Ford Motor Company (F)

Michael2k (93.27) Submitted: 12/29/06 7:08 PM

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So... what is the plan for growth? Without profitability and growth, why would the stock price grow?

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emhutchins (51.09) Submitted: 1/16/07 4:15 PM

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I'm with Michael2k. Cash injections at the cost of selling prestige marques isn't necessarily a wise decision. Aston Martin is one of the only two Ford brands (Land Rover being the other) that is really on the cutting edge of product design. Although not a significant percentage of Ford's customer base, AM has brought itself back from near-death to compete with Porsche and Ferrari in the high-end sports car arena.

Instead of putting it on the auction block, Ford ought to be learning from Aston how to reinvigorate its other brands. Ford refuses to kill of Mercury and sell Volvo and Jaguar. Worse yet, they're diluting the Lincoln brand with SUVs and trucks just like GM did with Cadillac. Ford's actions demonstrate that they lack a genuine understanding of their competitors and their customers. They lack any coherent vision for their brands, and instead continue to burn extra capacity with needless product overlap and badge engineering.

Stopping the cash bleed is one thing. A plan to innovate and make cars people actually want to buy is another problem entirely. Toyota and other foreign automakers will continue to humiliate them in this regard until the company is run by gear heads instead of bean counters.

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lakestevenssage (< 20) Submitted: 11/09/07 12:10 PM

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Need to get out more and see what Ford is putting on the lots with Focus, Fusion, and the Edge. The quality story is getting out there. Check out "Sync" for technology. Do not forget Ford dominance in commercial vehicles.

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