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Ford readies economy cars for U.S.
Well this is a no duh sortta article. Though factual, it comes as no surprise that American Automakers are in survival mode.
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Ford to Make Broader Bet on Small Cars
The Ford Motor Company, which devoted itself for nearly 20 years to putting millions of Americans into big pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles, is about to drastically alter its focus to building more small cars.
The struggling automaker, reacting to what it sees as a rapid and permanent shift in consumer tastes brought on by high gas prices, plans to unveil its new direction on Thursday, when it will report quarterly earnings.
Among the changes, Ford is expected to announce that it will convert three of its North American assembly plants from trucks to cars, according to people familiar with the plans.
And as part of the huge bet it is placing on the future direction of the troubled American auto industry, Ford will realign factories to manufacture more fuel-efficient engines and produce six of its next European car models for the United States market.
The company will also end speculation about its Mercury division by making the brand an integral part of its new small-car strategy, according to these people, who spoke on the condition that they not be quoted by name because of the timing of the official announcement on Thursday.
The Ford Motor Company, which devoted itself for nearly 20 years to putting millions of Americans into big pickup trucks and sport-uti... more -
The World's Sugar Daddy
Vanguard's Mariana van Zeller travels to the "Saudi Arabia of Ethanol", and has a few drinks while she's at it.
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Ford developing low displacement EcoBoost truck engines.
"With gas prices putting many Americans near the breaking point -- and sending sales of full-size trucks and SUVs downward -- Ford is looking to downsize its powertrain offerings for the F-150. According to Ford Product Chief Derrick Kuzak, the F-150 may be offered with an EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. The turbocharged four-banger would provide in excess of 260 HP and 300 lb-ft of torque. For comparison, the current base V6 provides 202 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the smallest V8 offering is rated at 248 HP and 294 lb-ft of torque." "With gas prices putting many Americans near the breaking point -- and sending sales of full-size trucks and SUVs downward -- Ford is ... more
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Lookin'@Louisville - Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and... - Episode 12
What can be more American than baseball, hot dogs and apple pie? Check out Louisville's take on the American classics as it gears up for the Triple-A All-Star baseball game and a great new baseball exhibit at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Dining at Kaelins, the home of the cheeseburger, and Homemade Pie and Ice Cream Kitchen. What can be more American than baseball, hot dogs and apple pie? Check out Louisville's take on the American classics as it gears up ... more
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Toyota to build Prius in US, stops truck production
"The company said Thursday it will start producing the Prius in 2010 at a plant it is building in Blue Springs, Miss. Toyota already builds a hybrid version of the Camry sedan in Kentucky, but this will be the first time the Prius, which has been on sale for more than a decade, will be built outside of Asia." -MSNBC
Toyota is also planning on temporarily stopping US production of its trucks and large SUVs because of declining demand. The plants will either temporarily close or build hybrid SUVs instead.
This is great news both for the environment and for our economy. It will ultimately result in more jobs for Americans and strengthen the "green-collar" job market. This is evidence of our economy's shift in the right direction.
What do you think? "The company said Thursday it will start producing the Prius in 2010 at a plant it is building in Blue Springs, Miss. Toyota already b... more -
June Sales Fell Almost 28% at Ford
The Ford Motor Company said on Tuesday that its sales fell 28 percent in June, the worst month yet in a miserable year for the automobile industry.
Through the first half of 2008, Ford’s sales were off 14 percent.
Sales of pickup and sport utility vehicles, have been hit particularly hard as consumers seek out more fuel-efficient alternatives. Ford said light truck sales were down 36 percent in June and 18 percent so far this year.
“Consumer fundamentals and consumer confidence deteriorated as the first half unfolded,” James D. Farley, Ford’s marketing chief, said in a statement. “The economy enters the second half of the year with a notable absence of momentum and a high degree of uncertainty.”
Shares of Ford were down more than 7 percent in trading. General Motors shares were off nearly 6 percent. G.M. and the other automakers are scheduled to report their June sales Tuesday afternoon.
