Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford and Canadian Auto Workers reportedly reach a deal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/31/ford-and-canadian-auto-workers-reportedly-reach-a-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/31/ford-and-canadian-auto-workers-reportedly-reach-a-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/31/ford-and-canadian-auto-workers-reportedly-reach-a-deal/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ford reaches deal with CAW

Ford Motor Company and the leadership of the Canadian Auto Workers union have reached a tentative agreement after a marathon four-day wrap-up to negotiations. Union membership needs to approve the deal, which will guarantee a Great White North presence for Ford until at least 2012. Voting is underway this weekend, and if approved, the CAW will be responsible for building 10 percent of Ford's North American production, down from the current 13 percent, which the union had been trying to hold on to.

Workers did agree to time off reductions, and pledged that new employees will have to pay into their pensions. Ford's given its word that the company will build as many vehicles in Canada as it sells there, and the union deemed the pledge good enough to grant GM- and Chrysler-style concessions to Ford.

The Panther platform has been given its last rites; the St. Thomas Assembly plant is the only Ford location currently building the body-on-frame biggies, and that plant will close in September 2011. The 1,600 people in Ontario who build Town Cars and Grand Marquis are understandably unhappy about word that Ford intends to shutter the plant, but the Panther has cheated death more than once. This time, it may stick.

Better news for CAW members is that Ford's Oakville assembly complex, also in Ontario, has the go-ahead to add a third shift when needed. Ford also says it will manufacture a new vehicle at Oakville, which currently builds the Edge, Flex, MKX, and MKT crossovers, but that will likely come after the current labor agreement expires.

[Source: CBC News, Photo: Ford/CC]

Ford and Canadian Auto Workers reportedly reach a deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacanada fordCanadaFordfordford assembly plantsford canadaford cawFord crossoverford crown victoriaford edgeford flexford motor companyFord Motor Company FoMoCoford of canadaford ontarioford pantherford st thomasford unionford union dealford unionsFordAssemblyPlantsFordCanadaFordCawFordCrossoverFordCrownVictoriaFordEdgeFordFlexFordMotorCompanyFordMotorCompanyFomocoFordOfCanadaFordOntarioFordPantherFordStThomasFordUnionFordUnionDealFordUnionsgrand marquisGrandMarquislincolnLincoln MKTLincoln MKT crossoverLincoln MKT FlexLincoln MKXLincolnMktLincolnMktCrossoverLincolnMktFlexLincolnMkxOakvilleoakville assemblyoakville plantOakvilleAssemblyOakvillePlantpanther platformPantherPlatformst thomas assemblyst thomas plantStThomasAssemblyStThomasPlanttown carTownCarunionSat, 31 Oct 2009 16:09:00 EST<![CDATA[(Black and) Blue Oval: Ford of Canada labor costs reportedly world's highest]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/03/black-and-blue-oval-ford-of-canada-labor-costs-reportedly-wor/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/03/black-and-blue-oval-ford-of-canada-labor-costs-reportedly-wor/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/03/black-and-blue-oval-ford-of-canada-labor-costs-reportedly-wor/#commentsFiled under: ,



it wasn't long ago that U.S. automakers were producing a high percentage of their new products in Canada because labor costs were lower up north than are here in the States. The cost paradigm changed considerably after GM and Chrysler went into Chapter 11 reorganization, as the ailing automakers secured better labor deals with both U.S. and Canadian unions, making the UAW and CAW more competitive versus Japanese automakers.

The United Auto Workers renegotiated with Ford, giving Dearborn terms similar to those it gave GM and Chrysler. Ford reportedly told The Globe and Mail that it now pays about $52 per hour for U.S. labor after benefits. Unfortunately for Ford, the CAW hasn't extended the same helping hand labor-wise, and the Blue Oval isn't very happy. Ford says it is paying $16 more per hour for its Canadian workforce than it is for U.S. workers. In fact, Ford says its labor situation in Canada is so bad that the Blue Oval alleges its labor costs there are now higher than in any other region on earth.

The Canadian Auto Workers union appears willing to negotiate, but The Globe and Mail reports that it wants job security in return. Ford's St. Thomas plant, which currently builds the Panther-platformed Lincoln Town Car, Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis, is scheduled for closure at some point in the next two years, and the CAW would like Ford to instead guarantee a new product for the facility. The CAW says it wants to continue to account for 13% of Ford's North American production, but closing the plant and laying off its 1,600 workers would shrink that number to 9%. So far, neither party seems to be budging, but we have a feeling Ford won't be paying the highest labor rates anywhere for very much longer.

[Source: The Globe and Mail]

(Black and) Blue Oval: Ford of Canada labor costs reportedly world's highest originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cawcrown victoriaCrownVictoriafordgran marquisGranMarquisst thomas plantStThomasPlanttown carTownCaruawSat, 03 Oct 2009 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Lincoln Town Car(nage)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/08/ebay-find-of-the-day-lincoln-town-car-nage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/08/ebay-find-of-the-day-lincoln-town-car-nage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/08/ebay-find-of-the-day-lincoln-town-car-nage/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for gallery of the Lincoln Town Car(nage)

When is a 1996 Lincoln Town Car with 114,000 miles on the clock worth $15,098? The correct answer should be never. In this case, however, the answer is when someone supposedly drops $45,000 worth of work into one to make a fake Bentley Arnage. The result is what you see above; add a couple of fender-mounted chandeliers and it could score a role as The Duke's car in Escape From New York. That giant C-pillar is more Rolls than Bentley and those chrome dubs are more bad than good. The biggest disaster comes into view when you open the door and look inside. That interior reportedly cost $10,000. You'd think that amount would buy more than quilted leather, a passel of winged-B emblems that aren't fooling anybody, and that stock instrument panel, but apparently... no. Anyway, somebody liked it enough to buy it, so what do we know. We're sure it'll look great in their garage. You know - right next to the Fierarri.

Gallery: Lincoln Town Car(nage)


[Source: eBay via AutoFiends].

eBay Find of the Day: Lincoln Town Car(nage) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite the lack of a formal announcement (nor any real surprise), the Detroit News has the inside scoop on Ford's plan to close its Ontario plant after production of the Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car ceases, likely by the end of 2010.

The 2.6-million square foot facility currently employs over 2,400 workers and has built a number of models, ranging from the Pinto to the Escort.

Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) president, Buzz Hargrove, admitted to the News that, "There's nothing we can do to save St. Thomas," but we think there is. Convince Ford that the livery market is still dependent on the Panther-platform stalwart, despite New York City's vow to make all of its taxis hybrids in the next few years, and revamp the current car to be all things to all cops by fitting a new V8, a custom, police-friendly interior and anything else the boys (and gals) in blue could want.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford to shutter Ontario plant sometime in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crown victoriaCrownVictoriafordgrand marquisGrandMarquislincolnmercuryontariotown carTownCarMon, 10 Dec 2007 08:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford's Wixom plant heads to the great assembly line in the sky]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/01/fords-wixom-plant-heads-to-the-great-assembly-line-in-the-sky/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/01/fords-wixom-plant-heads-to-the-great-assembly-line-in-the-sky/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/01/fords-wixom-plant-heads-to-the-great-assembly-line-in-the-sky/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The "Way Forward" has claimed its latest victim, this time in the form of the 50-year-old Wixom plant in Michigan. The production center, tasked with building Lincolns since 1957, has built its final White Chocolate Town Car destined for a customer in Washington D.C.

However, the Town Car hasn't met its demise yet. Production will continue at the St. Thomas plant in Ontario, Canada, along side its Panther brethren, the Crown Victoria and the Grand Marquis.

Wixom was housed production in the recent past for the Lincoln LS, Continental and Ford Thunderbird. Even Ford's ultimate halo car, the GT, received its finishing touches at Wixom.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford's Wixom plant heads to the great assembly line in the sky

Ford's Wixom plant heads to the great assembly line in the sky originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thank God it's for charity. Now we don't have to laugh as loud at the guy who just paid more than 73 large for a 2001 Lincoln Town Car on eBay. OK, this wasn't just any used TC, it belonged to financial guru and billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett. 19 People placed a total of 63 bids with the winning high at $73,200 by 'billzanker.' Bill Zanker is president and founder of The Learning Annex, which sponsors educational seminars around the country.

Bill's also the guy who forked over 60 grand to have lunch with Rupert Murdoch a couple of years ago. So at least this time he gets something that will last a little longer than an hour. The 2001 Lincoln wasn't being used much by Buffett since he recently picked up a Cadillac DTS and had only accumulated 14,000 miles. The vehicle comes complete with the "Thrifty" vanity license plate and an etched brass plaque bearing his Buffett's signature. Buffett has even promised to greet the winning bidder at the Omaha airport wearing a chauffeur's cap.

The money raised in the auction will go to help Girls Incorporated, which runs educational programs for girls aged 6-18. Particularly in at-risk communities.

[Source: MSNBC]

eBay Sell of the Day: Warren Buffett's Town Car for $73,200 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebayluxisttown carTownCarwarren buffetWarrenBuffetSun, 24 Sep 2006 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[What will Wall Street do with no Town Car?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/what-will-wall-street-do-with-no-town-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/what-will-wall-street-do-with-no-town-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/what-will-wall-street-do-with-no-town-car/#commentsFiled under: ,



UPDATE 1 - Ford announced this morning (9/15) that it will continue to offer the Town Car beyond 2007. More after the jump.

