“Probably not quite yet. We need to get ready. And we are getting ready.”
He later added “they’re not here, but they’ll come here, we think, at some point.”
“We learned a lot. When I look back when the Japanese came to America, we weren’t ready. Then the Koreans came, and we really weren’t ready. Well guess what, it’s going to happen again and we are going to be ready because we are acutely aware of what not being ready will do to us.”
So, instead of making what the country needs (cheap good looking new cars for 10-20k in 2 doors for the majority of single people who need a commuter to get to work and nothing else)
Ford has an agenda to make 45-55k electric cars to max profits per unit, undercut Tesla and Rivian, and prevent Chinese car companies from getting the thin fraction of people who want an electric, but not a Chevy, Nissan, Tesla or Toyota.
What a moron. There is no market left, and no one is waiting for the electric Ford.
How about instead of all that, they engineer a super efficient engine that doesn't have a ridiculous amount of pollution, a car that doesn't have a ridiculous number of recalls, that isn't going to compete with EVERY 4 door already on the market, follows in the legacy of Fords proven accomplishments of the 2 doors that pioneered so many eras... the model T, the 32 roadster, the 55 T Bird, the Mustang, and the F150.
Ford spends more time wasting money than getting to the fundamental challenge, build a car that is good, better than the competition, that people around the world WANT (Model T, Mustang, F150) not a Pinto, not a Tempo... etc. All the car makers need is a damn clue.
When Bill Ford tells us “...we weren’t ready…” when the Japanese started exporting cars to our shores he wants us to believe the auto makers were blindsided. What a hoot!
ReplyDeleteGermans had been exporting their product to the US for about 20 years when the Japanese started. Would Ford have us believe no one in the industry noticed increasing numbers of VW dealerships and the cars they sold. Ford knows as does the rest of the world that Detroit could not make big enough profits on compact cars, so the idea of making them was verboten.
Think of George Romney in his early days on the bridge. Romney took control of AMC in 1954. One of the first things he did was ax the Nash and Hudson full size line...1957 was the last of them. With laser like focus he bet the farm on mid sized cars, believing there was a niche for products of this nature the other guys were ignoring. George on the other hand was only too pleased to oblige the niche.
The Result? 1) In 1958 (recession year) AMC was the only auto manufacturer to increase sales compared to the previous year. 2) In the same year AMC moved from 13th to 7th place in sales, internationally. 3) In 1960 and 1961 Rambler was the 3rd most popular car in America. 4) In 1959 Romney was featured on the cover of Time magazine, with a glowing article detailing his achievements. 5) The Associated Press named George man of the year in industry four consecutive years. 6) AMC stock went from seven bucks a share to 90 during Romney’s watch. 7) Sales went from 91,000 plus units in 1957 to 422,000 plus units in 1960.
Does Bill really believe his grand dad did not notice all of this? And it’s not so much about Romney as it would have been recognizing the market that existed for Rambler like products and the numbers that followed by catering to that market. True, under McNamara’s influence Ford did offer us the Falcon which was moderately successful. But big cars (think 1958/59 Lincoln’s) and large profits were their true obsession.
Interestingly, after Romney quit AMC to pursue a political career he was replaced by Roy Abernethy. Abernethy soon turned from the niche based business model to one that went head to head with the big three...full size cars again, V8’s, extensive product line, etc. In short, Abernethy told his customer base to kiss his behind. The rest is history.
I love fast cars and trucks as much as anyone, but the US automakers have spent a lot of engineering and other resources in a big pissing competition that could have been used to create more efficient drivetrains and vehicles that average consumers would buy. Sure, they are making a lot of profit on each Raptor, TRX Ram, Camaro ZL1, Hellcat or Mustang variant, but why can't they make a decent sedan that competes with the Civic, Accord or Camry? Those cars aren't exciting, but they do their jobs reliably and sell in large numbers every year. The US makers haven't been able to figure out the formula and appear to have given up. If they can't put out some desirable, affordable cars, that also are efficient, I don't know what their future holds.
ReplyDeletethey really did give up... sure, they have got muscle and sports cars figured out, and high mark up specials (10-30k per car or truck, I worked for 6 years at the Dodge Jeep dealership until Covid shut it down) but you nailed it, domestic CAN NOT figure out how to do the simple commuter. They screwed up most they have ever tried since 1966 until now. I think the Mustang was the last secretary's commuter car Detroit mastered.
DeleteThen, then the world shifted, inflation and OPEC smacked Detroit around, and suddenly, they had to figure out a small 2 door, and all they could manage were Pintos, Chevettes, Gremlins, Tempos, Reattas, Cateras, Cavaliers, Avengers, etc. Garbage.
Why was the VW Bug a HIT, a solid LEGEND that was made for 30-40 years? The first two years of Mustang were a million sold? About that many.
Both were simple two door commuters. Nothing special.
As for decent sedans, the Detroit stuff from the 60s was ok on sedans, they all seemed to have a Station Wagon version, a taxi, and a 2 door... I exagerrate, a ;ittle, but a Falcon? 2 door, 4 door, Thunderbolt, station wagon, AND truck (ranchero) version.
2 door Chevelle, 4 door, and LS6. May have been a wagon too, I can't recall they had the truck version El Camino
Yup, you nailed it, the Camry, and Civic? Nothing made that compares in reputation, quality, price and mpg. I am unfamiliar with Accords past knowing they are upscale Hondas
Ford and Chevy, haven't the quit making cars? Chrysler has. I guess Ford still makes the Mustang, Chevy gave up on the Camaro, still makes the Vette, and maybe the Volt.
Since the dealership was shut down, I've been away from the day to day new car learning