Record-high gasoline prices, a housing slump and weak consumer confidence have led to a dramatic decline in sales of many vehicles, particularly the largest and most profitable ones for domestic automakers. The Ford F-series pickup truck, which has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for 26 years, was outsold by four fuel-efficient Japanese sedans in May.
Ford recently said it would delay introducing its new F-150 pickup by two months so that dealers could have more time to sell off the current version first.
The automakers increased discounts on many slower-selling models last month in the hopes of closing out the second quarter with some momentum. General Motors offered six-year, no-interest loans during the final week of June on most trucks and some cars, and some automakers have been discounting large sport utility vehicle prices by more than $9,000.
Pickups and S.U.V.’s were discounted more than 13 percent on average in June, according to Edmunds.com. Yet dealers say the deals have not done as much to draw in customers as huge sales did several years ago.
“Compared to a year ago, we’re off 65 to 70 percent,” said Preston Mays, sales manager for Superior Chevrolet in Decatur, Ga. Mr. Mays said no-interest loans have become less effective than cash rebates because so many shoppers owe more on their current vehicle than it is worth, and the sour economy means they need a discount more than free financing.
“People need these prices to go down,” he said. “They’re trying to put gas in the vehicle and feed their families.”
Most dealers say the slowdown has made their jobs considerably more challenging but that they already are starting to see a few more customers as gas prices have appeared somewhat more stable at around $4 a gallon.
“June actually picked up a little bit for us,” said Jerrel Richards, sales manager at Lone Star Ford in Houston. “It’s not as bad as people think. We’re still surviving. We’re still selling trucks. We’re still turning a profit.”
The three Detroit automakers have each said recently that they would significantly cut production of trucks and build more passenger cars in response to the shift in consumers’ preferences. Chrysler on Monday announced plans to close a minivan plant near St. Louis and cut a one of two shifts at an adjacent pickup plant.
G.M. is temporarily halting the assembly lines at seven truck factories in North America before closing four plants permanently within the next three years. Ford says it will build
The Ford Motor Company said on Tuesday that its sales fell 28 percent in June, the worst month yet in a miserable year for the automob... more -
Ford 'to make fewer big vehicles'
Car giant Ford has said it will cut its production of large trucks and large sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in favor of more fuel efficient models.
It will also delay the introduction of its new pick-up truck by two months.
The US economic slowdown has reduced sales and soaring fuel prices have put consumers off buying bigger vehicles.
Ford said it will make a loss this year and predicted that the worsening US economic situation would make it difficult for it to break even in 2009. Car giant Ford has said it will cut its production of large trucks and large sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in favor of more fuel effi... more -
Invincible feat. Finale- "Locusts" (docu-music-video)
Detroit based Hip-Hop artists Invincible and Finale rhyme about the impacts of gentrification on the Motor City. This piece includes interviews with community activists discussing displacement and predatory planning versus sustainable development in the D.
Both the song and video for "Locusts" by Invincible feat. Finale, (produced by DJ House Shoes) are from Invincible's debut album Shapeshifters available on www.EMERGENCEmusic.net and www.bling47.com). Detroit based Hip-Hop artists Invincible and Finale rhyme about the impacts of gentrification on the Motor City. This piece includes i... more -
Ford to cut up to 12 percent of Salaried Jobs
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) plans to cut its U.S. salaried work force by up to 12 percent after its turnaround plan stalled because of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the Detroit News reported on Wednesday.
Ford warned last week it would not achieve its long-standing goal of returning to profitability in 2009 because of the U.S. economic downturn and a permanent shift in demand toward cars and crossovers and away from large trucks and SUVs.
The automaker also told employees in a memo last week that it expected to make cuts in hourly and salaried employees by August 1 and would detail those steps in July.
The cuts would be involuntary and were still being worked out by Ford, the newspaper reported.
A Ford representative could not be reached immediately for comment.
(Reporting by David Bailey; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080528/bs_nm/ford_cuts_dc_...