In New York City, black Lincoln Town Cars are almost as common as yellow cabs. Workers who stay late at their offices often pick up the phone, dial a livery service, and collapse into the back seats of the ubiquitous Lincs for the ride home. This sequence is replayed in urban centers across the country. The Detroit News knows this, and wonders what's going to happen if the big Linc goes to automotive heaven after 2007 as has been rumored.

The article mentions the Mercury Grand Marquis and the Chrysler 300C as potential replacements. While this could be a golden opportunity for the Chrysler 300 (and its long-wheelbase variant) to move in, and maybe the Cadillac DTS as well, we'll bet on the Merc and its Ford Crown Vic twin.

Why? They're built on the same platform, have the same powertrain, and equally substantial trunk space. Fleet versions are available with a 6" wheelbase stretch, which takes care of the discrepancy in rear-seat room. Fully-loaded examples are almost as plush, and importantly, servicing them should be no different than servicing the Town Car. We don't see why livery services would want to move away from the Panther platform cars, which have more than proven themselves in America's urban jungles as taxis, police cars, and upscale chauffered rides like the Town Car.

(Continues after the jump)

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading What will Wall Street do with no Town Car?

What will Wall Street do with no Town Car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillac dtsCadillacDtschrysler 300chrysler 300 long-wheelbasechrysler 300 lwbchrysler 300cchrysler 300c long wheelbasechrysler 300c lwbChrysler300Chrysler300cChrysler300cLongWheelbaseChrysler300cLwbChrysler300Long-wheelbaseChrysler300Lwblincoln reach higherlincoln town carLincolnReachHigherLincolnTownCarreach higherReachHighertown carTownCarThu, 14 Sep 2006 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Ford killing the Lincoln Town Car?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/27/is-ford-killing-the-lincoln-town-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/27/is-ford-killing-the-lincoln-town-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/27/is-ford-killing-the-lincoln-town-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With Ford's Wixom assembly plant - the only source for Lincoln cars over the past half-century - slated for closure in 2007, the assumption was that the Town Car would join its Panther platform brethren at the company's St. Thomas, Ontario plant. Ford, however, has informed the Canadian Auto Workers union that it should not expect the arrival of Lincoln's last "traditional" luxury car. Since a move to any other North American plant would require extensive retooling, it's extremely unlikely that the luxo-barge will continue production at all.

Expect the Town Car to be replaced with the MKS, which will be an AWD unibody sedan based on the same platform that underpins the Ford Five Hundred. Even if such a vehicle is successful at retaining the Town Car's elderly customer base, those in the livery business are likely wondering where to go now for a full-size body-on-frame luxury car. The Ford Crown Vic and Mercury Marquis are expected to continue production until 2010, after which the future of those big sedans is also in question.

[Source: Automotive News/Autoweek] 

Is Ford killing the Lincoln Town Car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blue Ovalbody-on-frameBOFFoMoCoFordLincolnluxuryRWDsedanTown CarTue, 27 Jun 2006 17:56:00 EST<![CDATA[End of life pricing on Lincoln LS: $8,000 discount]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/end-of-life-pricing-on-lincoln-ls-8-000-discount/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/end-of-life-pricing-on-lincoln-ls-8-000-discount/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/end-of-life-pricing-on-lincoln-ls-8-000-discount/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Ford recently revealed its incentive lineup for the month of July and the Lincoln LS, which is on its way out, is now available with incentives that range from $4,000 to $8,000. It was previously being sold with $3,000 to $4,000 on the hood. The Lincoln Town Car is also being offered now with a bankroll of $6,500 to $7,000.

Other models that saw increased savings included the Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT with an additional $500, the Ford Explorer and Crown Victoria with an additional $1,000, and the Lincoln Navigator with another $1,500.

Ford's payout on the Mercury Mariner and Mountaineer, however, fell $500. The Ford Focus payout also was reduced by $1,000. 

The LS was a decent attempt at domestic competition for the German luxury sedans that still epitomize the sport sedan market, but was saddled with improper engine/transmission combos that paired its healthy V8 only with an automatic transmission and the base V6 with an available manual. As such, it never struck a chord with shoppers seeking performance and luxury. Those looking for a domestic alternative found one in the Cadillac CTS.

[Source: Autoweek]

End of life pricing on Lincoln LS: $8,000 discount originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingCarBuyingcash backCashBackincentiveLSluxury sedanLuxurySedanrebatetown carTownCarFri, 23 Jun 2006 12:32:00 EST