TB3

To Be a Ford Dealer

I agree with all the positive comments above. Clearly Alan Mulally is the smartest and most effective CEO in the auto business today.

Feeling the Buzz: Ford Goes Electric

I just hope Ford is not getting too far ahead of itself with investments in vehicles that so far, only president Obama seems in love with, not the driving public. It's important to remember that despite all the hype from the White House and its environmental allies, Ford is in the business ONLY to make a profit on vehicles that consumers want to buy.

Banks Take a Cue from Ford's Capitalism

It's nice to see Ford and Mulally are finaly getting the positive ink that they have deserved for some time. GM has unfortunately soaked all the oxygen out of the press' air because of their problems, leaving the real progress at Ford out of sight. It's a real American success story that deserves its recent recognition.

Are Corporate Profits 'Depressed'?

Anyone who claims that times for corporations were better under Jimmy Carter than Ronald Reagan is better served to dish out Democratic spin than real economic news.

Ford: Positioned to Lead Growth Segments of Auto Industry

Interesting glimpse into the near future of automotive travel in the U.S. There are a lot of ifs in the scenario, e.g. will there be a sufficient electric grid to service all these new vehicles, can hybrid/electric vehicles be sold at a price point that consumers will buy AND that will allow Ford to make a reasonable profit, etc etc. At least Mr Addison has something to offer besides the usual doom and gloom articles on the imminent demise of the American auto industry. Let's hope there are American manufacturers around to see it happen.

Ford's Total Vehicle Sales Down Nearly 41% YoY

Thanks for the positive article. You must be a real life of the party.

Obama to Automakers: Ultimatums with Teeth

As I've stated in the past, Ford stands alone under the very capable leadership of Alan Mulally. I only hope if GM and Chrysler file for Chapter 11, it doesn't drag down key suppliers and with them Ford in the end.

Time for GM to Declare Bankruptcy?

It's interesting that the author didn't provide validity to his SPS theory by showing what happened to UAL after 2003 when they declared bankruptcy. Could it be that nothing much changed?

Auto Manufacturers Should Take Cue from Computer Industry

Mike, what planet are you living on? I think you've been watching too many Star Wars movies.

Automotive Depression: Government Needs to Let the Weak Fail

Hard to take an author seriously when he gets it wrong in the second sentence of his article. "The bail out 3's sales were down"... If he's so out of touch with the fact that only two US manufacturers have asked for government assistance, then I for one will give little credence to the rest of his article. Not to mention that the author declines to identify himself. I can see why.

Why Ford Will Make It

To User I could not disagree more that Mr Mulally has not moved quickly or decisively enough to bring European models to the U.S. He was brought to Ford in Sept of 2006. At that time light trucks were outselling cars in the U.S. (they included the "gas guzzler SUV's) and they continued to do so through the first quarter of 2008, less than a year ago. Clearly when Mulally joined Ford, his most immediate problems did not include a lack of small cars. No one wanted them at that time and Ford was so inefficient, they couldn't sell them profitably then anyway. Gas prices didn't peak until the end of the first quarter last year and the fact that Ford will have 3 or 4 new European products in the U.S. by 2010 is remarkable.

Why Ford Will Make It

The article misses by a mile the reasons why Ford has been able to survive this long. Philip Caldwell and Red Poling did not "save" the company. In typical finance fashion, they merely starting slashing costs without changing any of the vision or processes within the company which could have overcome its entrenched inefficiencies. Its division leaders within the U.S. did not identify with a corporate wide vision of success; rather they saw the company as a number of individual fiefdoms. Their job seemed to be winning the internal battles between their division and those others seeking dominance. This corporate culture of internal conflict reached its peak under Jacques Nasser, who not only brought in high level outsiders who had little automotive experience but also thought the way to grow the company was to invest in a multitude of businesses ancilary to the core Ford business. Nor did Bill Ford take the company in the direction which it enjoys today. That job was accomplished by the one person the author never mentions in his article, Alan Mulally, the new president and CEO. His "one Ford" vision not only has all the U.S. division heads focused on one cooperative spirit, but it also has directed the company for the first time to take advantage of its worldwide talents and expertise. The result has been better quality at substantial savings in all products across the whole vehicle lineup worldwide. If Ford is able to weather this current recession and come out the other end as a stronger, more nimble and more profitable company, there cannot be enough praise or gratitude extended to the one man who truly made it all happen. Thank you Mr Mulally.

Nine Bailout Surprises from GM and Chrysler

Unfortunately the decisions being made now are not economic nor are they financial, they're political (will the tie between the Democrats and the UAW override all other considerations). In the world of special interest groups who wield influence all out of proportion to their real importance to the country's well being, the decisions that will ultimately be made will be made for the wrong reasons and thus a positive outcome will be fortuitous at best.

Ford a Likely Survivor of the Auto Industry Crisis

I agree that Ford is the strongest of the three (faint praise unfortunately) and that Mr Mulally is by far the best of the CEO's. However, as an investment, I wouldn't be putting my money in a company as laden with debt as Ford, at least not yet. Remember that debts need to be repaid, and with Ford's excessive overhead and very weak sales revenues, they are still burning through cash. Until I see a positive cash flow, equal to and better than their short term debt payments, I think I'll wait awhile.

Ford: UAW Cuts Save Billions

Unfortunately Ford shareholders face much more than a minor dilution in the value of their shares. If Ford is successful in getting the UAW to agree to more Ford stock vs. cash as payments into the VEBA and if it is also successful in forcing its bond holders into debt swaps, then Ford stock could become basically worthless for a long time to come.