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If history serves them right, taking Alan Mulally's advice to "follow me" should be looked at as an opportunity by Ford brass, even when it involves a walk out of the boardroom and down a flight of steps in to his secret "war room".
Insiders are talking about the room, buried deep within the confines of Ford's world headquarters in Dearborn, that has walls covered with charts, graphs and lists of Ford products and markets that define the road to turn the troubled automaker around.
The recently-appointed CEO also points out that he feels some really good people will leave the company during these gut-wrenching times, but for those who stay the ride back up will be infinitely more exhilarating.
Mullaly may begin to lay out his plans as early as the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. Let's hope Ford is ready to battle its way back.
[Source: Automotive News; sub req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gregory Anderson @ Dec 24th 2006 6:18PM
Mr. Mulally did GREAT things for us while at Boeing, perhaps he can do the same for Ford.
BOB @ Dec 24th 2006 8:16PM
ALAN, IF IT IS A WAR (AND IT IS).............
DON'T BE COPYING DON RUMSFELD!
Actually, the Ford people who ruled on the 500 styling, as well as the too-minor refreshing of the SUVs, Town Car, etc., must have moved to the Pentagon a couple of years ago.
And let's not mention the EMM KAY WHATSIS cars at Lincoln, whose names came from market research. I think the story was they were only 90% unlikely to buy an MKZ, but had been 99% unlikely to buy a Zephyr, and so on. I am still trying to get EMM KAY to rhyme with MARK.
Ty @ Dec 24th 2006 8:34PM
...In fact, its so secret that no one knows exactlty where it is, or how to get in...
hmmm @ Dec 24th 2006 9:39PM
I heard there where glory holes in the walls of the war room, so that future execs could keep there job if alan was pleased !
Gorffton, B, Engray @ Dec 25th 2006 1:14AM
When Ford brings over a 5 door Mondeo for around 20K fairly loaded, or a 3 door sporty hatch to compete with the Scion tC,I'll look at Ford.
If not...I'll leave the Ford's to my Brother-In-Law to buy(he nevers looks @ anything else but Ford!).
Well, in what, 2-3 weeks, we might "hear" about some plans to turn Ford around( hey, they had a ok looking concept in jan called the Refl3x...they could build that about the size of the tC, w/ normal drivetrain/engine....maybe from Mazda...160HP 3 door).
They won't do it, though.
Guess Ford never heard of Scion? lol.
Chris @ Dec 25th 2006 1:50AM
"When Ford brings over a 5 door Mondeo for around 20K fairly loaded.."
The Mondeo will NEVER see the shores of the U.S. for a number of reasons but mostly due to cost. You couldn't get a base Mondeo for $20,000 let alone a fairly loaded one. Those go for almost 22,000 British Pounds or about $44,000 USD without any import taxes or shipping costs! Besides, a Mondeo is much bigger than any Scion, more the size of a Fusion and far more luxurious. They tried it once and the Mondeo/Contour bombed so don't expect another try at it.
jgp @ Dec 25th 2006 5:07AM
I've seen the cost excuse trumpeted hundreds of times, and it's bullshit.
Exchange rates _do not apply_ when it comes to cars. Look at most vehicles sold in both the US and UK. The cost in dollars is almost always very close to the cost in pounds.
Case in point, the BMW 3-Series. Edmunds (US) lists the 335i coupe at $40.6k. Parker's (UK) lists the 335i coupe at £35k. That doesn't exactly match the exchange rate.
Or let's look at a manufacturer from neither the US nor Europe. Take the Honda Fit/Jazz (same car, different name) as an example. Edmunds lists the Fit Sport at $15.2k - $16k. Parker's lists the Jazz Sport at £11.8k - £13.2k. Not much of a difference, especially given the nearly 2x exchange rate.
Harold @ Dec 25th 2006 8:13AM
Sad to see Ford in its current straits. I have had 2 Grand Marquis cars since 1997. The second one was a lease, the first one my daughter totalled (just getting broken in at 10 years and 114,000 miles), and I replaced that with a '95 Continental (86k mi).
To top it off, the '93 Topaz still runs strong as ever, the shift points are like new, the suspension solid. That car has over 150k mi on it.
I did test drive a Milan, found the steering overly tight (steering effort), the interior hardware not as spiffy as I would like.
Hal in NJ
Pete Angilly @ Dec 25th 2006 8:16AM
What Mullally is doing here is smart. He's been there since September, in that time they've raised $24 billion, Aston Martin is going to be sold for what looks like $1.3 billion, They put the head of Ford Europe in charge of global developement (this is the guy who was responsible for all those cars you guy's rave about) 38,000 union members took the buy out, people make fun of the weekly meetings that he started, but put yourself in those execs. shoes. With Alan, and this comes right from Boeing execs. who worked for him, you get it done of he'll find someone who will. If your meeting every week and not hitting your goals your all done. This guy is going to turn this thing around, the foundation is being laid.
Engray @ Dec 25th 2006 8:16PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Reflex
Ford reflex(spelled refl3x) is a subcompact, with awd, sporty 0-60 of 7 seconds, small car, hybrid/diesel, etc...concept.
If thjey would just Style something like this car, with "real"(IE, inexpensive, current technology) technology(not something that would cost 50K for a subcompact), Use the Focus, style it like this, add 160HP. BINGO! Under 20K sporty car, that looks unique.
If Toyota can do it.....
why not Ford? They have Mazda.
As for Mondeo.... Ford does have the ability to build one in Mexico= cheaper to build, perhaps? If GM can bring the "cheaper"(so-to-speak) Opels to Saturn....
Just saying, if there's a will, there's a way, even if the engines(like Chevy Equinox's V6)are made in China!
Styling does not have to make a car cost 44K...restyle the "Mercury"(Fusion). That could be done, do a body style change to match the Mondeo....