Ford CEO - Americans need to “get back in love” with small cars

[MITCHAY]

I'm really hoping this whole ute and SUV thing comes full circle because apart from the fact I don't want one we have more useless people in these things who have no fear of anything who'd be less dangerous in a sedan or hatch. Doubt it will happen anytime soon.

Cut off by a Ranger and Prado in a row the other day in a gap I wouldn't even try to. I'd like to say **** it but I'd be on the losing side of that argument

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Falcon SXR8

Was reading some comments on facebook on this and most of them were people still ticked off over the auto issues ford had. They really shot themselves in the foot with that.

But they all do that

I question the people who think it's a good idea to have a $20,000 gearbox that can change gears in .00000000000001 seconds in a cheap car that has 100KW, that's most likely going to spend its time going between traffic lights at 50km/h with an average journey length of 7km.

Torque converter auto works pretty good in that use case for those who can't change their own gears. In fact torque converter auto is pretty much peak gearbox, reliable, works well, nice driving manners, cheap and proven.

Given the imminent economic doom we're about to hit, I wonder if there's going to be a market for cheap basic new cars. Or we're just going to double down and we'll have $150,000 Ford Ranger and everyone else on foot

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Small Cars could be made fun.

once upon a time, small cars certainly were fun. In their wisdom, Ford decided we didn't need hot hatches any more

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by simon varley

once upon a time, small cars certainly were fun. In their wisdom, Ford decided we didn't need hot hatches any more

Yes, as if it’s our fault they went away….

Seriously, one C2 plant in Thailand serving the Asia Pacific Africa region would make a huge difference
It could build multiple C2 models down the one line, Maverick, an SUV, even a Focus…

[CyberWasp]

Originally Posted by jpd80

It could build multiple C2 models down the one line, Maverick, an SUV, even a Focus…

Add to that a Baby Bronco to compete against the Suzuki Jimny which has a niche / market to itself.

Solid Axel Front End, EcoBoost Motor with a bit more power than a Jimny, build a ton of customisable options and you have a winner. It would only need a 5 Speed Auto / 6 Speed Manual to also smash the Jimny, which is hardly hi-tech.

Keep it Simple Stupid. KISS Principle

Like seriously are they brain dead? they have so much opportunity staring them in the face. People would love them.

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

It would only need a 5 Speed Auto / 6 Speed Manual

if only those boxes were still in the catalogue eh?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Add to that a Baby Bronco to compete against the Suzuki Jimny which has a niche / market to itself.

Solid Axel Front End, EcoBoost Motor with a bit more power than a Jimny, build a ton of customisable options and you have a winner. It would only need a 5 Speed Auto / 6 Speed Manual to also smash the Jimny, which is hardly hi-tech.

Keep it Simple Stupid. KISS Principle

Like seriously are they brain dead? they have so much opportunity staring them in the face. People would love them.

image

Nah, they just want to do Ranger and Everest and hand everything else over to other manufacturers to sweep up the hundreds here and there.

Then someone like Toyota refreshes the Hilux and will threaten the Ranger and Everest with a newer platform.

[jpd80]

I would hope that the success of Ranger and Everest actually gives
Ford Australia a bigger say in more products for out region.

If Ford was to consider what other products make sense for out region,
I think they would find that Maverick, Bronco Sport and
maybe Focus Hatchback would make a lot of sense especially if sold
with two power trains, 2.5 hybrid and 2.0 Ecoboost.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I would hope that the success of Ranger and Everest actually gives
Ford Australia a bigger say in more products for out region.

If Ford was to consider what other products make sense for out region,
I think they would find that Maverick, Bronco Sport and
maybe Focus Hatchback would make a lot of sense especially if sold
with two power trains, 2.5 hybrid and 2.0 Ecoboost.

SA Focus is a wicked car, then they snuffed it out with a pillow in its sleep unceremoniously.

1.5L Ecoboost 3cyl with 8sp torque converter auto - living the dream.

I'd like to see the Maverick here, slot in underneath the Ranger, its perfect for the 'outdoorsy' type millennial, could convert some RAV4 sales I reckon if they have something that doesn't steer like the Titanic like the Ranger.

Soft-roader spec ute that you can chuck surfboards and other outdoorsy crap in while its still nicer to live with on a daily basis, with ground clearance to tackle stuff like rutted dirt roads, a vehicle for people who aren't butch Lesbians (Subaru Outback).

