USPS tracking shows the brackets went from New Jersey to Connecticut and they are now back in Pittsburgh exactly one week after they left Pittsburgh the last time.    After filling all the scratches, divots, etc. with spot putty and/or body filler and then lots of sanding, I sprayed the first coat of primer today.  

If that was Ford’s intent, it is a bit too subtle, IMHO. 

Haven’t heard if road reliability testing was done as that would be part of the final sign off and handover. Could be that Ford wanted to wait until maybe four door could use the PHEV as well, just speculation here but maybe the PHEV makes more sense in the four door?   Good point.

Another mistake!

Another mistake!

Its more subtle than other designs but the surfacing and lines on the s650 are doing this. 

I didn't know this, but Ford's European operations has 9 billion dollars of debt.  And this 4.76 billion care package replaces a previous 2006 agreement that said Ford would cover any losses of its German subsidiary.  Pretty much for Europe, it's sink or swim now.     Worth listening to today's Autoline Daily.  Go to the 3:55 mark.   https://www.autoline.tv/daily/ad-4009-nissan-promotes-product-guy-to-ceo-xpeng-investing-billions-into-humanoid-robots-mclaren-merger-expected-soon/

Even if Ford does clean house and start from scratch...will it be worth the effort? The European market is largely stagnant. Several European countries are experiencing a decline in population, and the population is aging. Those conditions aren't exactly conducive to future sales growth.   Honda, for example, has essentially packed up and left. Even VW is in trouble. 

I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying here.  I don’t see the hockey stick in the side surfacing. 

This is significant.  I have thought for some time that Otosan would need a partner for their medium/heavy truck operations going forward, and this is the first move in that direction.  I don't feel however that this is a negative reflection on Otosan, it's just a response to the market.  Ford Motor can't really offer much support to Otosan with regard to their medium and heavy truck operations, and Otosan is too small to go it alone.     BTW, should Ford pull out of Europe, Otosan is in a great postion to inherit the Transit franchise.