Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford prepared for slow sales with Focus Electric]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-sales-with-focus-electric/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-sales-with-focus-electric/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-sales-with-focus-electric/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Along with Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, Ford CEO Alan Mulally is confident in the growth of the electric car segment. It's a long-term play, though, so Mulally isn't committing the electric Ford Focus EV to making a strong sales statement. For now, Ford's chief says he'd be fine moving fewer than 5,000 Focus EVs in the model's first full year. And even that would mean a steep rise in uptake based on just 12 having been sold in December and January.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mulally has also let slip the cost for the battery pack in the all-electric Focus: "around $12,000 to $15,000," which makes the Focus Electric's starting cost of $39,200 a bit more understandable. Given that price range and the EV's 23-kWh battery, that means Ford's cost is between $522 and $650 per kWh, which is lower than the estimated $689-per-kWh industry average so far this year.

Reportage on the current sales of EVs is a bit schizophrenic - for example, bullish here, bearish here, but the commentators and the numbers seem to support Mulally's confidence. If the Focus EV did manage 5,000 sales this year, that would be a little more than half of the 2011 tally for the Nissan Leaf, yet according to Bloomberg, EV market share grew more quickly than any other segment in Q1: Nissan is still working through its Leaf pre-order list, Chevrolet Volt sales were up 277 percent to 2,129 units vs. March 2011, the Opel Ampera has exceeded sales expectations, and other electric vehicles and their marketing pushes will come online later this year. Oh, and gas prices are still climbing.

There were no Focus EVs sold in February or March, but the retail push is gearing up now for the Spring season.

Ford prepared for slow sales with Focus Electric originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ford focus2012 ford focus evalan mulallyelectric carfocusfocus electricfocus evfordford focus electricford focus evmulallyThu, 19 Apr 2012 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20217791/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/19/ford-prepared-for-slow-sales-with-focus-electric/20217791/article-detail.xml 20217791 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/focuselectricsales_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/focuselectricsales.jpg <![CDATA[Ford CEO Alan Mulally called out as a tax dodger [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-called-out-as-a-tax-dodger-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-called-out-as-a-tax-dodger-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/13/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-called-out-as-a-tax-dodger-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: ,



Remember Jetgate? Back in the pre-bankruptcy days of late 2008, when the Big Three CEO's were traveling to Washington to plead their case for funds, Ford's Alan Mulally, General Motors' then-CEO Rick Wagoner, and Chrysler's former chief Bob Nardelli were publicly chastised for flying in corporate jets to the tune of $20,000 per round trip.

Two years earlier, Ford president Mark Fields became a target of outrage when a Detroit-area TV station discovered that his employment contract included $50,000-$70,000 worth of private jet service per week to ship Fields between Dearborn and his home in Florida.

Now this: The New York Times is reporting that Ford spent spent $178,571 on personal air travel for Mulally last year. While Ford no longer has a fleet of corporate jets, according to the report, it pays a charter service to transport Mulally and his kin. And that's not all. Since this benefit is classified as "security measures," Mulally gets off the hook for paying taxes on it, as he doesn't have to report the benefit as income, according to the Times. Mulally received nearly $30 million in compensation last year, according to other reports.

While Ford refused comment, the article calls out the company for using this "common corporate tax trick" that it says robs the federal government of tax revenue from CEO's like Mulally, meaning that taxpayers are essentially subsidizing his perks.

While the report concerns various corporate executives, it singles out Mulally, suggesting that any potential danger to Ford's CEO has to be less than that posed to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who flies commercial airlines. The Times also says that former Apple CEO Steve Jobs "received no security services from Apple last year before he died."

View Poll

Ford CEO Alan Mulally called out as a tax dodger [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyceo compensationford private jetjetgatemulallymulally private jetprivate jettaxtax dodgingFri, 13 Apr 2012 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20215502/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/13/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-called-out-as-a-tax-dodger-w-poll/20215502/article-detail.xml 20215502 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/alan-mulally-opt-1334346356_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/alan-mulally-opt-1334346356.jpg <![CDATA[Mulally receives nearly $30M in compensation for 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/mulally-receives-nearly-30m-in-compensation-for-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/mulally-receives-nearly-30m-in-compensation-for-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/mulally-receives-nearly-30m-in-compensation-for-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,

Alan Mulally

If you're Alan Mulally's gardener, it's probably a good time to ask the boss for a raise. The Ford Chief Executive Officer just pocketed $58.3 million in stock earlier in the month, and now his 2011 compensation has been made public - and it's increased some 11 percent.

