Déjà vu all over again: Ford woos Ghosn
Seems like only yesterday that we were reporting that Ford was attempting to lure Renault/Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn into the Dearborn fold, and now we're facing a new round of Ford/Ghosn rumors.Apparently, Bill Ford Jr. called Ghosn last month to discuss a partnership if the possible GM/Nissan/Renault alliance falls through. This is at least the third time in the last five years that Bill Ford has tried to hook up his company with Ghosn, regarded by many in the industry as an unmatched turnaround artist. Last summer, Ghosn rejected an offer to become Ford's CEO because he felt the chief executive position would be hamstrung by the Ford family's tight control of the company.
While the various companies involved in this latest rumor responded with a resounding 'no comment,' Ford Motor stock rose 4.6 percent in Wednesday's trading.
[Source: Bloomberg]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Zac 11:00AM (8/24/2006)
I, along with the next 5 posters to the comments section could probably do a better job of turning Ford around than the bunch of idiots running things now in Dearborn. Why do you need to pursue an expensive executive from the competition? Just start doing things that make sense.
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Kurt B 11:05AM (8/24/2006)
Autoextremist has a pretty good take a Ghosn in the latest rant.
The possible Ford / Renault Nissan merger prompted a submission to fark with the following hilarious headline, "Renault-Nissan may seek alliance with Ford. New company to be called ForRenNis, narrowly edging out Faulti-san".
Faulti-san....perfect.. ;-)
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Rastus 11:19AM (8/24/2006)
Funny, all the Anti-French tirades during the Gulf War II, and now the MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN INDUSTRY (according to them, that is) can't get enough of the French.
I wonder how that makes the Lithous' of this world feel? Does it make you ashamed to be an American? 3rd Rate? Afterall, American CEOs are flat-out admitting they are helpless in the face of competition.
Helpless...sweet helpless.
I think Rick and Billy ought to be forced into wearing yellow barrets 24/7 from this day forward. Yellow to signify they are yellow-bellied cowards who have risen to the top of the sh*theap of corporate America.
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Richard Warren 11:23AM (8/24/2006)
In other Ford news today: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-08-24-ford-usat_x.htm?csp=34
Hmmmm
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Gary 11:28AM (8/24/2006)
I would rather see Ford link with Honda and / or BMW. The way Forward may still work, though tweaked and accelerated now due to decline in SUV's & Truck market. Bottom Line Mr. Ford: WE NEED EXCITING NEW PRODUCT, SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX ( last time Ford was in BIG Trouble late 70's--early 80's) they're cars were all boxey....Look at today's designs...Boxey???? Ford has the Potential once they get past the Guys in the Beauracracey that have NO VISION!! Tomorrow's Future is TODAY. No one man can save Ford's if Ford's has nothing to Offer the Buying Public and "NOW" that means MPG--MPG--MPG's and style, comfort and design in a GREAT Looking & Feeling INTERIOR!!
Go For It Mr. Bill Ford and make some Commercials where You are "Excited" about what Your Last name Represents!! Watch the Competition, I do and wonder who at Ford's isn't watching...they're definately Missing who's Leading and WHY!!
Gary, Ford worker, Admire
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Bob_Ericson 11:30AM (8/24/2006)
Rastus:
The "tirades" are from France's political minuets. You want to be a big dog but can't hang. The best you can be is a saboteur.
How's that Muslim thing going over there?
My daily driver was made in Souchaux. Not all Frenchmen are Parisian leftists.
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Jor 12:18PM (8/24/2006)
Ford needs to hire or stand behind somebody who can shake things up and be the "bad guy".Who will bust some unions and end the culture of entitlement and cut out all the dead wood.In short,make the tough decisions and get into the business of building cars again.What do we have now?Benefits for domestic partners?Good grief.When you buy a car now your suddenly subsidizing social revolution,as one SMALL example.
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Jim 1:04PM (8/24/2006)
Ford, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, GM, and Chrysler should all hook up and do it 6 ways. That would feel much better, and everyone walks away happy the next morning.
So everyone will end up using Toyota's ultra efficient powertrains, while infusing the cars with Nissan styling.
Wait, that's just a Toyota-Nissan merger. The other companies don't do anything!
Every company already uses Toyota's transmissions, so why not start replacing everything piece by piece with Toyota?
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Ryan 1:10PM (8/24/2006)
"Benefits for domestic partners?Good grief.When you buy a car now your suddenly subsidizing social revolution,as one SMALL example.
Posted at 12:18PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Jor 0 stars"
-I'm gay and have to say that if domestic partner benefits are the major source of ford's finincial problems, then as much as I don't like to say it then it needs to go. Hopefully someday they can bring it back when they have more money. I am just curious as to how virtually every single corporation in the world offers this benefit (which is very appreciated by the gay community) and it does not cause them to go into an endless downward sprial. Someday I truly hope health care (which you also pay for) for you and your life partner will not be too much to ask of people.