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by whynot

There are some good small cars still on the market. Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato all tick the boxes for small economical motoring. Yes, the price is ouch when compared to pre-covid.

Part of the step price is due to all of the active and passive safety features. Like nearly everything has lane keeping assist, and that adds to the cost. And the kerb weight.

I think that the focus on "safety" is part of the reason why consumers are buying SUV and 4WD. Because they have a larger bubble of metal around them, customers feel more safe.

And while the next comment may make some barf in their cornflakes ... I suspect that the introduction of the Ranger to the USA is part of Ford's offering of downsized vehicles.

Good idea, a better one would be to have one for sale at a cheaper price with out the most recent safety driver AIDS.

[Sprintey]

Stop press: New Ford small car scooped being tested in Australia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1DZ2H296gg


“We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles."

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Good idea, a better one would be to have one for sale at a cheaper price with out the most recent safety driver AIDS.

I like passive safety features, like having a car that stops/turns/accelerates and brakes better because its not rubbish on stilts

[Sprintey]

SA wagon with the 182hp 1.5L Dragon 3cyl which they shipped here was a good thing, pity they canned it.

Overseas news says that Focus is gone completely by 2025, so how does that fit in with Mr Farley's announcement? It's like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I like passive safety features, like having a car that stops/turns/accelerates and brakes better because its not rubbish on stilts

Says man who ......who recently stated he is finding it harder to get in and out of his ST Fiesta.
Soon to be installed in an suv - some sort of Haval H6 GT perhaps.

[quest]

Farley's an idiot, he keeps telling everyone in North America how good Electric cars are & then cancels a shift at the assembly plant
Never seen a more 2 faced CEO ever!
Very happy I sold my shares 3 years ago

[mondeomatureguy]

Hi guys,
i dont want to sound negative but i dont care much on what Ford in the USA are doing or not doing.

We all have different ideas and i think the worst thing that Ford Australia did was kill the Ford Falcon and the Ford station wagon
They were great cars, the goverment departments brought the falcons, the Police had falcons and they went for ever.

Then of course Ford stopped making the Ford Mondeo, which i might ad i still have mine. I dont think everybody want an SUV, and iam aware that the order came from Ford in USA to kill the Falcon etc but ithink they made a big mistake.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by quest

Farley's an idiot, he keeps telling everyone in North America how good Electric cars are & then cancels a shift at the assembly plant
Never seen a more 2 faced CEO ever!
Very happy I sold my shares 3 years ago

Good post, why does the Ford fam still keep him on ?
Its been a debacle for sometime.
They have cut so so many models and abroad, factories, poured a shed load and more into EV..
Stopped productions, change tunes now talking small cars back up whilst they have the biggest pick up seller forever in a day that keeps them going.
Can't make this up eh lol.....

They have majority voting power in their hands.

At least he hasn't been stooopind enough to change Mustang yet ?????

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by quest

Farley's an idiot, he keeps telling everyone in North America how good Electric cars are & then cancels a shift at the assembly plant
Never seen a more 2 faced CEO ever!
Very happy I sold my shares 3 years ago

Lack of decent leadership is an issue with Ford globally, they all cycle through retards at the top job who come in, **** the joint then cycle back out to ruin another company after everyone realises they're charlatans.

When was the last decent Ford Australia CEO - Geoff Polities?

[Citroënbender]

Err… The four door electric Mustang is quite a departure.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Err… The four door electric Mustang is quite a departure.

Departure alright, departure from common sense, price it $15,000 above the Tesla Model Y then wonder why it sells nothing.

Ford is the GWM of EVs, has training wheels on and is trying to command premium pricing against the established market leader whose $15,000 cheaper for a superior product.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Err… The four door electric Mustang is quite a departure.

that wasn't even worth mentioning in my post I was more making the point its still a V8 and been confirmed going ahead - even though words is just that from the big guys more and more today.
The MachE is an orphin and feck all in the big picture for Exports let alone USA sales just over 20k units '24 to date is sweet fa and glad.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Lack of decent leadership is an issue with Ford globally, they all cycle through retards at the top job who come in, **** the joint then cycle back out to ruin another company after everyone realises they're charlatans.