Mulally received $29.5 million in 2011, according to The Detroit News, more than twice the next-highest-paid Ford officer cited in the report, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., whose total compensation was $14.46 million. While Mulally's salary amounts to a paltry $2 million, he was paid a $5.46 million bonus, with the rest coming in "stock and option awards as well as personal expenses, which can entail personal use of private aircraft, cell phone use, security, and fuel and car washes," according to the report.

The News says Ford surpassed its profit targets in 2011, but missed other internal benchmarks.

Doing some quick math, Ford sold 5.7 million vehicles globally in 2011, meaning that Mulally pocketed $5.17 for each one.

Mulally receives nearly $30M in compensation for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallybill ford jrbill ford jr.ceo compensationfordmulallyFri, 30 Mar 2012 19:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20204980/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/30/mulally-receives-nearly-30m-in-compensation-for-2011/20204980/article-detail.xml 20204980 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/alanmulally2035-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/alanmulally2035-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Mulally awarded $58.3M in stock for succesful turnaround]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/mulally-awarded-58-3m-in-stock-for-succesful-turnaround/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/mulally-awarded-58-3m-in-stock-for-succesful-turnaround/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/mulally-awarded-58-3m-in-stock-for-succesful-turnaround/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford CEO Alan Mulally looking happy

Ford CEO Alan Mulally has been awarded $58.3 million in company stock for his hand in righting the automaker's fortunes. After taxes, the CEO will receive $34.5 million. According to Automotive News, Mulally will also receive salary and benefits for 2011 on top of the his stock incentives. The stock was handed out as part of an incentive plan associated with the company's performance in 2009. The report says Ford has earned $29.5 billion since then after suffering through $30.1 billion in losses between 2006 and 2008. All told, Mulally has been awarded $100 million in stock in the past two years.

Ford, meanwhile, says that the company believes in a compensation philosophy that ties executives to the interests of the company's shareholders. That's all fine and good, but Mulally's pay scale brought the ire of the United Auto Workers last year, when UAW President Bob King said the compensation was "morally wrong." Zing.

Morally wrong or not, it's hard to argue with Mulally's performance at Ford. The CEO nailed nearly all of his performance targets for 2009 and kept Ford afloat without delving into the federal government's infamous Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Mulally awarded $58.3M in stock for succesful turnaround originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyalan mulally stockceofordford ceoford ceo stockford stockWed, 07 Mar 2012 16:19:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20188232/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/07/mulally-awarded-58-3m-in-stock-for-succesful-turnaround/20188232/article-detail.xml 20188232 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mulally-happy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mulally-happy.jpg <![CDATA[Book: Ford secretly partnered with Toyota, Honda during economic crisis]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/book-ford-secretly-partnered-with-toyota-honda-during-economic/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/book-ford-secretly-partnered-with-toyota-honda-during-economic/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/book-ford-secretly-partnered-with-toyota-honda-during-economic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company coverWhile the headline might seem shocking, given the circumstances of the 2009 global economic meltdown, it only makes sense. Ford's dealings with two of its biggest competitors were centered around mutual self-preservation in the form of trying to keep a beleaguered supplier base afloat, according to The Detroit News. According to the report, Ford, Toyota and Honda cooperated to buy from common suppliers in a bid to keep those parts-makers from going under, which would have threatened the automakers' viability. That revelation comes courtesy of a new book, American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company by Bryce G. Hoffman.

The auto industry is far more complex than many people realize, especially in this modern era, with ever-more demanding regulations and brutal competition from all corners of the globe. Tier One suppliers, as the biggest parts companies are known, have assumed much of the engineering and product testing and development work for new vehicles, even including big chunks of assembly.

When times get tough, as they most certainly did in late 2008, suppliers are often the canary in the coal mine. At least 27 automotive suppliers filed for Chapter 11 in 2009, meaning that Ford had good reason for taking such precautions, referred to as "Project Quark" internally, according to the report.

Interestingly enough, General Motors and Chrysler, the pair that eventually sought bankruptcy, chose not to participate in the alliance, with GM allegedly expressing concerns over the legality of such a maneuver. The book says Ford's antitrust attorneys were careful to avoid setting foot on the wrong side of such laws, which prohibit collusion on pricing, among other restrictions on cooperative behavior by competitors.

