Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford
Derrick Kuzak to become global Car Czar for Ford
By now we're all aware what a good Car Czar can do for an automaker. Bob Lutz is often referred to as the Car Czar at General Motors who banned body cladding on Pontiacs, brought over the Aussie-sourced GTO (that really opened the door for the upcoming Chevy Camaro revival) and pushed Cadillac further upmarket where it belongs. Last year Lutz officially became GM's global product Czar, no doubt on account of Saturn's transformation into an imported brand with the addition of rebadged versions of the Opel Antara, Astra and eventually the next generation Vectra sedan.
The Detroit News is reporting that Ford is also keen on integrating its global units and that CEO Alan Mulally will appoint current Group VP of Product Development Derrick Kuzak as the company's new Global Product Development Czar. Ford knows the path to efficiencies lies in coordinating and sharing product on a global level, but up to this point could not reorganize its structure fast enough to make that happen. Kuzak's job will be to oversee the company's product programs on a worldwide level, hopefully ensuring that we don't end up with another "My Focus is better than yours" situation in the future. Mullaly will also likely appoint a global Manufacturing Czar to also integrate the production side of things on a global scale.
We heard Kuzak speak this week at Ford's Showroom of the Future event, and, while we don't know the guy personally, hear that he's not only an accomplished executive but also a respected engineer. Engineering Ford's vast product development programs around the world into a well oiled and single focused machine is a job we don't envy, but we hope Kuzak's up to the task.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DJ 2:38PM (12/14/2006)
FINALLY!!! An actual "way forward". Just follow the Lutz model of BRINGING over those European, Japanese and Aussie vehicles. Don't screw it up by just taking little dashes of each and trying to create an "American" car from that.
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Daniel 3:07PM (12/14/2006)
Hope this person is a "Car Guy."
What he needs more than anything is a real and deep PASSION for great cars - not as units of production - but as fine works of art.
FoMoCo is certainly capable of producing some great vehicles as they have done in the past. They just need to move forward confidently to design and produce in-your-face, kick ass, American cars that reflect this passion for the craft.
If you build them - they will sell.
Try this: Ford 427, Mercury Mondeo, Ford Reflex, Ford GR1, new RWD Lincoln flagship with a V12, new Lincoln Mark IX, small diesels in almost all offerings, full plug-in BioDiesel Series Hybrids that get better than 80 MPG, retro Mercury Cougar (bsed on Mustang as in the 60s) with the refinement to compete against the G35, 3 Series and IS 350, a world beater of a new Focus, retro small Ford Bronco to go against the Jeep and Toyota FJ, better choices in engines - build the 6.x Huricane, build a Ford '49, and a small Ford counter to the Chevy HHR that looks like a 1955 panel. Build the fusion trio with high performance options and a coupe model. Completely re-style the Ford 500/Mercury Montego to retain the high seating position and great driving dymanics but give them some friggin STYLE! Build a follow on to the large RWD Town Car. Restyle the Crown Vic and Grand Marquee but retain the RWD on body on frame live axle for low cost and high reliability for livery and police service.
Less Talk - More Great Cars!
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Minimum Bob 3:58PM (12/14/2006)
Great, another super-insulated fordie that has spent his entire career within the company and never lived outside MI.
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Mike 4:55PM (12/14/2006)
The one thing that amazes me is that the automakers have not, to my knowledge, pushed this govt. or another to accept a set of globally agreed upon requirements.
Streamline the crash test requirements between nations of the EU, USA, Aus, etc.
Streamline emissions regs
streamline deisel/fuel requirements
If a euro focus can pass crash tests and emissions regs in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Aus, NZ, etc. it should meet the regs for the US.
That would really open the global markets, and the consumer would benifit greatly.
Getting each of the nations to agree upon regs though, is a whole 'nother ballgame.
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John P. 6:09PM (12/14/2006)
Yes!!! I'm also tired of Ford treating American's like second class citizens while the Europeans get the cars we really want for the most part, Mustang and F150 aside. Now, if Ford can:
1. Resurrect Mercury with Euro Cars,
2. Build some nice Ford sedans out of Aussie cars.
3. Concentrate U.S. Ford on the F150. Mustang (mustang should always be nearly 100% American Designed/built, Sorry no Aussie parts here) and Fuel Efficient SUV's/Crossovers, making each of these class leading while keeping manufacturing costs relatively low, and build Ford GT like monsters every couple years to keep people dreaming and to remind people Ford Kicked Ferrari butt and everyone else when it put it's mind to it.
4. Turn Lincoln into a World Class Yet American Marque like it rightfully should.
5. Let Mazda build the small cars.
Dump Volvo and Land Rover, they are the competition. Keep Jaguar, for the Extreme high end, and Dump Aston, Redundant.
The Way Forward will look pretty nice from here.
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Hamud 7:49PM (12/14/2006)
#5 You've got some nice points on your comment, though I wouldn't suggest to dump Volvo, perhaps LR, but never Volvo.
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Professor Porsche 9:30AM (12/15/2006)
Lutz failed miserably, and THIS clueless idiot will fail teicw as miserably.
after 35 straight years of HOME GAME LOSSES, the onetime big 3 fail to understand that such silly PR BS is NOT the way to win in the markets
MAKING A SUPERIOR PRODUCT IS.
Do NOT expect GM or Ford to EVER tell you:
"THis is our new midsize Sedan, and it is HEADS AND SHOULDERS BETTER THAN THE CAMRY OR THE ACCORD"
They are so DEFEATIST they cannot even dream of being able to seriously claim the above.
LOSERS...
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John P. 10:16AM (12/15/2006)
Professor Porsche,
You are so right about the defeatist attitude. I just can't believe weenies can be have the keys to such an important job/company.
That being said I think this new guy in charge of Ford just may deserve a chance. his previous company, Boeing, is really kicking the pants of Airbus as of late, and they were in serious trouble not so long ago also. He's said some of the right things so far, and done some also. I for one hope it's enough.
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