Totally anecdotal info on FoMoCo's future

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Tr4ckD4ys

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FoMoCo is going through some rough times - leadership changes left and right, plunging/stagnant stock price despite 5 year long turnaround efforts, bodged model launches (explorer...).
For Americas most prestigious car brand (and for Americans), all of this is pretty devastating. How are they going to make it out of this situation they got themselves into? That's what I asked a friend, former Ford C-Exec. His view was very interesting:
They are going to shrink their brand and portfolio into the most profitable spaces and drop the others. They will bet big on electric and double-down on trucks. This is a tough change because it means a smaller automotive company, with a smaller portfolio and a smaller sales footprint. Although I love the idea of doubling down on trucks, how is this sustainable when arguably good trucks can be had from other brands for 20-30% less than from Ford. Will they be a niche luxury truck maker?

Who knows, but I am just looking in awe at the fate of FoMoCo and hope they'll return to the glory days in the future.
 
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goblues38

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I still don’t see how you can just sell trucks.

Tesla sells just 3 cars. And they are getting money thrown at them hand over fist.

Fords problem is....they iused to sell so much stuff...and that infrastructure and cost is weighing them down. Ford still has a lot of fat to cut to be able to JUST sell trucks and a Mustang.
 

CoronaRaptor

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Suv's and Trucks are the way right now, new cars are on the decline for sure, except for the odd muscle car being produced. Regulators are pushing for 100% non carbon fueled vehicles, so its either electric or hydrogen at this point. Not sure what else is out there. We could always go back to Fred Flinstone human powered vehicles too.
 

Smunczen

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Well the Japanese are still selling cars and so are the Germans. I guess Ford just doesn’t want to compete with them anymore. I know I really dislike SUV’s.
 

CoronaRaptor

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Well the Japanese are still selling cars and so are the Germans. I guess Ford just doesn’t want to compete with them anymore. I know I really dislike SUV’s.
I am the same, I like being in a truck, but then again I drive my 4 door wrangler a lot, does that classify as a suv?
 

CoronaRaptor

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That's a good read, but I don't think Ford is in any trouble. Or maybe I'm hoping, being a Ford fanatic. I believe all other major companies are in the same situation, selling suv's and trucks and phasing out cars and undesirable vehicles. The customers needs change, once there was more mini vans on the road than cars and trucks (guessing here), they are almost all gone to the scrap heap now. Everything will be fine.
 

melvimbe

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That's a good read, but I don't think Ford is in any trouble. Or maybe I'm hoping, being a Ford fanatic. I believe all other major companies are in the same situation, selling suv's and trucks and phasing out cars and undesirable vehicles. The customers needs change, once there was more mini vans on the road than cars and trucks (guessing here), they are almost all gone to the scrap heap now. Everything will be fine.

While I think Ford is good in the US based on my own eyes, I think the article, if any thing, reminds me that Ford is global, and I don't see the majority of of what's going on with Ford and other automakers around the world, or behind the scenes.

Interesting that it's not just about producing the vehicles that people right now, but doing so in a way that leverages economies of scale to keep costs low. Vehicles sharing platforms. Although the article doesn't mention it, I think a company has to be prepared to produce the vehicles people will want in the near future, to see where the trend is going. SUVs may sell well now, but it seems that people are starting to get tired of SUVs. Would it be possible that people start wanting sedans and coupes again so that they don't look like every soccer mom on the block? Or will everything drift towards Jeep/Bronco offroad/customized vehicles?

I also think brand loyalty is still a factor. I can see where it may make sense to drop the small SUV and affordable cars in favor of more profitable, more expensive SUVs and trucks. However, do you want to keep entry level vehicles in the fleet so when that Escape owner is all grown up, he/she is thinking about a Ford for their next purchase rather than the competition?
 

CoronaRaptor

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While I think Ford is good in the US based on my own eyes, I think the article, if any thing, reminds me that Ford is global, and I don't see the majority of of what's going on with Ford and other automakers around the world, or behind the scenes.

Interesting that it's not just about producing the vehicles that people right now, but doing so in a way that leverages economies of scale to keep costs low. Vehicles sharing platforms. Although the article doesn't mention it, I think a company has to be prepared to produce the vehicles people will want in the near future, to see where the trend is going. SUVs may sell well now, but it seems that people are starting to get tired of SUVs. Would it be possible that people start wanting sedans and coupes again so that they don't look like every soccer mom on the block? Or will everything drift towards Jeep/Bronco offroad/customized vehicles?

I also think brand loyalty is still a factor. I can see where it may make sense to drop the small SUV and affordable cars in favor of more profitable, more expensive SUVs and trucks. However, do you want to keep entry level vehicles in the fleet so when that Escape owner is all grown up, he/she is thinking about a Ford for their next purchase rather than the competition?
Ford is a top seller up here in Canada as well, more Ford f150's than ever, my son just bought one( he only had one other choice though, no chevies allowed in my driveway), seeing a lot more of the new f350's for commercial use as well. Transit vans have taken over as the popular choice for hvac and service companies out here, used to be a split between chevy and Ford and the odd dodge. It will be interesting to see which type of passenger vehicles will be popular in 10 years, but by then I would think 25% will be electric for sure. There's a ton of Raptors sold on the west coast here, very popular, most are gen 2's. Lots of Toyota's : Rav4 s and their pickups. Subaru's suv seems to be a hit as well.
 
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