There are quite a few other interesting anecdotes in Hoffman's book, including a heated argument between Mark Fields, Ford's President of the Americas (now said to be in line to succeed CEO Alan Mulally), and Don Leclair, the company's then chief financial officer. According to Automotive News, a passage in the book declares that Leclair suggested that Fields cut the advertising budget for Ford's Bold Moves campaign in 2006. This led to heated argument, that ended up with Fields making a move toward Leclair while spouting some choice four-letter words. The altercation was broken up by none other than Bill Ford Jr.

Book: Ford secretly partnered with Toyota, Honda during economic crisis originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyamerican iconAmerican Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Comauto bailoutauto supplier bankruptcybryce g. hoffmanbryce hoffmanfordford motor companyhoffmanhondatoyotaFri, 02 Mar 2012 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20184726/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/02/book-ford-secretly-partnered-with-toyota-honda-during-economic/20184726/article-detail.xml 20184726 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/american-icon-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/american-icon-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford announces retirements of Kuzak and Booth, adds Huntsman to board]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/ford-announces-retirements-of-kuzak-and-booth-adds-huntsman-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/ford-announces-retirements-of-kuzak-and-booth-adds-huntsman-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/ford-announces-retirements-of-kuzak-and-booth-adds-huntsman-to/#commentsFiled under: ,



Ford Motor Co. today made several big-name executive and boardroom announcements, including the appointment of a former Republican presidential candidate, but none changed the almost certain succession of CEO and President Alan Mulally.

Mulally said Thursday with a snicker, "I looked over the press release very clearly and saw that my name was not among those retiring."

Mulally announced Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth (above, middle), 63, and Group Vice President and Global Product Development Chief Derrick Kuzak (above, left), 60, are retiring effective April 1. Booth will be replaced by Vice President and Controller Bob Shanks, and Kuzak will be replaced by VP of Engineering and Global Product Development Raj Nair. Both successions involve executives who have long been groomed for the top jobs, and represent orderly transition at Ford.

Ford's board of directors, which cleared the new executive appointments in their Wednesday meeting this week, also announced the addition of former Utah Governor, U.S. Ambassador to China and recent Republican presidential candidate John Huntsman Jr. (above, right) to the board. Huntsman represents an addition, and their were no board retirements.

Continue reading Ford announces retirements of Kuzak and Booth, adds Huntsman to board

Ford announces retirements of Kuzak and Booth, adds Huntsman to board originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyderrick kuzakfordjohn huntsmanlewis boothmark fieldsThu, 09 Feb 2012 09:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20168006/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/09/ford-announces-retirements-of-kuzak-and-booth-adds-huntsman-to/20168006/article-detail.xml 20168006 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/kuzack-booth-huntsman-ford_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/kuzack-booth-huntsman-ford.jpg <![CDATA[Translogic hangs out with Daimler's Zetsche and Ford's Mulally at CES]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/translogic-hangs-out-with-daimlers-zetsche-and-fords-mulally-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/translogic-hangs-out-with-daimlers-zetsche-and-fords-mulally-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/translogic-hangs-out-with-daimlers-zetsche-and-fords-mulally-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Translogic at CES

Usually our sister publication Translogic is out putting futuristic transportation hardware through the paces or talking to geeks who are trying to reimagine the very infrastructure of our world. But this week, the show has a decidedly more conventional subject: Interviews with Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche and Ford CEO Alan Mulally.

Both of these automotive bigwigs were wandering the halls of the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month (Zetsche was the keynote speaker, a job Mulally performed two years ago), which is where Translogic caught up with them for a chat and demonstration of their CES wares. Zetsche showed off a new gesture-based in-car interface, as well as some new active safety technology for Mercedes-Benz. Mulally plugged Ford's new hybrid and plug-in hybrid Fusion, as well as showing off the Ford Evos concept's fancy infotainment system. Give it a watch after the jump.

