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Ford’s products to become more like Toyota and Honda
FoMoCo surprised all of us with a $100 million profit in the first quarter of 2008. However, now the automakers most profitable segments, pickups and SUVs, are seeing a major decline. Ford reported that SUV sales fell 36 percent in April while pickups dropped 19.

Ford recently announced major production cuts and said that it will shift away from large trucks and SUVs and concentrate more on smaller cars and crossovers. It seems FoMoCo is realizing that consumers are losing the appetite for gas-guzzling vehicles.

CEO Mulally recently said that he believes U.S. truck sales are in a rapid and permanent decline and that mid-sized vehicles will.. Read Article
Ford’s products to become more like Toyota and Honda



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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/26/2008 3:28:43 PMView My AgentSpace
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How about, less like Toyota and Honda and more like Ford of Europe.

The answer is still right under your nose, Mulally.

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91z4me91z4me - 5/26/2008 8:12:32 PM
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I don't worry about that. Mr. Mulally is a big fan of Ford EU.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 5/26/2008 8:41:35 PM
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More like Toyota? Ford seems to want to beat Chrysler to the failure finish line.

Before buying a new Passat last week, my wife and I went to test-drive a Toyota RAV4. The entire sales staff was in an early morning sales meeting and the receptionist was not empowered to do anything. We waited for 10 minutes inside a RAV in the showroom. Our butts got sore and the seat cushions were too short so we walked out without ever driving a RAV4 and dropped by the VW/Audi dealer down the road where I turned in my leased A6 Quattro a week earlier.

After sitting in the Passat in the showroom, my wife insisted on a test drive. We had Previously short-listed an Infinity EX 35 but ended up buying the Passat two days later. The Passat seat comfort can be beat only by the seats in the Mercedes S-class at 3 times the price.

When is Toyota going to take a page from the playbook of the more successful Ohio companies that I once knew where sales meetings have been known to be held at 7 a.m. so that sales staff can start meeting customer needs as early as possible.


zairnaimzairnaim - 5/26/2008 9:33:37 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
ennnorak u had to wait 10 whole minutes omg!!! amazing how did u survive!! seriously it is always the same complaints from u over and over again bumpers too low. packages don't give u what u want (btw they make a bigger profit if they have less customizations) comon say something new for once. btw hope u're new vehicle turns out good


quizzquizz - 5/26/2008 5:41:39 PM
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Yep, smaller fuel efficient cars that are stylish.

How about taking the Mazda 5 mini-minivan and doing something similar in a hybrid?

How about a hybrid version of the CRV?

How about a super efficient "commuter" 4 seater that reintroduces the Honda CRX design theme?

So much potential, too much fear.

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rallyssrallyss - 5/26/2008 8:38:42 PM
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komododavekomododave - 5/27/2008 1:34:23 AM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Hmmm..be like Toyota and have more midsize vehicles. To be more like toyota, they'll need to make MORE suvs and more larger SUVs. Toyota has the RAV 4, Highlander, 4runner, Sequoia, Landcruiser, and the upcoming softroader, whatever it's called. Ford has the Escape, Explorer, Edge, and Expedition. The Taurus X is a wagon. Good call Mullaly. Geeze, they don't deserve to have a profit yet. They really don't show any sign of really "getting it". At least GM is making cars people actually want instead of cars the can just afford because of zero down for 60 months. And chrysler still makes compelling vehicles since they still have the old E class structure and the bad a$$ hemis to work with, at least for now. Frickin Cerberus.

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soopakrnsoopakrn - 5/27/2008 2:50:00 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
It's not so much that Ford is becoming like Toyota and Honda, but are shifting their marketing strategy. Just because they shift their target audience doesn't mean that makes them "like" Toyota and Honda.

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truckmentruckmen - 5/28/2008 3:20:52 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
People still would like big vehicles, it's just the fact that we can't afford to drive them with gas costing so much, so if one of these companies make something economical like pml's mini cooper with 640 hp and 2-3 times the gas mielage of a prius, now that is technology! I would like that power plant in a Hummer H-1.It would still be more economical than any of our pathetic hybrids today. I say copy sucsess!

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