Despite the rumors of contentiousness surrounding Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corporation and its agitation in Dearborn, Ford reports that a recent talk between Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., CEO Alan Mulally, and the investment firm were informal and positive. Never a shrinking violet, 91-year-old Kirk Kerkorian has held large stakes of each of the Detroit 3 in the past. Tracinda's most recent foray into Ford's stock coincides with a shift by the Blue Oval away from its historically strong grounding in truck sales. Ford believes that the truck sales balloon has permanently deflated, and is idling plants and shifting production over to more fuel efficient vehicles as crude oil prices continue to ratchet up an economic squeeze.
Ford's already said "forget it" to a planned return to profitability in 2009, and its talks with Tracinda illustrate that Ford realizes it may not have the lock on better ideas. On the agenda at this particular meeting was an analysis of publicaly-announced details of "The Way Forward." Right now both Ford and Tracinda are coming away from the table repeating niceties, but if history is any guide, at some point Captain Kirk might start instigating in ways that are less than popular.
[Source: Automotive News - sub req., Photo: HarryPotterSociety.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tankd0g @ Jun 18th 2008 10:33AM
Crudely 'shopped though it may be, I love that graphic.
Frank @ Jun 18th 2008 11:53AM
lol that graphic rocks.
Megan Boris @ Jun 18th 2008 12:03PM
Megan Boris-
Just a quick comment about the deflating truck sales & increased interest in fuel efficient vehicles, Isn't now the time to buy the smaller compact cars? With rising fuel costs, I have to think that more people will be switching from gas guzzlers to fuel efficient cars, and by supply & demand the price of small cars will go up.
AkulaX1 @ Jun 18th 2008 3:45PM
F fuel pricing and gaz gazling myths. It happened in 80's and people seem to fall for retarted trend of high fuel prices yet again. St...upid wave of illogical decisions and retarded people
Avinash machado @ Jun 18th 2008 10:35AM
One thing about Kerkorian that I admire is that even at age 91 he is still working and still going strong. That I feel is something really inspiring in a way.
TJ @ Jun 18th 2008 10:42AM
Best. Graphic. Ever.
MadeinDetroit @ Jun 18th 2008 6:46PM
+1 to that!
John R @ Jun 18th 2008 11:03AM
kudos for the pic. [right click "save as..."]
John R @ Jun 18th 2008 11:04AM
I always thought Burns was a Sith Lord
TriShield @ Jun 18th 2008 11:03AM
A+ graphic
Sam @ Jun 18th 2008 11:28AM
The name Tracinda came from the merging the names of Kerkorian's daughters - Tracy and Linda.
Say what you will, but he has always been fair with his public shareholders.
brandon @ Jun 18th 2008 11:30AM
considering the first 3/4 of the comments were about the pic, you might want to credit the artist, though i realize blog / news / fair use / blah blah blah.
Dan Roth @ Jun 18th 2008 11:53AM
Well, I hacked it up with Photoshop, but yeah, good idea, I added a photo credit.
Hamud @ Jun 18th 2008 12:52PM
HAHhhahaahhah, awesome graphics.
TyWright @ Jun 18th 2008 12:52PM
Kerk should take Trump and move to the Bermuda Triangle.
Sandy @ Aug 15th 2008 5:13PM
Jealous ?
Pengwin @ Jun 18th 2008 8:43PM
Nice photoshop job