Continue reading Translogic hangs out with Daimler's Zetsche and Ford's Mulally at CES

Translogic hangs out with Daimler's Zetsche and Ford's Mulally at CES originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallycesces 2012consumer electronics showdaimlerdieter zetschefordinfotainmentmercedes-benzmulallytelematicstranslogicvideoSat, 28 Jan 2012 14:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20156559/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/28/translogic-hangs-out-with-daimlers-zetsche-and-fords-mulally-a/20156559/article-detail.xml 20156559 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/translogic-ceo-interviews-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/translogic-ceo-interviews-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford tops in non-retail sales, 45% of Focus sold to fleets]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/ford-tops-in-non-retail-sales-45-of-focus-sold-to-fleets/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/ford-tops-in-non-retail-sales-45-of-focus-sold-to-fleets/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/ford-tops-in-non-retail-sales-45-of-focus-sold-to-fleets/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Ford Focus Titanium sedan front three-quarter

Most everyone at Ford is grinning from ear-to-ear these days, as the company is enjoying profits as well as a vastly improved product portfolio and public image. Sales are up, the product pipeline is full, and market share grew last year. You can almost imagine Ford CEO Alan Mulally saying, "What, me worry?"

But that's exactly what he should be doing, according to Forbes, which suggests Ford is growing arrogant and its numbers aren't nearly as solid as they appear. For instance, Forbes says Ford was also right up there with Toyota and Honda when it came to recalls last year, far outpacing crosstown rivals General Motors and Chrysler. Ford recalled some 3.3 million vehicles in 2011, compared with 773,000 for Chrysler and just 500,000 for GM.

But the real shocker is that Forbes says Ford tops all automakers when it comes to fleet sales. Not only are fleet sales usually less profitable, but they also tend to hurt resale values, meaning that selling 32 percent of its vehicles into fleets last year does not bode well for the Blue Oval or the residual values of its owners. According to the report, the model with the most fleet sales was the new-for-2012 Focus. A staggering 45 percent of Focus models sold last year were to fleets, which isn't good for anyone, save the guy standing in line at the Hertz counter.

Editor's note: Ford contacted us to clarify a few things about its 2011 fleet sales. The first is that rental fleet sales as a percent of total volume was 12 percent, which it claims is a smaller percentage than GM and Chrysler's rental fleet sales. Fleet sales of commercial vehicles, meanwhile, were 14 percent of total sales volume, while government sales were six percent.

Ford tops in non-retail sales, 45% of Focus sold to fleets originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ford focusalan mulallyfleet salesfocusfordford motor companyford salesmarket sharerecallsretail salesFri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20158695/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/27/ford-tops-in-non-retail-sales-45-of-focus-sold-to-fleets/20158695/article-detail.xml 20158695 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/2012-ford-focus-platinum-1301466358_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/2012-ford-focus-platinum-1301466358.jpg <![CDATA[Ford reports biggest profits since '98, still fails to meet estimates]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/ford-reports-biggest-profits-since-98-still-fails-to-meet-estim/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/ford-reports-biggest-profits-since-98-still-fails-to-meet-estim/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/ford-reports-biggest-profits-since-98-still-fails-to-meet-estim/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Alan Mulally of Ford with reporters

Ford has announced the company's single largest profit since 1998, thanks in part to a one-time tax gain. The company drew in a net income of $13.6 billion last quarter and the news marked the automaker's 11th consecutive profitable quarter. For perspective, Ford made $190 million in 2010. The company's net income was bolstered by the fact that Ford eliminated a valuation allowance against deferred tax benefits. The company created the valuation allowance in 2006 when it began reporting operating losses. Analysts reportedly see the elimination as a sign that the manufacturer expects to be profitable in coming years.

The company made $8.8 billion in profit in 2011, or $1.51 a share. That's an increase of $463 million over 2010. Even so, the company's net income missed analysts' estimates thanks in part to higher commodity costs, currency fluctuations and flooding in Thailand. The automaker spent $100 million more in commodities like steel than it projected. Those facts, combined with a deteriorating European market, helped Ford miss analyst estimates by 5 cents per share.

Ford reports biggest profits since '98, still fails to meet estimates originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyfordford 2011 earningsford 2011 profitford earningsford financialsford motor companyford profitprofitFri, 27 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20158349/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/27/ford-reports-biggest-profits-since-98-still-fails-to-meet-estim/20158349/article-detail.xml 20158349 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/alan-mulally-of-ford-with-reporters_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/alan-mulally-of-ford-with-reporters.jpg <![CDATA[Ford denies starting search for Mulally successor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/ford-denies-starting-search-for-mulally-successor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/ford-denies-starting-search-for-mulally-successor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/ford-denies-starting-search-for-mulally-successor/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford executives

There's little question that bringing Alan Mulally on board at Ford was the smartest move the company made in decades, nor is there much debate that credit for the company's salvation is largely due to his office. But could his number be up?

