TStag

So Bush who had 2 full terms to reform the US banking system (and instead de-regulated) get's off scott free. Is deregulation not a Republican mantra? Who allowed the investment banks to split from the commercial banks? Bush and the Republicans.

You think I work up North? I'm not really effected by the down turn but feel sorry for the folks that are. Tea party economics are killing the construction industry. US had over 3% growth.... we have 0%....

So on the day Obama ordered Osama be taken out, does anyone here still want to focus on whether he's an American or not? Anyone here still think he's not American?

You know the world is united today in backing the USA and it's mission to take out Osama Bin Laden. US Foreign relations are strong in a way which they weren't under Bush. Bush couldn't even step into some countries in Western Europe without a demo taking place. Contrast that with Obama. Obama like it or not has rebuilt the US on the world stage, he's taken out Osama and is a worth winner ofthe Nobel peace prize now. Who have the republicans got to put up against the most popular politician (outside the US at least). Sarah 'I don't know where Pakistan is' Palin, and Donald ' I don't believe Obama is an American 'Trump'. With Palin and Trump likely to run against Obama, can most American's not understand why the rest of the world fear a return to the dark days of George W Bush? Who incidentally created the world's worst economic crisis since the depression?

We are cutting spending, getting rid of lots of public worker's and in many way's following the Tea party plan for economic recovery. We have had 0% growth over the last 6 months. 0.5% growth over the last quarter. Can we swap for Obama's economic plan now?

At the end of the day you should be celebrating victory over Osama day not worrying about whether 'bankrupt' Donald Trump thinks Nobel Peace prize winning Obama's the real enemy. Say's a lot about American's mixed up priorities. Incidentally he now deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than ever!

American's should be proud today. Proud of their country, proud of their brave soldiers and proud of their President for doing what was necessary to get a result. As a Brit I salute you all. Obama 1 Osama 0

See: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/04/28/revealed-why-jaguar-land-rover-needs-a-new-engine-plant-97319-28596726/ Pretty amazing that JLR are doing so well that Ford can't make enough engines.....

Correct. BMW's 3 series was until the recession hit outselling the much cheaper Ford Mondeo. Now things are recovering I suspect it will become the best seller again. In Europe we love our premium cars. From MINI to the Rolls Royce Phantom, BMW make the lot.

It's a great move. Range Rover has to become a separate brand because JLR are planning an even smaller Evoque type vehicle and an even bigger Range Rover as well as possibly another mid size vehicle. That means that will make 6 Range Rover, which will be amongst the most expensive luxury SUV's in the world. Land Rover will then be free to develop it's own range of more utilitarian products to go kick Jeep with. All bases covered! Sounds good to me.

Looking forward to the new Evoque, new Hybrid Range Rover (within 2 years), new mid size Range Rover, new Rolls Royce competing Range Rover, new Jaguar CUV, new baby Jaguar, new Jaguar sports car...... all currently entering or in development....

In the word's of Margaret Thatcher 'you ain't seen nothin yet'. Got to remind you that these profits are coming as JLR invest in at least 6 new models at present and advanced hybrid tech. JLR is the only global premium car maker now capable of taking on Germany's brightest and best in every single market. And Ford sold it..... Not only that but this is one of the fastest growing premium car companies globally and more importantly in China and Russia. Last year Land Rover sold 40,000 cars in China, without making a single car in China. Taxes in China are immense. That is a significant achievement. They are currently setting up a JV to make cars in China. Once they do that JLR could become China's most successful premium brand within a matter of a few years because Land Rover is highly revered over there in the land where 4x4's are king. Ford did not have to sell JLR to rescue itself. It would have been more sensible to sell Volvo, Aston Martin and the stake in Mazda. And also shut both Lincoln and Mercury. But I guess keeping Lincoln is a matter of heart ruling head....

BMW isn't bothering with Hybrids it's going straight to electric because it will be the first car maker anywhere in the world to start mass producing carbon fibre bodies. Where is Ford's answer to that? Also look at the range of toys offered on a car like the Mercedes S Class, where is Ford's answer? I'm not knocking Ford because I think Ford does a great job as a volume car maker, but it's nowhere near making cars to take on BMW. Ford would be much better off developing a new premium PERFORMANCE brand. Performance sells globally for a premium. Lincoln doesn't have the brand name to play in that game. Mustang would. Bet Ford would sell loads more Mustangs in Europe than Lincoln's. I've never seen a Lincoln on the front of a lads mag in the UK. I've seen the Mustang on at least 1.

