fuzzymoomoo Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ford-executives-open-partners-small-230139316.html Thoughts? Edited January 29, 2016 by fuzzymoomoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Ford and Fiat collaborated on their 'A' class 500/Ka so this isn't new territory. Ford and Mazda worked well on the last 'B' platform and with Volvo the 'C' platform. Ford/GM JV transmissions have been pretty successful. So much so they are back at it. If there is to be future projects, I would probably want to work with Mazda again. Frankly I don't trust FCA as far as I can throw them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 It's the job of these C-level guys to, for lack of a better word, spitball stuff. Like, "Hey, run some numbers on a joint small car program with _________, see if there's enough savings to justify talking to them in depth." Would Ford partner with FCA? They have in the past. I don't know if the business advantages that Fiat offered then still apply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Rebadged Focus and Fusion to replace Dart and 200? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Rebadged Focus and Fusion to replace Dart and 200? Make that re-skinned and still built in Ford plants to maximize scales of economy. That way FCA continues to focus on its more porfitable vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Make that re-skinned and still built in Ford plants to maximize scales of economy. Like the Mazda Navajo and B series pickups? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Rebadged Focus and Fusion to replace Dart and 200? Dodge Focus?, Ford 200?... Hearing more info FCA is doing rwd midsize/fullsize for cars only. I can definitely see a joint developed Dodge/Chrysler fwd cars but it depends who wants to do it. Mitsubishi still have the Illinois factory going... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Make that re-skinned and still built in Ford plants to maximize scales of economy. That way FCA continues to focus on its more porfitable vehicles. Ford doesn't need FCA volume to utilize their plants, and they're sure as shooting not going to add capacity to contract build for FCA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Make that re-skinned and still built in Ford plants to maximize scales of economy. That way FCA continues to focus on its more porfitable vehicles. I should have used the facetious font. Sorry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 What interesting timing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Well, kind of. Fields' comments were in response to a question that specifically mentioned FCA's earlier announcement. And they're 100% CEO speak. 'Of course we're always evaluating ________, and we're ready to ________ if we feel there's a good opportunity to _______." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 China.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Ford doesn't need FCA volume to utilize their plants, and they're sure as shooting not going to add capacity to contract build for FCA. Correct... there is no incentive for Ford to collaborate with FCA on Dart and 200 replacement. But notice Field mentioned this during the quarterly conference call and the question apparently was couched in "small cars" and nothing specific. Clearly, Ford can probably use a partner in emerging market deathtrap cars*. Ford is lagging behind in this area and a partnership with FCA could be lucrative for both. * deathtrap car is not literal... just a short hand for value engineered to meet local price point 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) But notice Field mentioned this during the quarterly conference call I wouldn't read anything at all into that. The whole framework of the question came from the person who asked it. Fields is an astute CEO. He's very good at providing a dollop of information tucked inside a rephrased version of the question he was just asked. Edited January 29, 2016 by RichardJensen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 If Ford was to do something like this, it would have to be more than a car, it would have to be an entire platform. For this reason alone, I kind of doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 If Ford was to do something like this, it would have to be more than a car, it would have to be an entire platform. For this reason alone, I kind of doubt it. I agree, The C and CD Segments are not Like the commercial segment where you could get away with re-branding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Ford doesn't need FCA volume to utilize their plants, and they're sure as shooting not going to add capacity to contract build for FCA. Well, of course not. They're going to stick it in the new plant they're going to build to contract-build for Google. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) FCA has been making mention of hybrids too, are they going to develop that tech by themselves or just buy in technology form another car maker - don't just think of Ford building $20k compacts. Is FCA looking at Ford's next gen offerings and looking to pay less just to get properly designed and built vehicles instead of cheating.....it would only work if it suits Ford and its next gen product and electrification roll out - an increase in volume in that direction may suit its ends as well as FCA? Or it could be Fields taunting FCA by saying Ford is open to partnering but never extending the offer to them. Edited January 30, 2016 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I agree, The C and CD Segments are not Like the commercial segment where you could get away with re-branding. But A and B? Toyota is doing it with Mazda now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 But A and B? Toyota is doing it with Mazda now. It's possible but I can't imagine it yet with cars larger than the Fiesta. the margins are too small to import from the EU for FCA yet cost for such limited production to to great to keep a factory going. FCA could look to Nissan or Hyundai for products but it will take time to show results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 It's possible but I can't imagine it yet with cars larger than the Fiesta. Agreed. Could see KA/Fiesta/Ecosport though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsario Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) Correct... there is no incentive for Ford to collaborate with FCA on Dart and 200 replacement. But notice Field mentioned this during the quarterly conference call and the question apparently was couched in "small cars" and nothing specific. Clearly, Ford can probably use a partner in emerging market deathtrap cars*. Ford is lagging behind in this area and a partnership with FCA could be lucrative for both. * deathtrap car is not literal... just a short hand for value engineered to meet local price point Yup, this would be my take as well. A partnership with FCA, Nissan, or VW could do wonders for emerging markets. South America is --and will continue to be-- a mess, unless Ford broadens their lineup at the lower end over there. Edited January 31, 2016 by pcsario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 I would sooner see Ford develop and sell a compact Lincoln sedan than entertain production volume going to FCA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsario Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 This wouldn't necessarily have to be a rebadged product coming from a competitor's plant. More like splitting R&D costs for a low profit vehicle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosetang Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Yeah I don't think there's much risk of a vehicle built in a Ford plant being replaced with one built in an FCA plant. But shared R&D on low-margin vehicles probably has a lot of appeal. Also, considering how much the major nameplates share the same suppliers there's probably some money to be made back in sharing costs on components. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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