Having joined Ford in 2006 as an outsider from aerospace giant Boeing, Mulally (pictured above, left) has been on the job for over five years now. And while he's showing no signs of slowing down, sources indicate he is unlikely to stay on the job beyond another year or two.

The question, then, is who might replace him. Citing internal sources, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Ford has begun putting together a short-list with four candidates: two internal and two external. However, TheDetroitBureau.com has offered a rebuttal saying that the Blue Oval denies beginning such a search.

Either way, at some point, a search will need to begin. Mulally's case notwithstanding, cases of successful hires from outside the business to the top of a major automaker like Ford have been few and far between, but the company could be forced by shareholders to consider outside candidates as well as internal promotions.

The list, according to the WSJ, currently includes Mark Fields (pictured above at right), currently Ford's President of the Americas; Joe Hinrichs (second from right), head of Ford's Asian operations; John Krafcik, a former Ford engineer who now runs Hyundai in America; and Phil Martens, Ford's former product development chief who now runs aluminum manufacturer Novelis.

Again, for its part, Ford denies that it has begun searching for Mulally's successor, but prudent management could very well dictate that it must begin looking - whether the much-lauded executive is ready to retire or not.

Ford denies starting search for Mulally successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyfordford ceoford motor companyjoe hinrichsjohn krafcikmark fieldsmulallynovelisphil martensThu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20123485/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/08/ford-denies-starting-search-for-mulally-successor/20123485/article-detail.xml 20123485 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2008taurus0529e_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2008taurus0529e.jpg <![CDATA[List of Mulally successors narrowed down to four]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/list-of-mulally-successors-narrowed-down-to-four/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/list-of-mulally-successors-narrowed-down-to-four/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/list-of-mulally-successors-narrowed-down-to-four/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford executives

How do you replace the man credited by Time Magazine with managing "the biggest business turnaround of the Great Recession?" That's a very good question, and one that the Ford board of directors is grappling with as company CEO Alan Mulally edges closer to retirement age.

At 66, Mulally isn't exactly far past his prime, and Executive Chairman Bill Ford is said to be in no hurry to welcome in a successor. That said, the timing of Mulally's exit from Ford is likely to be a determining factor in the decision to hire his replacement.

Current CFO Lewis Booth, at 63 years of age, could potentially hold the seat at the head of Ford for a few years if Mulally were to retire earlier than expected. If that doesn't happen, Mark Fields, Ford's President of the Americas, is cited as the most likely choice as its next CEO.

There are two other potential candidates, reports Automotive News. Jim Farley, vice president of global marketing, is on the short list, as is Joe Hinrichs, who heads Ford's Asia Pacific and African operations.

Insiders suggest that Ford may choose to keep Alan Mulally on its payroll in some unknown capacity to help mentor his replacement. Such a move could potentially keep both the rank-and-file Ford workers and Wall Street investors satiated.

List of Mulally successors narrowed down to four originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyceofordford ceojim farleyjoe hinrickslewis boothmark fieldsMon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20115537/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/28/list-of-mulally-successors-narrowed-down-to-four/20115537/article-detail.xml 20115537 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/ford-executives_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/ford-executives.jpg <![CDATA[Infographic: Wage gap between CEO and employees]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/19/infographic-wage-gap-between-ceo-and-employees/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/19/infographic-wage-gap-between-ceo-and-employees/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/19/infographic-wage-gap-between-ceo-and-employees/#commentsFiled under:



As you're probably already aware, Ford CEO Alan Mulally earned well over $26 million last year. Fiat and Chrysler head Sergio Marchionne was next in the ranks of highest-paid CEOs among automakers with $17 million in compensation, and Nissan/Renault chief Carlos Ghosn was third at $13 million.

None of this is news, really. We already knew that. But what you may not know is how those figures compare to the income of the average autoworker. According to the infographic you see above (click here to enlarge), the average annual salary earned by autoworkers in America as of February 2010 was $48,000... but that figure varies a good deal, depending on factors such as the company paying the bill and the number of years employed.

For a more complete breakdown of CEO compensation versus the rest of an automakers' employees, check out the full graphic after the jump.

