Breaking News: Bill Ford gives up CEO post

[L8 Apex]

Hate to usurp YSSMAN's role, but this is just too friggin' big to wait!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/09/05/ford-ceo-bill-ford-resigns/

 

[harrytuttle]

Can't say I'll miss him. He seemed to have some interesting ideas, but there was no central focus at Ford. Too many disparate goals, and none of them fully realized. Maybe this will change their desire to sell Aston Martin?

 

[YSSMAN]

Well he isn't completely gone, but with someone else at the helm, I'd say it is a good move on Ford's behalf. Bill's problem as CEO was that he really seems to lack the foresight necessary to get down to business and make the changes necessary to make Ford what it should be; More compeditive with foreign brands, not not completely outdone by GM and DCX on so many levels.

Bill's biggest problem was that he remained focused on trucks and "import-chasers" to create sales instead of building products that were different, ones that people wanted to buy. Bill also dipped into the Mazda pot far too often, and I think the ripple effects of his choises will begin to be felt very soon...

So what can Mulally do to give Ford the "turnaround" it needs?

1) Modify the German-market Fiesta and sell it in the US against the Fit and Versa. Ford needs to compete, and a car like that should be able do. Sell it on "fun to drive" and "fuel economy" at the same time, and I can almost guarantee it's success.

2) Give us the European-Market Focus! The current model has been stretched on far too long, and giving it a minor refresh with it's front end won't cut it. The price jump won't bother most folks if the Fiesta is here for sale, as they can easily drop down to that car (not much smaller than our current Focus). Introducing that car in the US could also do wonders in making diesel power a major option choise for some folks, and that could drive sales up for Ford as well...

3) Keep the Fusion rolling the way it is, it is working out pretty well.

4) Drop the Yahmaha V8 in the Fivehundred or kill it off completely.

5) Further develop the DEW98 platform for a next-gen V8 sedan/coupe, or do as GM did, and bake some North American flavor into the Aussie-developed Falcon platform.

6) Kill the Escape, NOW!

7) Cut back truck production or develop more fuel-saving technology similar to GM, Nissan, and Toyota. Trucks are the lifeline of Ford, and with F150 sales slipping further and further, the future doesn't look good for the truck brands.

 

[niky]

I'm still shocked by the news, as I didn't think Bill had it in him to admit he needs the help.

Personally, Ford's major problem is they're too big in the US, and are too good at making trucks. The sheer inertia and history that that position brings has hampered their efforts at European-izing their line-up in the past, and it still hampers them now.

The long product cycles that they seem to be addicted to has also got to stop. Bringing in European models won't just cut it anymore, they have to think one step ahead of GM.

The Euro-Focus should definitely be in.

The Escape will definitely go once they get their hands on the CX7 platform. The Escape's successor should be pretty good.

Ford really needs the CVT they're developing with GM. Even more than GM does. Ford's ATs suck balls. Completely. Once that comes online, along with the new V6, it should make them competitive in the middle market segments.

The Ford Five Hundred is a sad story. Like I've said before, kill it and bring in a new IRS-equipped rear-drive sedan based on the Mustang.

And cut, cut, cut. Ford has lots of plants, and they should get ready to slow down production of their bigger vehicles. They can't wait for their SUV sales to hit rock-bottom before pulling out, they should start cutting back now... create smaller stocks, stimulate demand, and maintain a good market image. They should have learned from the Jaguar experiment that volume doesn't always equate to profitability.

 

[Jim Prower]

That, and, Bill, Let Mr. Mulally, do his work, not like your relative Henry II did to the stifled Lee Iacocca in the late '70s.

 

[Tornado]

Breaking News: Bill Ford gives up CEO post,
followed by Breaking News! Ford makes money!

 

[Jim Prower]

Toronado, was that link truly necessary?

 

[Tornado]

No, but I copied it from the thread title and it automatically linked.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Well stocks rose a bit today on the news, but it certainly wasn't a "jump"...

 

[Omnis]

I hope that Mulally doesn't F up. Outsiders brought into a company sometimes don't make out very well at all.

 

[Jim Prower]

No, but I copied it from the thread title and it automatically linked.

Oh, so it wasn't your fault. Sorry.

(I thought something like that seemed a bit out of character)

 

[JCE]

Maybe we will have to see if this is a good thing or not. Here's my want-list for Ford's US success:

• Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus.
• Kill the Escape and or the Ranger and develop something more exciting and new. The Ranger's been the same for 50 million years...and it still sucks.
• Drop any engine in the Five Hundred that produces more than 250bhp.
• Bring out some Australian Fords.
• Bring the Fiesta here.
• Did I mention Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus Euro Focus?
• Restyle the F-series trucks...the same design is getting almost a decade old...while they aren't ugly they just need some new juice.
• Bring back the Ranchero!
• Drop an AWD system in the Fusion and put in the upcoming 3.5L V6 with 260bhp+.
• Create SVT versions of the following; Fusion, Five Hundred, Edge, Fiesta, and Focus.
• Kill the Expedition.
• Revamp Lincoln and Mercury...they are stalling.
• Spruce up the Lincoln LS by adding more power!
• Kill the Freestar and keep the Freestyle.

 

[Keef]

I don't know why you guys want to kill the Escape. There are Escapes everywhere, and people keep buying them, at least in my area of Dayton, Ohio. I agree that we should get the euro Focus and Fiesta. I don't know what to do about the Five Hundred and Freestyle. They are good ideas, but the Five Hundred is the most bland looking car--inside and out--that I've ever seen. On the other hand, I think the Freestyle is slightly less bland and is a great idea, but nobody buys them. The Ranger pickup might be seriously lagging behind the competition, but people keep buying them in droves. Why? Because it's a good, basic, reliable product. Yes, it's just a "product", and hardly even a proper "vehicle", but it works. Unlike the Freestar, which should die a painful death.