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Ford Takes A Lesson From The Japanese And Moves To Limit Options
Given engine choices, interior trim level choices, color choices and other packages and options, a single Ford Motor Co. vehicle like the Mustang can literally come in thousands of configurations.

Now Ford Motor Co. is taking a page from its Japanese competitors and is moving to drastically reduce its vehicle configurations, a move that could save money and reduce complexity in purchasing and manufacturing.

The goal was outlined in a new internal document titled "Ford North America -- 2007 Objectives at a Glance," a copy of which was obtained by The Detroit News.

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Ford Takes A Lesson From The Japanese And Moves To Limit Options



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GreenlightGreenlight - 5/4/2007 3:11:54 PM
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HURRAY!

Your new Mustang can now come in:

Mold Injection White
Wife-beater Wannabe Black
Union Worker Orange
and Soccer Mom Red

Plastic everything is now STANDARD! Enjoy!


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M35MTM35MT - 5/4/2007 4:44:25 PMView My AgentSpace
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hahahahaha

funniest sh*t ever




vdivvdiv - 5/4/2007 3:33:19 PM
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Any color you like as long as it is black. Any model you like as long as it is model T... hey, this sounds familiar... I wonder what company had this in its explosive birth...

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mp2dtwmp2dtw - 5/5/2007 12:50:58 AM
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You get an A for the day for wit. These business consultants come up with this stuff as though it's revolutionary.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 5/4/2007 4:22:52 PM
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What I'm trying to stamp out in the auto industry is the near-criminal practice of combining useful options with utterly useless options into an overpriced package. All useful options should be stand-alone options.

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M35MTM35MT - 5/4/2007 4:46:48 PMView My AgentSpace
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I agree, I hate that getting xenon lights and heated seats on a sport sedan means I have to pay 3 grand for auto dimming mirrors, memory seats, extra air bags and other stupid "premium package" options.

New Rule:
Any car that starts over 30k should have xenon's standard! It's 2007!!


RupertRupert - 5/4/2007 5:40:35 PMView My AgentSpace
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Sensible idea, think how many people care enough about 2 shades of grey paint, or all the useless options like auto dimming mirrors.
Have 6 colours (black, white, silver, grey, red, blue) and 1 interior colour (black).

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Bmw8terBmw8ter - 5/6/2007 12:05:13 AM
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Grey? Am I to assume you'd like to see a car in a shade of 'primer'?


RupertRupert - 5/6/2007 6:15:17 AMView My AgentSpace
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Huh?
Grey's a really popular colour...


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/6/2007 10:07:50 PMView My AgentSpace
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No, seven colors... add green to that list. A TASTEFUL green, not a "my '80s shag carpeting" green like on the 1999 Mercedes E-Class. And more than one interior color! Some prefer lighter interiors- I have the two-tone black/white in my S4. The white really brightens it up, and there are classy touches like black piping on the seats. It also doesn't get ridiculously hot, like my A6 did...

More expensive and more exclusive cars should have custom colors for free, as well as any combination of options. Lesser vehicles shouldn't.


mp2dtwmp2dtw - 5/5/2007 12:57:12 AM
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I don't think that there are too many combinations for cars. I'd like to be able to have a power sunroof, ABS, anti-skid with a manual gearbox without paying for dumb stuff like xenon headlamps, spoilers, back seat DVD players and navigation systems. The lunacy comes in, as the article says, when you start looking at pick-ups and vans.

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DieselRulesDieselRules - 5/5/2007 2:05:00 AM
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Only 16,000 comnbinqtions?
The VW Golf sold in Europe (with at least 5 engines, 4 transmissions, etc.) has over 1/4 million combinations, yet 60% of Golfs are custom orders.
This is in huge contrast to North American sales, where ordering a custom vehicle is done, but its the exception to the norm.
Let's compare this to a Toyota Corolla: 1 engine, 2 transmissions, 1 interior color, .... other than paint, you can count the Corolla variants on your fingers.
The Golf: 2-dr hatch, 4-dr hatch, wagon, 2WD, 4WD, various diesel engines, various 4-cyl. gas engines, 6-cyl. gas engines, 5-spd stick, 6-spd stick, A/T, 6-spd. A/T, DSG A/T,

Yes, the Japanese save $$$ by not offering choice. So does Microsoft. Its bad for the consumer. But is it bad for the automaker?
I don't think so, seeing how much better Toyota (with their bland cars) performs financially compared to an innovator like VW (with their totally customizable offerings).

I think that this change by Ford will eventually diminish the Mustand brand, and cause long-term sales reductions.

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DieselRulesDieselRules - 5/5/2007 2:06:52 AM
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I hate this key-board. Its very difficult to type on. Sorry for the typos!


aeyjayaeyjay - 5/5/2007 2:54:58 AM
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I agree M35MT, any car over 30k should have xenons standard along with LED tail lights. I saw a new Mercedes GL (SUV) with halogen projectors, and boring tails that couldv'e been easily mistaken for a Highlander (which now has LED brake lights).

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EnnNorakEnnNorak - 5/11/2007 11:34:48 AM
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I have the same typing problem "DieselRules" and I'm not sure if the batteries on my wireless keyboard are getting low or if there is some sort of signal corruption in the satellite transmission. I always proofread everything 3 times and I find a few missing or jumbled letters each time. Maybe only us diesel fans have this problem due to neurological deficiencies brought on by diesel fumes.

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