Continue reading Infographic: Wage gap between CEO and employees

Infographic: Wage gap between CEO and employees originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyautoworker wagesautoworkerscarlos ghosnceoceo wagesdan akersonsergio marchionneFri, 19 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20022048/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/19/infographic-wage-gap-between-ceo-and-employees/20022048/article-detail.xml 20022048 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/ceo-wages-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/ceo-wages-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Stack of potential suitors line up at Ford for Life After Mulally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/22/stack-of-potential-suitors-line-up-at-ford-for-life-after-mulall/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/22/stack-of-potential-suitors-line-up-at-ford-for-life-after-mulall/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/22/stack-of-potential-suitors-line-up-at-ford-for-life-after-mulall/#commentsFiled under: ,

Who Could Possibly Replace Ford's Golden CEO?

Ford Executives

Insiders say the jockeying for Mulally's position has already begun.
There was a time when some folks in Detroit were convinced Lee Iacocca's last name was really an acronym for: I Am Chairman of Chrysler Corp. Always. Indeed, it took a shove from an increasingly frustrated board to finally get Lido to name his successor.

If anything, those on the Ford Motor Co. board of directors are putting CEO Alan Mulally in a bear hug, Chairman Bill Ford suggesting he'd keep the chief executive firmly planted in his office at Glass House until he was 80. For his part, the still-boyish former Boeing executive has said on more than one occasion that despite turning 65, he's not rushing to leave as long as he's having "fun." But as his fifth anniversary in Dearborn approaches it is no surprise that there's plenty of speculation about who might eventually replace Mullaly, if not when.

In decades past, Ford was land of the long knives, where power trumped all, and doing away with your rivals was only slightly less bloody than when the Borgias ruled in Rome. Mulally has made much of instilling a sort of "greater-good" mindset and one of the reasons for the maker's recent success has been that the highly political nature has been toned down a number of notches. Nonetheless, insiders say the jockeying for position has already begun.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Stack of potential suitors line up at Ford for Life After Mulally

Stack of potential suitors line up at Ford for Life After Mulally originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyfordford ceojim farleyjoe hinrichslewis boothmark fieldsFri, 22 Jul 2011 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19998319/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/22/stack-of-potential-suitors-line-up-at-ford-for-life-after-mulall/19998319/article-detail.xml 19998319 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/ford-executives_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/ford-executives.jpg <![CDATA[Ford CEO Alan Mulally personally delivers F-150]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-personally-delivers-f150/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-personally-delivers-f150/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-personally-delivers-f150/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Millaly F-150 delivery

"If you buy this truck, I'll come deliver it," Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally told his friend Rob Johnston. Proving that his pledge was more than just an empty sales tactic, Mulally stayed true to his word and dropped in at Satcher Ford in Aiken, South Carolina to personally hand over the keys to Johnston's 2011 Ford F-150. Johnston's likely still marveling at the luck that comes from having friends in high places, chuckling that "the CEO of Ford brought my little truck down to me" while taking delivery last Friday.

Maybe it's a new type of sales perk Ford could offer. Who wouldn't want, say, a Boss 302 dropped off by Parnelli Jones? There's a rich tapestry of Ford drivers in NASCAR available for Ford Fusion buyers, too. It could even be a line-item on the order form. Pay a little more for personal celebrity delivery, and the public figure of your choosing gets a vacation in an unlikely spot, like the overnight Mr. Mulally spent at Aiken's Willcox Hotel. If anything, it's a way for Mr. Mulally to spend time outside of Dearborn and speak with the public that buys his company's products.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally personally delivers F-150 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 ford f150alan mulallyf-150f-seriesf150fordThu, 30 Jun 2011 07:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19976558/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/30/ford-ceo-alan-mulally-personally-delivers-f150/19976558/article-detail.xml 19976558 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallydeliveringf150-1309028757_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallydeliveringf150-1309028757.jpg <![CDATA[Mulally voted CEO of the Year by fellow suits]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/mulally-voted-ceo-of-the-year-by-fellow-suits/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/mulally-voted-ceo-of-the-year-by-fellow-suits/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/mulally-voted-ceo-of-the-year-by-fellow-suits/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Alan Mulally at CES

Ford CEO Alan Mulally must have an impressive trophy room. The executive was just voted to be the 2011 CEO of the Year by a group of fellow head honchos, adding yet another honor to his already lengthy list of awards. Chief Executive Magazine readers nominated those leaders they felt deserved a tip of the hat, and the top 10 names with the most votes were then submitted to a selection committee for a final decision. This year's committee was comprised of executives leading companies ranging from Office Depot to MetLife and Ernst & Young.

