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Ford's Way Forward Update

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Khatir Soltani
A typhoon is currently traversing the Ford Motor Company. So many things are happening right now that it is hard to keep track. In this news report, we will try and briefly touch on the most important goings-on at the Blue Oval.

On top of the list is the interest that some financial investors have in Jaguar and Land Rover. Cerberus, Blackstone and Cinven have shown interest in joining the auction for Ford's luxury car brands. At the moment, it is unclear whether or not the two brands will be sold separately or together, however, it is assumed that Ford would like to unload them as a package. The sale of Jaguar alone would considerably improve Ford's debt and the cost to insure it.

2008 Ford Focus

Next up, Ford has announced that so far, 27,000 union workers who accepted buyout offers have left the company. Another 10,000 have also agreed to take a package and depart from the company. Ford's Way Forward program is a four-year turnaround strategy that will be cutting 16 plants and up to 45,000 jobs.

The "new" Taurus is just about out. Its new tag line will be: "Rated Safest Car in America." The Taurus earned the highest possible score in crash tests done by the NHTSA for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The first 125 have already been sold and the Chicago plant is getting ready for max production.

Of lesser importance is the fact that the Focus ad account is up for grabs. JWT Team Detroit, the ad agency that has been handling all of the automaker's advertising since 1943, will have to bid along with at least two other agencies for the job.

Nobody knows exactly how things will turn out for Ford. We think that, in Canada's case, introducing a Mazda2-based Fiesta would certainly attract a good number of customers into dealerships.
photo:Ford
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada