REPORT: Ford to increase production by 10% in third quarter
General Motors and Chrysler are knee deep in bankruptcy proceedings, with many plants closed for weeks on end. With Ford's domestic competition embroiled in financial distress, the Blue Oval has a unique opportunity to grab market share. Ford has experienced share growth for six of the past seven months, and it plans a larger assault on sales increases in the third quarter. As such, FoMoCo plans on upping its Q3 production by 10% to capitalize on the situation.
The Dearborn, MI-based automaker plans to increase production to 460,000 units from Q3 2008's total of 418,000 cars and trucks. While many calls have been trumpeted to increase car sales because customers want more fuel efficient products, Ford is actualy decreasing its car production from 184,000 units to 150,000. The big volume increase falls squarely into the truck category. The move to increase truck production is a gamble for Ford, considering the fact that gas prices are inching upward. Truck demand could see a shot in the arm, though, as construction work from the $788 billion stimulus plan starts to take effect.
Despite the fact that Ford is taking full advantage of the situation at Chrysler and GM, the automaker insists that it isn't merely dancing on its long-time competitor's graves. Ford President Mark Fields told The Wall Street Journal that he feels for his competitors, but "This is not a case of 'Gee, let's stick it to them.' We have been watching our inventory levels and we've seen our market share grow. This is really just us working our plan."
If that plan includes taking share from ailing GM and Chrysler, the Blue Oval seems to be okay with that. We're guessing they'd be just as happy to take share from Honda or Toyota.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Upthewazzu 5:35PM (6/01/2009)
How dare those consumers demand large trucks and other low-mpg vehicles. Damn them!
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urdaddy 12:02AM (6/02/2009)
sorry to rain in on your Ford orgy but
Malibu > Fusion
2010 Equinox & Traverse > Edge, Escape, Explorer, Flex
Cruze > Focus
Impala = Taurus
Camaro > Mustang
Volt > ??? Oh right no answer to it
Tahoe/Sub >> Expedition
and don't even start me on Lincoln vs Caddy cuz it ain't even close, buicks new lineup is even better than them.
I will however succeed the F-150 and new Taurus to the impala and Silverado
frag 10:53AM (6/02/2009)
urdaddy : Exactly, that's why Ford is entering chapter 11 and GM is not..
er.. wait a sec!
David 2:58PM (6/02/2009)
@urdady
Cruze>Focus? Way to compare a nonexistant car to one that already does
Volt > ??? Again...vaporware as of now...not to mention the fact that they already announced that they would produce 2 BEVs as well as a plugin hybrid by 2012
merlot066 4:43PM (6/02/2009)
urdaddy
On what planet are current GMs better than Fords? I really like GM and I hope once the automotive dust settles we'll have a stronger Big 2 (GM and Ford, chrysler had their chance in the 80s and they blew it BIG TIME [sebring anybody?]). Anywho, all of Fords have more power and better mileage than any of GMs. The Malibu is very nice, but not nicer than a Fusion. Exuinox, i haven't even looked into that yet, the traverse, UGLY. I you're coparing cars that aren't being made, then how about we compare the Cruze to the Verve or the Euro-Focus. Imapla = Taurus, maybe but the 2010 Taurus is coming out in a short month or so, and it beats the socks off the Impala (the avalon and accord too). Camaro over Mustang, not according to Car and Driver, and the camaro is more expensive, and 3 or 4k can do a lot to a car like a Mustang. Volt = Vaporware as of now until I see one in a dealership waiting to be sold, and a plug in escape is ready to be made but Ford wants to make it to the highest quality (sorta like the mid-sided fusion hybrid gets 41 MPG) and lowest cost possible. And Tahoe over Expedition, please. The Expedition has the same 5.4L Triton V8 as the F-150 (which you admitted is better) and it gets best-in-class (like many of Ford's other models) 14 MPG city 20 MPG highway. Oh yeah, GO FORD!!!!
Mike 5:36PM (6/01/2009)
Way to go Ford! The new F150 are realy sweet trucks
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Randy 11:29PM (6/01/2009)
Ford ROCKS!
Tyler 5:40PM (6/01/2009)
Fords fiscally f***ed if fuel prices fly up. For Ford's fortune, they finally have a full lineup of fuelly efficient hybrids.
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BigMcLargeHuge 5:53PM (6/01/2009)
Hopefully they'll have the Ecoboost in the F-150 in short order.
Greg Aryous 6:03PM (6/01/2009)
The 3.5L V6 EcoBoost should make 400HP and 400Ft-Lbs torque in the F150 and get mid-20's MPG... Sweet! Also, the 2.5L I4 EB could produce 300HP and torque.
Snark 6:55PM (6/01/2009)
No. The 3.5 Ecoboost puts out 350hp and the 2.0L will likely crank out 240-260.
Tyler 8:51PM (6/01/2009)
Guize, pay attention to my alliteration.
BigMcLargeHuge 5:44PM (6/01/2009)
Dear GM:
Skadoosh!
Signed,
Ford
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J 5:45PM (6/01/2009)
Go Ford!
I was just at the local Ford dealer looking at the new Fusion and F-150. The Fusion is miles ahead of the Camry in terms of looks and fuel economy it seems too with the Hybrid. The F-150 is hands down the best pickup available right now. I love my '04.
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KIB2 5:51PM (6/01/2009)
We takin it to em,
Got em up against the ropes holding thier throats,
They said we out of the Game, now we rollin, F-150, Fusion, Focus, Flex,
Edgin across the U.S., One mine, One rhymn In Mulally we Trust!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEY5wycJtIE
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CycloneHog 5:54PM (6/01/2009)
With headlines like these... http://www.newsy.com/videos/gm_refuels_with_bankruptcy
Why wouldn't Ford say "Gee, let's stick it to them!" ???
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Yaroukh 5:54PM (6/01/2009)
There's one name I have on my mind, bwahaha!
Reply
Greg Aryous 5:58PM (6/01/2009)
The F150 is Fords biggest profit center and they are selling more of the fully loaded models, the new Platinum is near 10% of all sales (forecast was just 3%). This should help make Ford profitable in Q3 this year vs. waiting until 2011. Buy Ford(F).
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VW GTi 8:18PM (6/01/2009)
If they start to bring over their European Gems, that should help too. American side for SUV / Pickup Trucks, European for small cars / sedans. A winning combination!!
jinsei888 5:58PM (6/01/2009)
Ford succeeds over it's failed 3 bretheren
Reply