Despite Ford taking a beating in this year's JD Power Initial Quality rankings due to trouble with its MyFord Touch and Sync systems, the selection committee still recognized Mulally for helping usher the automaker through some of the darkest days of domestic auto production. Last year, Mulally pulled down honors for Businessperson of the Year and he made the Motor Trend power list for 2011. We hear he's shooting for an Oscar in 2012. Hit the jump for the CEO of the Year press release.

Continue reading Mulally voted CEO of the Year by fellow suits

Mulally voted CEO of the Year by fellow suits originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyceo of the yearchief executivechief executive of the yearchief executive officerfordford ceomulallyTue, 28 Jun 2011 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19977620/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/28/mulally-voted-ceo-of-the-year-by-fellow-suits/19977620/article-detail.xml 19977620 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/alan-mulally-at-ces-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/alan-mulally-at-ces-630.jpg <![CDATA[Ford requiring Lincoln dealers to spend $1 million each to renovate showrooms]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/ford-requiring-lincoln-dealers-to-spend-1-million-each-to-renov/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/ford-requiring-lincoln-dealers-to-spend-1-million-each-to-renov/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/ford-requiring-lincoln-dealers-to-spend-1-million-each-to-renov/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lincoln Emblem

It looks like Cadillac isn't the only American luxury automaker throwing the hammer and nails at its showrooms. According to Automotive News, stand-alone Lincoln dealers located in urban areas are expected to spend at least $1 million in showroom renovations over the next two years.

Executives at Ford expect even more from those dealers who sell both Ford and Lincoln products. Those lots will be required to spend around $1.9 million over the same span of time. Ford CEO Alan Mulally made the announcement at a meeting with over 120 dealers from around the country.

What happens if the renovations aren't completed? Automotive News, sourcing dealers who were at the meeting, says that Ford will seek to reacquire noncompliant dealers' franchise licenses for compensation.

The move is part of an overall plan to jump start Lincoln sales from 86,000 units currently to 162,00 units by 2015. The renovations are expected to begin by the end of this year and wrap up by 2013, just in time for the launch of a redesigned MKZ sedan and a new crossover built on the bones of the Ford Focus.

Ford requiring Lincoln dealers to spend $1 million each to renovate showrooms originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyfordlincolnlincoln dealerslincoln showroomsMon, 13 Jun 2011 10:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19965352/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/13/ford-requiring-lincoln-dealers-to-spend-1-million-each-to-renov/19965352/article-detail.xml 19965352 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/linocln-emblem_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/linocln-emblem.jpg <![CDATA[Ford projecting 50% sales growth by 2015]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/ford-projecting-50-sales-growth-by-2015/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/ford-projecting-50-sales-growth-by-2015/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/ford-projecting-50-sales-growth-by-2015/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

alan mulally

Alan Mulally has done a lot of good for the Blue Oval brand, but the Ford CEO still has big plans for the automaker. In fact, Mulally's goal is to see a 50 percent increase in global sales by the year 2015. An ambitious target, which would see Ford selling nearly eight million vehicles around the world.

How does Mulally expect to achieve this substantial growth? According to USA Today, Ford plans to increase its footprint in the growing markets in Africa and Asia, with a specific focus on the Chinese car-buying public. Small cars will be the key to increased sales in those markets. Ford hopes to make make money on these lower-margin vehicles through sheer volume thanks to the growth potential of these still-emerging markets.

Ford projecting 50% sales growth by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyblue ovalfordford africaford asiaford chinaford global salesford salesmulallyTue, 07 Jun 2011 17:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19960782/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/07/ford-projecting-50-sales-growth-by-2015/19960782/article-detail.xml 19960782 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallypay18_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallypay18.jpg <![CDATA[Bill Ford, Jr. hints Mulally's successor will likely come from within Ford]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/06/bill-ford-jr-hints-mulallys-successor-will-likely-come-from-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/06/bill-ford-jr-hints-mulallys-successor-will-likely-come-from-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/06/bill-ford-jr-hints-mulallys-successor-will-likely-come-from-w/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford CEO Alan Mulally

Alan Mulally has no plans to retire just yet. The 65-year-old Ford CEO is still going strong at the helm in Dearborn, and is working to get his company back up to an investment-grade credit rating. Still, Bill Ford, Jr. explained to reporters last week that the former Boeing CEO's replacement will probably come from within the company.

