Ford car production ain't what it used to be

Ford car production ain't what it used to be

Automotive News
December 3, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

Fifty-seven years ago, Ford Motor Co. passed Chrysler Corp. to become the
No. 2 producer of cars in North America behind General Motors. Ford held
that position from 1950 through 2006, but this year things have changed.
Ford has slipped from second place in car output to fourth place.

From January through October of this year, Ford built 711,889 cars at six
plants in North America. That's down from 998,989 cars in seven plants
through the first 10 months of 2006.

It's been a tough decade for Ford cars. Consider the first 10 months of
2000. During that stretch, Ford produced about 1.5 million cars in North
America.

Ford loses its place
North American car production, excluding light trucks. Ford has slipped two
places since last year.
Jan.-Oct. 07 Jan.-Oct. 06 % change
1. General Motors­­ 1,403,701 1,657,582 -15.3%
2. Toyota Motor Corp. 835,332 799,996 4.40%
3. Honda Motor Co. 722,918 705,168 2.50%
4. Ford Motor Co. 711,889 998,989 -28.7%
5. Nissan Motor Co. 697,748 578,853 20.50%
6. Chrysler LLC 659,316 678,582 -2.8%

The dropoff this year was mainly caused by the demise of the old Taurus -
representing a decline of 174,124 units in 2007 from 2006. But other Ford
cars are down, too. Focus production is off 34,697 units; Mustang, 28,947;
Fusion, 15,923; and the new Taurus/Five Hundred, 11,104.

Toyota Motor Corp. is the new No. 2 in 2007, and Honda Motor Co. also passed
Ford. Nissan Motor Co. is close on Ford's heels.

Nissan has had the biggest gain this year in North American car output,
rising from 578,853 through October 2006 to 697,748 in the first 10 months
of this year - and passing Chrysler LLC in the process. Ramping up Versa
production in Aguascalientes, Mexico, is the main reason.

Where does Ford rank in total light-vehicle production - if you include all
those F-150s it builds, as well as other Ford and Lincoln trucks and SUVs?
Still a solid No. 2 behind GM.

 

The people who work for Ford are the same people pushing for Iraq War...
Like the Surge for example, if the Surge is working then why pushing for
another $50 billion Surge? Soon we all will line up for soup, sooner or
later the country will realize the mistake like Ford motor, making huge
trucks years after years, same idea, same people.

 

DUH! Ford still sells the highest volume vehicle in the US, the F150 that
sells at a rate nearly twice that of the Camry, the best selling car,
because that is what buys want to buy.

For every car sold in the US in 2007 there is a truck sold in the US, why do
you think Nissan and Toyota offer Trucks and Honda even tried to make a
"truck" out of the Accord with the Ridgeline? The second and third best
sellers are the Chevy and Dodge truck, not cars

 

Gee, I didn't know *that*. Is it a union thing?

 

I have had good service from my Ford vehicles
1/2 ton trucks 1952, 1957, 1971
a 1956 T Bird
a 1992 E250 van
a 1967 Bronco.
But when I wanted a 4WD SUV to do some rough 4 wheeling Ford did not meet my
specifications.
So I bought a Nissan product. A Infinity 2001 QX4. Great machine. Handles
deep rivers and steep stair step rocky terrain. My favorite. Smooth
clearance under side. No hanging items to catch on rocks.

 

Ford isn't selling as many F150s now that gas seems to be permanently
above $3. Sales are down 12% so far this year.


F-series 635,520 -12.4%
Camry 434,277 + 5.8%
Accord 360,976 +10.8%

If this trend continues, the F-series could be down to #3 in about
three years.

Bzzzt. Oh, I'm sorry. The correct answer (based on sales YTD) is:

1. F-Series
2. Silverado
3. Camry
4. Accord
5. Corolla
6. Ram

Better luck next time.

BTW, Ram was 4th in sales last year behind Camry so your "facts" are
at least a year out of date.

<http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071202/BUSINESS01/712020646/1002>

Hey Mike, care to comment on US Ford sales falling behind Toyota this
year? Or the fact that Toyota may pass Chevy to be the best selling
brand?

 

That's what happens when they don't build vehicles the customers want.
And now all three in Detroit are under new management. I like the
turnaround in GM so far. Time will tell.