When was the last decent Ford Australia CEO - Geoff Polities?

yep he was but that didn't mean much in the big picture when your a leader of a minnow with low volumes.
He was brilliant for us fighting for our product (territory all too late he fought for the opponents were already in the market ) in the end didn't matter.
Its the fish's head that has always hamstrung other markets that could have done so much more but USA culture comes first even at a loss.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Departure alright, departure from common sense, price it $15,000 above the Tesla Model Y then wonder why it sells nothing.

Ford is the GWM of EVs, has training wheels on and is trying to command premium pricing against the established market leader whose $15,000 cheaper for a superior product.

bold, yer happy days so are most OE's with them so let the market enjoy chinese EV's in the plenty, people will learn.

[jpd80]

Speaking of China, these Ford China figures were posted on Blue Oval News,
not much to show for all the money spent, Mach E looks like a waste of time.

Just saw there’s a few lines of key product sales missing so maybe that would
make a huge difference to monthly sales numbers.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by jpd80

image

Speaking of China, these Ford China figures were posted on Blue Oval News,
not much to show for all the money spent, Mach E looks like a waste of time.

Just saw there’s a few lines of key product sales missing so maybe that would
make a huge difference to monthly sales numbers.

Ford have lost in the Chinese market, those sales are deplorable

[jpd80]

All those vehicles going to waste….

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by mondeomatureguy

Hi guys,
i dont want to sound negative but i dont care much on what Ford in the USA are doing or not doing.

it's not just what Ford in the US are doing themselves, but they give corporate direction to the rest of the development sites. I'm sure Ford of Europe would have kept the Mondeo going as it still sold well, but Ford US wouldn't approve.

We could have kept Falcon going, but it would have needed significant investment to keep the 4.0 running at Euro 5, or investment to change the powertrain. Neither of which Ford US would approve.

Territory was still selling well, and could have lasted a good few more years with investment, but again, Ford US wouldn't approve.

Frankly, I think we only lasted as long as we did here as we had an absolute star of an advocate in Trevor Worthington. Interestingly, last year's big job cuts only happened after he retired...... coincidence?

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by simon varley

it's not just what Ford in the US are doing themselves, but they give corporate direction to the rest of the development sites. I'm sure Ford of Europe would have kept the Mondeo going as it still sold well, but Ford US wouldn't approve.

We could have kept Falcon going, but it would have needed significant investment to keep the 4.0 running at Euro 5, or investment to change the powertrain. Neither of which Ford US would approve.

Territory was still selling well, and could have lasted a good few more years with investment, but again, Ford US wouldn't approve.

Frankly, I think we only lasted as long as we did here as we had an absolute star of an advocate in Trevor Worthington. Interestingly, last year's big job cuts only happened after he retired...... coincidence?

Simon,

E8 (Falcon / Territory) was selling at 80 a day in 2016, and that included Territory.

Local produced Ford sales were abysmal, the problem was the “foreign competition”, and the market being fractured to many “smaller” volume brand sales.

The local production volume here required for the plants was a MINIMUM volume of 120,000 per year ( the investment was not justified ), it is NOT about some “boogeyman” in the US, or Trevor retiring.

The market moved on, and the consumer spoke. Ford reacted.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by simon varley

it's not just what Ford in the US are doing themselves, but they give corporate direction to the rest of the development sites. I'm sure Ford of Europe would have kept the Mondeo going as it still sold well, but Ford US wouldn't approve.

We could have kept Falcon going, but it would have needed significant investment to keep the 4.0 running at Euro 5, or investment to change the powertrain. Neither of which Ford US would approve.

Territory was still selling well, and could have lasted a good few more years with investment, but again, Ford US wouldn't approve.

Frankly, I think we only lasted as long as we did here as we had an absolute star of an advocate in Trevor Worthington. Interestingly, last year's big job cuts only happened after he retired...... coincidence?

Considering what vehicles were developed by FOA for China, they spent a fortune chasing buyers
that seemed unimpressed by LWB Mondeo, then CD4 Taurus and finally, C2 Mondeo.

Look at all the other C2 models sold there as well as the evolved from CD4s and imagine the possibilities
but I guess Ford will let it all grind to dust before they ever export to RHD countries like us.

With the right vehicles here Ford could pinch a lot more SUV sales form the likes of Mazda and Toyota

[ivorya]

The same thing is happening in all areas of business, the accountants run the show.

Yes, they need to make money but when engineers are fighting for a $1 bolt and the accountants have only allowed 50c............
The heads of companies, these days, are puppets for accountants!!