Report: Mulally says Ford may pare global lineup to just 20 models

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ford

When Alan Mulally took charge of Ford four years ago, the Blue Oval had nearly 100 models. There are fewer than half that now, and the CEO wants to trim the number down to "less than 30, on our way to 20 to 25." His goal of simplification appears to be driven by the desire to cut costs for everyone - distributors, suppliers, dealerships, as well as Ford itself. That will not only help the brand in the present as it makes do in lean times, but can compound the rewards when markets - especially in Asia - go nuts again.

Mulally says the returns can be put into research and development, along with engineering for the remaining models. To put this in perspective, on Ford's U.S. site alone, there are 18 vehicles, not including the soon-to-die Explorer Sport Trac, which of course leaves out cars like the Falcon, Territory, Kuga and S-Max, among others. So the natural question is: Which vehicles would or should get the axe?

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Mulally says Ford may pare global lineup to just 20 models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Venezuela website publishes boob (with nipple) for a good cause

John Neff — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Be forewarned, this post does have nudity. But because the bare chest in question is being used to promote breast cancer awareness in a nation less stuffy about the naked female form than our own, we don't feel creepy for posting about it. Everybody wins! The image you see above can be found on Ford's Venezuelan website where it's being used to promote a joint breast cancer awareness and prevention campaign between the automaker and coincidentally named Ford Models. The two have teamed up to get their message out to both women and men, hence the vivacious Venezuelan model in her birthday suit to get and keep the latter's attention.

Together the two companies have offered free mammograms to all female Ford employees and any working within the automaker's dealer network in Venezuela. They're also holding a sweepstakes in which people can enter via texting to win a Ford Explorer and other prizes. Money earned from the texting charges will go to charities associated with breast cancer awareness and research. We of course support raising money and awareness for this great cause (in the U.S. we like Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and you can also find a list of rated breast cancer-related charities here), but we find it Twilight Zone strange to see that much bare skin on one of Ford's official websites. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: Ford]

Ford Venezuela website publishes boob (with nipple) for a good cause originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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