I like the Mustang. I like it's all American V8 sound track and looks. I am also a European and can't buy one. So I think it's odd that Ford is about to spend a shed load of money on Lincoln when it could do to Mustang what BMW did to the MINI. Why not just launch Mustang as an independent brand (a la Range Rover). Why doesn't Ford create a range of Premium Mustangs and market them globally? In Europe I think we would go for the existing Mustang, especially if optioned with V6's and v6/ v8 diesels. I also think that a 5 door and even a tourer would sell extremely well here. The brand would even sit well on a performance cross over. Yet Ford obsesses with the moribund Lincoln brand. Why? In Europe we have no desire for the Lincoln brand. When European's think Lincoln they think of those 'damn awfull 70's and 80's American car's'. That's not me being nasty, but I believe it's an accurate reflection of how European's see Lincoln's of that era. Investing money in Lincoln is a waste of time and money. Investing in 'Mustang' just plain makes sense. And no I don't think Ford can afford to do both right now.

I find it hard to believe that Lincoln will ever be on a par with BMW. Lexus yes, but BMW? That's not a dig at Ford or Lincoln or American engineering prowess. It's more a realisation that to catch BMW you actually need to overtake them. BMW are currently developing a range of cars under the project banner 'mega city'. Those cars will be 'mass produced carbon fibre vehicles' running on an electric powertrain. For Lincoln to catch BMW it needs to also be developing a mega city range and it will also need to ditch most of it's Ford sourced components. It also needs to be developing toys like idrive. To do that will require significant investment. Investment of the kind that Ford started to put into brands such as Jaguar but never actually followed all the way through. Audi, Mercedes and BMW have a huge technological lead on most of the competition. Even Jaguar isn't yet on a par with BMW. It's still spending a lot of money to get there. Even Alfa Romeo, a brand with huge appealis struggling to find the finance to catch the big German 3. Lincoln has only been able to stay afloat in recent years by badge engineering Ford products. Managers at Ford always seem wary about going after the competition probably because they doubt Lincoln has the ability to self fund model development beyond 1 range of cars. The real question is should ford even try to turn Lincoln round? Or should it just run the brand down and out? If Ford really wants a premium brand a better starting point would be 'Mustang'. Now that's potentially a brand with Global appeal....

Oh look it's amazing what drivel you can come up with when you ignore the fact that MG are currently only selling limited runs of sportscars.

News actually broken by Reuters and also mentioned here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/11/saic-buys-1-of-gm-gets-keys-to-world-markets-thrown-in/ MG will do immense damage to Vauxhall if this is true. MG is a very popular brand here.

Not a smart move by GM: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12145461 Whilst I personally wouldn't buy a current MG as I think they are a bit boring and generic, I know that didn't stop Toyota and Nissan in the early 80's.....

They are pumping in 5 billion for additional new models. This will allow JLR to maintain it's industry leading growth and reap more dividends in the medium - long term. The 2 billion is an investment in Green tech which they can recoup through the licensing of IPR. Ford should have sold Volvo for 6 billion pre recession, dumped that money into expanding the JLR line up and then invested a further 3 billion or so to make up the shortfall. The result would have been one of the most profitable car makers on the planet, greatly boosting Ford's value. As it was they let Volvo flounder in the recession, sold JLR cheap and now have to watch whilst someone else executes their own vision. In my view JLR will become one of the top performing premium car companies within the next 5 years or so. And that why I think TATA are wisely investing in JLR.

FT, deal was genius by TATA: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Column---We-got-it-wrong--Mr-Tata/709863/

See: http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/automotive-business/2010/11/09/jaguar-land-rover-clocks-up-almost-500m-profit-in-six-months-65233-27631939/

SAIC have been only been attracted to GM by the use of the letters M and G in the title. :-)

Me talking shite? Did you even bother to look at this months sales figures? JLR are the fastest growing car company in North America right now. Before you open your mouth do your research.

I took lots of stick on here for arguing Ford should keep JLR and sell Volvo. People on here were very quick to point to falling sales in a recession. So don't blame me if I'm also very quick to point out JLR is the fastest growing car company in North America. Except I'm not being that quick, their sales this year have been growing at an incredible rate anyway. Can't wait to watch the Evoque smash some more sales records for Range Rover.....

JLR's global numbers are even more exciting. It's booming in China and doesn't even have any production facilities there. No responsible company should walk away from a business boasting the fastest growing sales in the world.... It's was a mistake. And in keeping Volvo for so long in the misguided belief that it might recover also shows how badly Mullaly understands premium cars. I'm sure Lincoln will benefit from his wisdom.... Don't get me wrong he's done a great job with the core business, but he has made a big long term strategic error in the premium segment. Everyone knows the value of being able to sell fewer cars for lots more money. Apart from Ford it seems.