Ford Tells Industry It Is Unable To Invest Enough To Keep Up Without Changes

A decade ago, Ford Motor Co. was fighting to remain solvent amid a financial crisis that bankrupted two of its crosstown rivals.

Incoming COO Jim Farley says Ford faces a similar sense of urgency today to fix a sputtering business plagued by high warranty costs and launch issues.

Speaking Wednesday at a Wolfe Research automotive conference in New York, Farley said his priorities in the new role he takes on March 1 include connectivity, Ford's commercial-vehicles business and opportunities with electric and autonomous vehicles.

PUGPROUD - 2/27/2020 8:39:12 AM

+1 Boost

"The faster Ford goes the behinder they get"

MDarringer - 2/27/2020 8:50:31 AM

+3 Boost

Actually they made a very poor management decision but not as bad as the gender token GM trusted.

Tiberius1701A - 2/27/2020 9:03:27 AM

+1 Boost

Matt is correct, keeping The Hackster on, letting Heinrich go (I believe only half of the Chicago assembly story) and promoting Farley are equivalent to "a totally stupid and futile move." I fear for the future of Henry's company.

Tiberius1701A - 2/27/2020 9:05:03 AM

+1 Boost

"Farley listed four key areas Ford needs to improve: warranty costs, which he said hit $5 billion last year; launch performance; material, logistics and labor costs; and sales and marketing."
I hate to tell Mr. Farley, it all comes down to product. Plain and simple.

MDarringer - 2/27/2020 7:46:18 PM

0 Boost

Killing the Fiesta, Focus, and Fusion was asinine. Killing the Fiesta is fine, but killing the Focus and Fusion was dumb. They should have kept the new Focus sedan and hatchback.

Dealers are clamoring for CARS.

ricks0me - 2/27/2020 8:27:20 PM

+1 Boost

5 billion in warranty cost. Design, engineer and build it right the 1st time. You can get that 5 billion down 80 to 90%. Most of that is in poor parts and material choices. It came back to bite you for 5 billion. Anyone at Ford paying attention?

MDarringer - 2/27/2020 9:12:16 PM

0 Boost

A sizable part of that was the PowerShit debacle.

ricks0me - 2/27/2020 9:23:06 PM

+1 Boost

Matt said: A sizable part of that was the PowerShit debacle

.... and Ford will not learn their lesson .... trust me on this