Ford: Restoring Prestige and Honor

The Ford Motor Firm, along with rival Common Motors, has been going through a time of severe testing due to issues about product high quality and relevancy, earnings, and extended term viability. The net result is that Ford is preparing on closing many plants and will lay off as many as 30,000 employees, a historic cutback that could only be the tip of the iceberg. Is Ford finished or will the firm be able to regain strength and compete effectively in the years ahead?

Ford has absolutely taken its lumps and for great reason. Profits in the North American market are nonexistent with losses really in the multibillion dollar range. In spite of the red ink, all is not lost for the blue oval as the business remains very profitable overseas. In addition, its 3 U.S. divisions have considerably to offer you if some severe alterations are incorporated. Right here are my suggestions for adjust:

Ford -- The strongest division for the automaker is the one particular that bears its name. Fords strength is in its line of choose up trucks and SUVs. Select automobile models including the Mustang and Fusion are also strong sellers. Fords weakness can be found with its tiny car line, the Concentrate, and with dated models which includes the Crown Victoria. Better for Ford to scrap their little car lines altogether and import vehicles from Mexico or overseas. In addition, the firm really should concentrate on overhauling the Crown Victoria and introducing an all new Ranger compact pick up truck. Lastly, Ford is getting out of the minivan organization as crossover vehicles, such as the all new Edge, will replace that category. This latter retreat is wise as the category is saturated and the expense of creating a profitable new minivan can be diverted to concentrate on shoring up other product lines.

Mercury -- A lot of have been predicting that Ford would scrap its Mercury division altogether. Even so, amongst the several management choices announced recently indicate that Mercury will remain. Together with Lincoln, the two brands are weak and are in need of significantly assistance. Mercury automobiles for decades have been absolutely nothing far more than reworked Ford models consequently its brand identity has been diluted. It is time for Ford to help Mercury come model site up with a clearer personality and a line of vehicles that are inspiring, not boring. A very good start off would be to create a vehicle all Mercurys own, such as a retro Cougar coupe.

Lincoln -- There was a day when Lincoln and Cadillac battled for preeminence for sales leadership in the American luxury car category. Lincoln extended ago ceded the fight to Cadillac, a GM division with new and thrilling merchandise. At the moment, Cadillac outsells Lincoln by more than two to 1 and does battle with the likes of Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes. For Lincoln, a new Town Vehicle is needed plus a decision ought to be made regarding just how significantly the division must rely on trucks and SUVs to identify the brand. Presently, Lincoln line up modeling agencies contains far more truck models than automobiles. Reviving a historic model, such as the Continental, could be a wise selection and putting some income into guide to modeling jobs in miami the LS is one more. Curiously, the make is altering the name of its newest model, the Zephyr, to the MKZ following only one particular model year.

Ford is floundering and it is especially noticeable in two divisions, Mercury and Lincoln. Its Mazda connection, which has yielded numerous models including the Escape and Fusion, has been a good results. Tapping its Volvo association to assist with bigger vehicles and with engineering would be wise and Ford should function closer with its Jaguar division to generate further car lines. The current LS, derived from the Jaguar S Kind is an example of an earlier collaboration that wasnt utilized to its fullest extent.

All hope isnt lost for Ford, but the companys image has been tarnished. The seed of greatness remains, but the firm ought to act quickly in order to regain consumer self-confidence and quit the ever deepening erosion of its sales base to foreign tends to make.