As far as Ford obtaining Ghosn, I can't really think why it would not be a decent move.
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Oshawa forever 1:37PM (8/24/2006)
Does anyone remember Lafayette in the US???
Please quote me on what he did?
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God Blees Ford 10:44AM (9/04/2006)
for nostalgic/historic and patriotic reasons i really want to see ford to succeed. however, i also know that it is not going to happen with the current leadership in place. the talent is there (look at the shelby), the artistic vision is there (look at the mustang). the work force is there (now, don't blame it all on the union workers. when an army does not perform, the general is one to blame). ford needs to have more pride and confident and faith in our own people. it's going to be easy, but it's not rocket science (the general ideas proposed by the other bloggers are essentially it). it simply takes guts and the shear will-power and drive and charisma and leadership to realize the vision: build cars that are high in quality, well designed exterior and interior, and reasonably priced --- trust me, they will sell themselves. stop focusing so much on time/money/energy on marketing and creating illusion and hype. instead, focus on the substance. think long term, but just short term gains. do the above and the right people will get on board and stay there.
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Frank 4:42PM (8/24/2006)
#8
"...so why not start replacing everything piece by piece with Toyota?"
Then they would have all the recalls that Toyota has had recently, why would they want to do that?
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Old floppy dork 6:53PM (8/24/2006)
Lafayette invested in 23-channel CB radios and intense competition from a new breed of electronics stores (Crazy Eddie comes to mind).
Yeah, talk about a demise in the making.
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Ryan 7:00PM (8/24/2006)
Autoblog States:
"Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry"
Headline of this blog:
"Déjà vu all over again: Ford woos Ghosn"
What #12 Wrote:
"12. The concept of "domestic partnership" in principal is counterproductive to american competitiveness.Obviously ,If you're recognizing unions not based on traditional marrage,but on behavioral preferences,Your opening the door to subsidizing and supporting them.This can ,and must, include...people who are "shacking up","Boyfreind's of boyfreinds of the month",etc.The potential for abuse is endless ,financially and culturally.The effect on the welfare of developing children...immesurable.
Posted at 5:16PM on Aug 24th 2006 by jon 0 stars"
-Out of fairness can we remove this comment, even mine If I have to.
-As a gay man and a father of 3 *I* do find the above-listed rather offensive (especially the "The effect on the welfare of developing children...immesurable."
and clearly off topic.
-Thanks.
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Jon 12:35PM (8/25/2006)
The socio-economic repercussions of extending union and health benefits to every BEHAVIOR BASED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP will make the cost of producing automobiles(or anything else for that matter)cost prohibitive in the U.S....There's always outsourcing(which no one says they want).But even more than that, it will mean the death of the US auto industry.This is a very RELEVANT point in light of the fact that Carlos Ghosn is being called on to cost cut in an industry in deep crisis(remember 20,000 jobs cut by Ford last fri.).The notion that domestic partnership benefits COULD BE LIMITED to people in homosexual addiction is naive social elitism.The call for censorship by post#13 is shocking.I commend Autoblog for not bowing to this pressure.
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Ryan 1:14PM (8/25/2006)
#14
"I commend Autoblog for not bowing to this pressure.
Posted at 12:35PM on Aug 25th 2006 by Jon 0 stars"
-Jon, they did remove your comment (your post was #12). I deeply thank them for that as you crossed the line.
-Now it was my own stupidity that repasted your entire post in mine.
-No more debating gay life life Jon, it's gotta stop I come on here to look at cars and comment on them and yes even I go too far sometimes and have been edited for it. It's got to stop Jon.
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jon 1:15PM (8/25/2006)
Autoblog?Autoblog.You actually removed my comment.formerly #12.#12 now is Layfeyette...As you can see Ryan (post#13)refers to and republishes my original post(#12)in his post #13 where he calls for you to remove my quote.Which you did.But you left his quote.Great example of journalistic integrity being brought to it's knees by left wing pressure groups .I demand an explaination as I am offended myself (especially now).But have never called for censorship.
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jon 1:21PM (8/25/2006)
Ryan ,Your a Facist .Autoblog well ,I'm a christian who was formerly a gay activist.I am now commenting in what I thought was a formum in a democratic (U.S>A) ) country.
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Jon 1:49PM (8/25/2006)
Autoblog . How is it that Ryan can attack TraditionAL life in America .Use non relative offensive expletive rants in your forum and not have his comments removed on autoblog account of someone who claims THEY were offended?I think autoblog is displaying an anti-christian bais.I've also printed out what ere originally 17 posts ( not including this one).Im shocked.
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Ryan 2:35PM (8/25/2006)
Jon,
Come on dude, I have had comments removed as well.
And if I offend anyone on here *I* will always expect that the comment will or could/should be removed.
I'm no better than anyone else, therefore some of my comments have been edited, it's only fair. Heck complain about any of my old posts and I will expect them to be removed as well.
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