More troubles for Ford

[MUSKOKN]

Did anyone hear the news about Ford? Check out this article (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060915/ford_cuts_060915/20060915?hub=TopStories).

Cutting 14, 000 more jobs and closing 9 plants. Essex engine plant in Windsor is shutting down, St. Thomas is being reduced to one shift. Lincoln Town Cars will be made there in 2008, after the plant in Michigan where they're made now is closed. Oakville is gonna get another new vehicle added to its line up though. A new 7 passenger, full-size croosover.

Not good news for N/A auto industry.

So, GM and Renault/Nissan are sniffing at each other for an alliance. Any guesses on who Ford will enevitable hook up with? My guess is on Toyota or Honda, mainly for better European market penetration, where Ford still does really well. I was thinking maybe BMW, but after their debacle with Rover Cars in the U.K., I don't think they'd be so keen.

[LadyX]

Actually, it's only 10,000 white collar jobs. They cut 4,000 already this year.

[Mike]

Did anyone hear the news about Ford? Check out this article (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060915/ford_cuts_060915/20060915?hub=TopStories).

Cutting 14, 000 more jobs and closing 9 plants. Essex engine plant in Windsor is shutting down, St. Thomas is being reduced to one shift. Lincoln Town Cars will be made there in 2008, after the plant in Michigan where they're made now is closed. Oakville is gonna get another new vehicle added to its line up though. A new 7 passenger, full-size croosover.

Not good news for N/A auto industry.

So, GM and Renault/Nissan are sniffing at each other for an alliance. Any guesses on who Ford will enevitable hook up with? My guess is on Toyota or Honda, mainly for better European market penetration, where Ford still does really well. I was thinking maybe BMW, but after their debacle with Rover Cars in the U.K., I don't think they'd be so keen.

This is nothing new. They've just accelerated their "Way Forward" restructuring plan. This was inevitable.

Mike

[LadyX]

Oh no....there is a HUGE announcement right now. They have dates of when things are closing, and how and where and when the white collar people will be going. I'm watching live on the internet. It's "breaking news" here, it cut into every tv show and it's on the radio.

[LadyX]

heh..and while we're watching this breaking news about Ford, a NEW breaking news event from Chrysler. 2 billion dollar loss, and layoffs are on the way. ugh.

[Mike]

heh..and while we're watching this breaking news about Ford, a NEW breaking news event from Chrysler. 2 billion dollar loss, and layoffs are on the way. ugh.

You're not surprised about this, are you? This was all inevitable... especially the announcement from Ford. I've known about this since August. :shrug:

Chrysler on the other hand... well... I thought they were doing better. I heard the other day that they're cutting production of the Hemi because noones buying it. I guess a RWD V8 car won't save a car company afterall... no matter how good it is.

Mike

[LadyX]

We all knew Ford was going to speed up the way forward plan...but, the whole 10,000 white collar worker thing is a new figure. This guy from Boeing isn't wasting any time. They said they're going to start with early retirements, then voluntary leavings (buy outs) and then, if not enough people go by the end of the year...forced leavings....

The Chrysler thing threw me for a loop! I though they were doing much better too.

[Mike]

We all knew Ford was going to speed up the way forward plan...but, the whole 10,000 white collar worker thing is a new figure. This guy from Boeing isn't wasting any time. They said they're going to start with early retirements, then voluntary leavings (buy outs) and then, if not enough people go by the end of the year...forced leavings....

The Chrysler thing threw me for a loop! I though they were doing much better too.

Bill Ford stepping down as CEO was the best thing to happen to Ford. Now lets just hope the Ford family lets Mulally do things the way he wants.

[MUSKOKN]

I guess a RWD V8 car won't save a car company afterall... no matter how good it is.

Mike

Exactly why I think GM are a bunch of fools for making such a hype about the Camaro....Its gonna flop. If I was a sharholder with GM I'd be screaming at the board for speding money on developing such a car.

The Hemi was never meant to be the main seller anyway. Most 300 and charger volume is comeing from the 3.5L V6. As it should.

Surprised about the quarterly loss? No way...DaimlerChrysler has struggled since the merger to get going. Daimler-Benz didn't really know how much trouble Chrysler Corp. was in before buying. Big mergers like this can take YEARS before things stabilize.

[Mike]

Exactly why I think GM are a bunch of fools for making such a hype about the Camaro....Its gonna flop. If I was a sharholder with GM I'd be screaming at the board for speding money on developing such a car.

The Chrysler LX platform is great. If I was in the market for a new car right now, the Charger SRT-8 would be right at the top of my list. But it's a niche car. It won't save the company.

Same goes for GM's Zeta platform. I'm sure it'll be great and it'll spawn some amazing cars... but none of them are going to save the General.

Mike

[Excelcier]

Yeah... and I'm potentially one of those numbers...

[Rennie]

yeah layoffs are brutal, the plants are all combining jobs and making their staff work harder so that the company can save a little bit of cash. Brampton laid of something like 84 people, but they are still hoping to get the Challanger, and they'll all get re-hired. Whatever will be will be.