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Photo by Flicker user Ford Motor Company
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) plans to cut its U.S. salaried work force by up to 12 percent after its turnaround plan stalle... more -
Ford's Drive Green Videos
Worth the LOOK because I Value their Turbo Diesel, AS IT MIGHT BE DESIGNED around BIO DIESEL.
JUST IN TIME GREEN Distribution is KEY IN MY BUSINESS.
Worth the LOOK because I Value their Turbo Diesel, AS IT MIGHT BE DESIGNED around BIO DIESEL. ... more -
Model T has same fuel economy as modern cars
The 1908 Ford Model T went at 25 miles per gallon. As of 2004, the average fuel economy of cars and trucks was 24.6 miles per gallon. Despite the fact that modern cars can go faster, the Model T topped at 45 miles per hour. Is speed really worth it when work could be done to make for more fuel efficiency?
http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/100-ye...
The 1908 Ford Model T went at 25 miles per gallon. As of 2004, the average fuel economy of cars and trucks was 24.6 miles per gallon.... more -
Tata to Jaguar
"Jaguar is now an Indian beast" roared one Indian newspaper on Thursday as it lauded Tata Motors' long-awaited $2.3 billion deal to bag the sleek British car brand and its chunkier Land Rover counterpart from Ford. "Jaguar is now an Indian beast" roared one Indian newspaper on Thursday as it lauded Tata Motors' long-awaited $2.3 billion deal to ba... more
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Ford says 'peace out homies' to Jaguar, Land Rover
Ford Motor Co. is near an announcement that it has agreed to sell British automakers Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata Motors Ltd.
A person briefed on the roughly $2 billion deal says it has been signed by both sides. Employees of the two luxury automakers were being told of the agreement which is to be announced later Wednesday morning.
Ford Motor Co. is near an announcement that it has agreed to sell British automakers Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata Motors Ltd.... more -
Making cars out of people
i think infinity or hyundai did something similar a while back but this one is nicely done -se how it matches the look of their cars... i think infinity or hyundai did something similar a while back but this one is nicely done -se how it matches the look of their cars..... more
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3 of my Favorite things all in 1
1. Commercial / Marketing
2. Cars
3. Music
Check out the Ford Focus Ad a 31 piece orchestra made from parts of the Ford Focus and the music is amazing this is why I do graphic design 1. Commercial / Marketing 2. Cars 3. Music ... more -
Ode to a Ford
The new TV ad for the Ford Focus which features musical instruments made from parts of the car. All the music was made by the car parts! The new TV ad for the Ford Focus which features musical instruments made from parts of the car. All the music was made by the car part... more
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The BioTruck drive to Timbuktu. On chocolate.
Sounds like an awesome band name, but chocolate biodiesel is in fact what one vehicle ran on, in a 4-week trek from the UK to Timbuktu. A group known as BioTruck modded a 1989 Ford Iveco Cargo to run entirely by biodiesel made from chocolate -- specifically, discarded "waste chocolate" (*snort*) from a manufacturer. Sounds like an awesome band name, but chocolate biodiesel is in fact what one vehicle ran on, in a 4-week trek from the UK to Timbuktu... more
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Score One For The Green Guy: Toyota Replaces Ford As Number 2 Car Maker
Toyota has replaced Ford as the number two car maker by U.S. sales in 2007. The success of Toyota's hybrid technology has meant the car company has unlocked Ford's 75-year stranglehold on the position. General Motors retain their pole position, though overall the year is expected to be the worst for the American car industry in nearly a decade (source AP).
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantra Toyota has replaced Ford as the number two car maker by U.S. sales in 2007. The success of Toyota's hybrid technology has meant the ca... more -
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Who Killed the Electric Car? is a 2006 documentary film that explores the birth, limited commercialization, and subsequent death of the battery electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s. The film explores the roles of automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, the US government, batteries, hydrogen vehicles, and consumers in limiting the development and adoption of this technology.
It was released on DVD to the home video market on November 14, 2006 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Who Killed the Electric Car? is a 2006 documentary film that explores the birth, limited commercialization, and subsequent death of th... more
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