 

So where does that leave Toyota? For the last ten years they have devoted
far more dollars in the US to building ever larger trucks and SUVs. The
Toyota car line is stagnant (except for the Prius). Seems to me they have
been following exactly the same strategy as Ford. The only difference being
they have a protected home market, lower cost labor, and a lot of positive
press for some really ordinary products (as a friend of mind explained it -
Toyotas are EXTRA ORDINARY). Almost every company that sells vehicles in the
US has rushed to produce some mix of vans, SUVs, Crossovers, and Trucks.
Even BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and VW are selling SUVs. Apparently the Ford
strategy was not so bad.

Ed

 

Well the November news was not all bad for Ford. They actually sold more
vehicle in November of 2007 than November 0f 2006. And in fact, Ford's
monthly sales were up more in November of this year (compared to last
November) than were Toyotas (Ford was up 0.6%, Toyota was up 0.3%).

And apparently the new Tundra is turning into a disaster. Despite piling on
incentives, Tundra sales can only be described as extremely disappointing
(sales fell in November, and it is unlikely that Toyota will meet it sales
goals for the new monster truck). In my opinion, Toyota screwed the pooch on
this one. They replaced a reasonable sized truck with a ridiculously large
loser. I do see a few of them around town now, but the only person I know
that owns one is very disappointed. It sucks gas and rattles like an old
Dodge.

Ed

 

The Camry was all-new for 2007 and included a hybrid version. The xB is
new. The xD is new. The Yaris was introduced within the last two years.
The Rav was all-new in 2006. The Tundra is new in 2007. The 4Runner was
extensively reworked (don't know if it was a chassis-up changeover) in the
last few years. The Avalon is all-new in the last couple of years. The FJ
Cruiser is recent. The Highlander is all-new this year. The Corolla is
expected to be replaced this year. The Sienna was new in 2004. The Tacoma
is new in the last couple of years.

You have a curious definition of "stagnant."

 

Yup! Soon the number will go like this:

F-series 635,520 -32.4%
Camry 434,277 + 35.8%
Accord 360,976 +30.8%

Still in your denial ha Mike Hunt? Go check out Craigslist, lots of F-series
owners trying to sell theirs.... Heehee....

 

And so far GMC and FORD bought parts from CHINA... Can you interpret that?
Plus Bush pour all our resources to develop IRAQ.

 

But when I wanted a 4WD SUV to do some rough 4 wheeling Ford did not meet my

Theres no hanging items on fords or chevs

 

I said "car line." Most of the vehicle you are claiming to be new are trucks
or SUVs (or Scions). The point is that Toyota is following exactly the same
strategy people are claiming was a bad move for Ford.

I suppose the one exception is the "all new" Camry for 2007. But then Ford
had an all new Mustang in 2004, all new 500 in 2005, and all new Fusion in
2006. The Yaris is just a warmed over Japanese product. There are a few new
Scion models, but they are mostly just warmed over Japanese models sold as
Scions (not Toyotas). The point is, Toyota and Ford seem to be following
exactly the same strategy. When Ford concentrates on trucks and SUVs while
skimping on new "cars" they are criticized for following a bad strategy.
When Toyota follows the same strategy, it is considered a good strategy.

Ed

 

Come on now Ed, the Mustang was all new for 2005.

 

You are correct.

Ed

 

Look at the shocks on rear.

 

Perhaps but the fact remains as of today the two best selling vehicles are
trucks not cars and both GM and Ford outsell any import. Not too many years
ago Ford was the best selling 'brand' in the US and the same pundits were
predicting Ford Motor Company would outsell GM in the US 'if the trend
continued,' but you are entitled to you own opinion

 

Toyota does well with their imported midget, small and now American
assembled midsize cars and the union made small trucks but when it comes to
full size cars and trucks they are an "also rans." The Avalon, the T100
have been sales slugs and the Tundra is turning out to be a disaster.

If the Toyota loyalist want a Tundra they should go to one of the Manheim
Auto Auctions. Brand new 47K 4WD Tundras are going through the block as low
as the mid twenties

 

Perhaps but the F150 is still by far the best selling vehicle in the US
Hee Hee