According to The Detroit News, Ford went as far as to say it would be "very unusual" if Mulally's replacement came from outside. The executive chairman elaborated, explaining that Mulally holds "Business Performance Review" meetings every Thursday, encouraging execs from different wings of the company to participate and learn as much as they can about the business as a whole. In part, the meetings are designed to help "train the next generation" of leadership for the company.

Bill Ford, Jr. hints Mulally's successor will likely come from within Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallybill ford jrfordford ceoford jrmulallyMon, 06 Jun 2011 13:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19958637/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/06/bill-ford-jr-hints-mulallys-successor-will-likely-come-from-w/19958637/article-detail.xml 19958637 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallypay18_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallypay18.jpg <![CDATA[Mulally urges Capitol Hill to adopt national fuel standard]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/mulally-urges-capitol-hill-to-adopt-national-fuel-standard/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/mulally-urges-capitol-hill-to-adopt-national-fuel-standard/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/mulally-urges-capitol-hill-to-adopt-national-fuel-standard/#commentsFiled under: ,

ford ceo alan mulally

Will there be one fuel standard to rule them all? Ford CEO Alan Mulally certainly hopes so, and he's letting Washington know. As manufacturers spend time and money pushing to reach established Corporate Average Fuel Economy goals, some states are looking to set their own rules. That could prove to be a tricky - and hugely expensive - proposition for the automakers.

We know we said "some states," but you all know the one we're talking about. California is (once again) considering the idea of setting its own average fuel economy rules starting in 2017, and the federal government is (once again) considering letting them. Currently, California and the federal government agree that fleet-wide fuel efficiency will be required to hit 34.1 miles per gallon starting in 2012, a figure that runs through 2016.

As part of a visit to D.C. this week, Mulally told House members and Bill Daley, White House Chief of Staff (among others), that he wants the government to step up and standardize fuel economy and emissions rules, which would prevent states from breaking out their own guidelines.

Mulally urges Capitol Hill to adopt national fuel standard originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallycafecorporate average fuel economyfordford ceo alan mulallyfuel efficiencymulallyWed, 01 Jun 2011 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19955598/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/01/mulally-urges-capitol-hill-to-adopt-national-fuel-standard/19955598/article-detail.xml 19955598 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallycbitalk02_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/mulallycbitalk02.jpg <![CDATA[Bob King says UAW might negotiate with Detroit Three simultaneously]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/28/report-bob-king-says-uaw-might-negotiate-with-detroit-three-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/28/report-bob-king-says-uaw-might-negotiate-with-detroit-three-sim/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/28/report-bob-king-says-uaw-might-negotiate-with-detroit-three-sim/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

UAW boss Bob King

Traditionally, the United Auto Workers will pick one automaker to negotiate a contract. Then, after that deal is struck, the UAW will shop the deal to the other automakers. It's called "pattern bargaining," and it's been happening for decades.

That may change during 2011 negotiations, as The Detroit Free Press reports that new UAW President Bob King might broker a deal with all three automakers simultaneously. King points out that the automakers and the UAW have a good relationship, adding, "we should be able to work together." That decision won't be made by King, though, as the UAW boss points out that the final bargaining tactics will be determined by the union's top officers.

One area of struggle could be in reigning in expectations of workers looking to win back concessions granted during the auto industry recession of 2008 and 2009. King points to Ford CEO Alan Mulally's 2010 pay of $26.5 million as a potential issue. "I think Alan Mulally is a good CEO... but he has a blind spot here," said King.

King's non-adversarial approach to the upcoming contract negotiations comes as the UAW is making an effort to unionize transplant and supplier facilities. The UAW chief tells the Free Press that the union is making progress. The UAW is looking for fair elections at these facilities, and King is pleased that organizations are at least interested in sitting down for discussions.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images]

Bob King says UAW might negotiate with Detroit Three simultaneously originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallychryslerfordgmpattern bargaininguawuaw boss bob kingunion negotiationsunited auto workersThu, 28 Apr 2011 09:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19924425/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/28/report-bob-king-says-uaw-might-negotiate-with-detroit-three-sim/19924425/article-detail.xml 19924425 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/king_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/king.jpg -1 2