ford is just treading water. Maybe Farley will have to turn Ford into an industrial technology company to make it relevant again to the DOW. Tap into the Defense business again and join the tech crowd where 50% profit margin is the norm with real growth. Only problem is attracting top talent to Detroit. I have this feeling Farley is aiming at this business model for future. Having to sell $150 billion of product to make a couple billion just isn't cutting it anymore. Honeywell sells low dollar turbos and is $150 growth stock and Ford sells very high dollar vehicles and keeps a few dollars in return and single digit stock price. Hopefully something of value will come out of Edison Project. GM just won a Defense project as it expands.its business model.
    1 point
  27. From about 2015, ford began encouraging its high value car buyers (Titanium) to move to utilities, cutting the legs off profitability coming from cars. While the sales remained “ok”, the product mix was predominantly SE, so was that a self fulfilling prophecy? You bet, especially when it started getting cold feet and cancelled San Louis Potosi. Ford is forcing itself to give up cars but unlike GM, it didn’t resort to closing three plants to do that.
    1 point
  28. Why are you so obsessed with sales volume? Oh that’s right you’re still pissed they canceled sedans. 300k fusion or focus sales are worthless if they’re not generating profit. Remember when GM went bankrupt? They were #1 in volume. Growth in Ford’s case is adding brand new models in new market segments. And most should generate a lot more profit than the ones they cancelled. If you can’t understand the difference between growth in profit and models and market segments as opposed to sales volume then I don’t know how to explain it.
    1 point
  29. Ford outsold Toyota by 34k units in Q2 and Ford's sales fell less than Toyota's (-32.3% vs. -34.6%). Ford outsold FCA by 65k units in Q2 and Ford's sales fell less than FCA's (-32.3% vs -38.6%). Ford also gained market share compared to GM in Q2 thanks to sales not falling as fast either (-32.3% vs -33.1%). They narrowed the gap from 94k units to 58k units year over year. You were saying........?????
    1 point
  30. I'll take a far better ride on the 99% of the normal day-to-day driving over the wheel being able to touch the ground 1% of the time on a massive rock.
    1 point
  31. No way it will be anywhere close to MSRP. It will be very close to the 2020 pricing. Maybe slightly lower rebates initially but not much. If you’re concerned about price wait until the 2020 leftover inventory gets low and they should have bigger rebates.
    1 point
  32. Ford says about 98% of F Series aluminium comes from the US via Arconis and Novelis. Arconis supplies aluminium from plants in Tennessee, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Texas. Novelis gets about a third of its aluminium from Canada, the rest comes from the US. In the case of Ford's manufacturing, I think any tariffs are going to be unhelpful and just lead to price increases which either get passed onto buyers or hit profit.
    1 point
  33. And I would have never bought a 1968 Ford Cortina GT, a 1971 V6 Capri, and a 1975 V6 Capri. Still enjoy YouTube videos of racing Capris and the great sounds they make. Lots of great heritage there and memories. Still have the racing Capri picture of it rounding a tight turn with inside tire up in air.
    1 point
  34. Whenever I saw an analyst says that Ford should have sold off Ford EU, then never seemed to understand that Ford EU supplied a lot more to Ford than Opel ever did to GM. Opel still had mostly its own vehicles. It never developed its own commercial vehicles and I could go on. If Ford EU was sold off: 1) it would make the feasibility of the Transit Connect hard to justify just for the US market; 2) It would make the Custom's business case impossible for it just to be in China; 3) It would have hurt Ford South Africa since much of its Ranger exports go to Europe; 4) Would have killed any Ford subcompact vehicle (car or crossover) globally since Europe is the largest market for the B-segment; 4) would have hurt Ford's feasibility for all c-platform vehicles with the loss of Focus and Escape volume; 5) Would have hurt JMC's position in China as it uses Ford Turkey developed trucks and engines for heavy trucks. Not to mention the Ford Family pride. We know they take pride in selling in Ireland especially. And I could go on...
    1 point
  35. Sorry guys, don’t mean to be a contrarian here, history is done and we can’t go back change what has been but wouldn’t you think that corporates learn a few things about when to control risks and when to take good calculated risks on products that pay off handsomely.
    1 point
  36. The only profitable vehicles that Ford sells in Europe and ROW are Transits and Ranger, all the rest barely cover development and production costs. What we're seeing in those markets is Ford trying to limit the bleeding by increasing vehicle prices, Ford is literally shrinking its business to profitability but it's now discovering just how underwater its entire global business has become. God help Ford if it ever asks the same question in the USA. The VW alliance is the salvation of Ford's European and global business, without those guaranteed sales of commercial vehicles (vans and pickups) to VW, Ford would have been forced into even more drastic cuts. Now, the future looks brighter with Ford also accessing VW's MEB electric vehicle toolkit in Europe at least and staying in front of a tidal wave of change against its ICE business. The next few years are going to be very interesting indeed.
    1 point
  37. Lincoln is going to be fine... it's a luxury SUV brand when the market has pivoted totally towards SUV. As long as Ford keeps the product fresh (a big challenge unique to Ford it seems) Lincoln will be fine. The Ford brand is the one that needs attention. Not so much in the US... the products that are coming should see market share gains and increase profit. It's outside the US that blue oval is a complete mess and shrinking at an alarming rate. If you look at the sales data from most markets, Ford is almost always the brand with largest sales decline in 2020 from among the "Big 8" (VW, Toyota, Hyundai, GM, Ford, Renualt-Nissan, PSA-FCA, Honda). From Europe to Asia to South America, the pattern is the same... And this is on the heel of brand new Fiesta, Focus, Kuga, and Puma launches in many of these markets. What this means is that Ford as a brand is one of the first to get crossed off the consideration list even with fresh new vehicles. This is the legacy of Hackett's "shrink your way to success" plan. It needs to be reversed or Ford will not be selling cars outside North America and Western Europe in another 10 years.
    1 point
  38. Knowing what I know about corporate management, I think his biggest achievement was changing the management culture. I remember the story of his first staff meeting where the head of Europe and the head of North America not only didn't work together they wouldn't even share financial data or be honest about problems that were occurring. They also had huge binders that their staff probably worked on full time. Mulally told them to come back next week with only one sheet of paper and to be prepared to share everything with everybody. The amazing part is that his predecessor allowed that to happen.
    1 point
  39. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2020/08/04/fords-farley-rode-iconic-ford-brands-customer-needs-ceos-office/3290498001/ I saw this article a few minutes ago and thought that it was a good outline of what Farley's actually done at Ford as pointed out by akirby in recent posts.
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...