Topic: Ford is Finished

[roamer]

   I can't see Ford surviving much longer. It seems that their plan is to move
most of their production out of the U.S. and to drastically downsize. This may not save them though. Decades of putrid cars that nobody's buying
and disastrous management decisions have brought them to this.
Chapter 11 may be their only out. GM isn't in much better shape. The chances that this dinosaur will stop losing money by 2009 are somewhere
between nil and zero.

Ford: 38,000 UAW members take buyouts

November 29, 2006

Ford Motor Co. announced this morning that 38,000 UAW-represented hourly workers have accepted buyout packages.

The company said about 30,000 preliminarily accepted one of the packages that was offered company-wide, including the Automotive Components Holdings plants that previously belonged to Visteon Corp. The deadline for accepting those offers was Monday.

These are on top of about 8,000 acceptances received earlier in 2006 during targeted plant-by-plant buyout offers.

Of the 38,000 total acceptances, approximately 6,000 were by hourly employees at ACH. Ford began the year with about 83,000 UAW-represented employees.

The buyouts are a key part of the company’s effort to reduce its North American hourly and salaried work force by one-third and stop losing money by 2009.

Hourly employees who accepted buyout packages during the recent enrollment period will begin to leave the company in January 2007 and through the course of the year until all separations are completed by Sept. 1, 2007.

"Ford and the UAW have addressed several important issues throughout the year, which have allowed the company to reduce costs and achieve efficiencies," CEO Alan Mulally said. "Though there is more work to be done, recent history demonstrates that together we can significantly improve Ford's business."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/NEWS99/61129013

[Mr. Meow]

Its a bit earliy to say what will happen.

Its not the end of Ford.....Ford Europe are good shape.
.

[ovr50]

Even if the worst happened and Ford had to declare Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection, that is what it is - a financial reorganization similar to what Chrysler had to do in the 80s. No way Ford will cease to be, reorged probably with or without Ch 11, but still alive and operating. Many of the US airlines have gone thru Ch 11 and are still operating. Dealing with the UAW is always trying and the Co. will put the worst spin on things to get the UAW to realize the seriousness of the situation. Ford is a long way from death IMO.

[AVToller]

It is the day of the spectacular (and largely unfounded) headline. 

[safristi]

Is this thread about the FORD ESCAPE??? poisonally I prefers the  Focus Wagon in black wif all the toys discounted out the wazzoo if new......very cheap if previously(on a Sunday ONLY or walkin' da POOCH "driven By Avt OR OVR 50!!!! ..............man that is a BIG PACKAGE. ..................$140,000 US BORAT Khazzi dollars....Mmmmmmmm..I bet I could get FLINT ta LIGHT UP wif DAT   Hey Laaaaadddy..Lady   Lady   this Moofin sh*t is got ma head spinnin' do I qualify fer the Severance O' my  wattsit!!!!???...  HOW can a Company LOSE!! 48% of it's WORKFORCE and expect everything ta be Copacetic more like CO PATHETIC,....I see BIG problems with so many GOOD PEOPLE also quiting and running fer the DOLLARS......am I right or am I right??

[jcon]

Bankruptcy would actually be a good thing for Ford... They could escape the union contracts which have limited some of their competitiveness. Is it a good thing for the workers? That's another story.

Ford has a history and ability to become an industry leader again.

[ovr50]

Is this thread about the FORD ESCAPE??? poisonally I prefers the  Focus Wagon in black wif all the toys discounted out the wazzoo if new......very cheap if previously(on a Sunday ONLY or walkin' da POOCH "driven By Avt OR OVR 50!!!! ..............man that is a BIG PACKAGE. ..................$140,000 US BORAT Khazzi dollars....Mmmmmmmm..I bet I could get FLINT ta LIGHT UP wif DAT   Hey Laaaaadddy..Lady   Lady   this Moofin sh*t is got ma head spinnin' do I qualify fer the Severance O' my  wattsit!!!!???...  HOW can a Company LOSE!! 48% of it's WORKFORCE and expect everything ta be Copacetic more like CO PATHETIC,....I see BIG problems with so many GOOD PEOPLE also quiting and running fer the DOLLARS......am I right or am I right??

Of course you're right, Saf, absolutely brilliant analysis....at least, I think you're right...........what did you say again?

 

[Mitlov]

Actually, right now I think we're seeing the beginning of the rebirth of Ford.  Ford's biggest liability, its poor reputation for reliability, is no longer a reality (at least according to Consumer Reports, which rates the majority of Ford models as "average" reliability or better).  It'll take a few years for that bad reputation to wear off, but it'll happen.  Two of Ford's affiliates are profitable and are producing highly desirable models (Volvo and Mazda), and the three companies are finding much success through platform-sharing.  Despite the platform sharing, FoMoCo has avoided the GM trap of just rebadging models a half-dozen times.

In addition, a lot of Ford designs are really pretty good.  The Mustang is alone in offering V8, RWD, manual-transmission performance at average-joe prices (the fact that it's gorgeous doesn't hurt).  The Mustang convertible is far more appealing than its four-seat-convertible competition, all of which are FWD and less powerful.  You won't find a more affordable, fuel-efficient vehicle that seats six adults than the Freestyle.  Both the Fusion and Focus receive frequent praise for their handling. 

Not all of their designs are great (the Ranger is truly ancient; I don't see how the Edge offers anything that the Freestyle doesn't, besides flashy looks; and I'm not a big fan of their truck-based SUVs), but as a whole they're far from stagnant.

[safristi]

ALL of the ABOVE "GOOD THINGS" also came from where!!! thin air.....NO the "GOOD PEOPLE" that worked there...how many have gone and how many are left....My guess is MANYgood young guys/Gals will move on with the package..and CERTAINLY ALL the Over 50 LOT will...be FOOLS NOT TOO..Big Severance..health benefits..Pension bulk Ups etc....SO that leaves WHO(M) whatssitt........the 20 /30 yearold ROOKIES with no INCENTIVES OFFERED...Hmm Good LUCK FORD we wish YA WELL  when Toyota,Hyundai Nissan are going FULL BORE and the Chinese 2 years or LESS away.....we do INDEED live in Interesting Times...But I wouldn't give MY DEAR "BORN" for their chances as a BIG 3 .... ..down the Pike