Ford confirms Mexico plan

June 17, 2006

BY SARAH A. WEBSTER

Ford Motor Co. confirmed Friday that it will embark on an expansive project to invest in its three manufacturing plants in Mexico -- an effort that was disclosed earlier this week by local media that obtained a copy of a secret Ford proposal for the investment.

The struggling Dearborn-based automaker, which posted a $1.2-billion loss during the first three months of the year, will upgrade two of its assembly plants -- in the cities of Cuautitlan and Hermosillo -- and its engine plant in Chihuahua. Ford said in a statement that details of the upgrades would be announced during the next several years, as the improvements take place.

The move is part of Ford's Way Forward turnaround plan, which aims to restore the automaker's North American operations to profitability by 2008. As part of that plan, first announced in January, Ford promised to build a new,
low-cost assembly plant at an unidentified location.

<snip>

"We remain committed to a new low-cost manufacturing facility. But we have made no decisions on where it will be located," Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said in the statement. "The key to success will be high quality and low cost, and that certainly can be in the U.S., Canada or Mexico."

<snip>

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060617/BUSINESS01/606170319

Just another reason not to buy them.

They haven't sucked since 1981.

Geesch.

then open them elsewhere. That is the reason not to buy them. They also suck as vehicles. Unstylish hunks of crap. Or gas-guzzling behemoths.

on being an American company? :shrug:

http://www.cleveland.com/autoshow/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1141119517121440.xml&coll=2

Q: What is behind the change in design direction for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars?

A: We need to get to our American roots. Maybe we were being a little too European with our look, and that is not us. We are an American company. I am from Akron. I grew up on American cars, and that is why I got into the business. I would like to see more of an American look and that just can't be a throwback to what went on in the '60s and '70s.

Q: What do you hope people will notice about the look of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars over the next five years?

A: Without a question, we want bold American design. That is what we are searching for right now. We think that is a key.

Out of the mouths of Ford. "American". Not "North American", "NAFTAian", or anything else. "American". And more than once too. America. It's as simple as that.

Also notice the date of the article. It's not from 40 years ago. Not even 4 years ago. It's 4 months ago.

quite sad actually

quality vehicles... then again, they have decades of experience to back them up working here in the states... good grief.

Had a 13-year-old Mustang - and FINALLY it started showing signs of aging THIS year.

I traded it - on another Mustang - that was MADE in the United States.

... and now I'm convinced that high labor costs are not Ford's and GM's biggest problem.

Ford and Saturn make hybrids.

They suck.

You people honestly live in 1980. American cars haven't sucked since the late 70s, early 80s. Yes, it took competition to make them improve, but they really, really don't suck.

My entire family owns Fords - never had any problem until the cars get half-way to antique.

Why you ask ? Because I work for a company that invested millions to bring up a plant in Mexico. It was shuttered shortly there after because of corruption and theft. Point in case, at least several times/week a truck of "product" (these are expensive mind you) would leave the mfg facility for a port of exit destined to other SA countries for sale... but mysteriously the truck, the driver, and the product were never seen again. These were not isolated incidents and ultimately lead to closing a new plant and having to layoff several hundred local workers.

As an added note, this "plant" was positioned there NOT because of cheap labor and did not displace ANY US workers. The site was selected but because it has the lowest logistics cost (cost of shipping and distribution to South America).

MZr7

couldn't do anything right, the company went out of buisness..

toyota and Nissan are FAR FAR superior cars.. and get lots better gas mileage

Sorry. Not true.

I get excellent gas mileage and it doesn't cost me a fortune to purchase. The reason Toys and Nissies have a higher resale value is, get this, THEY COST MORE ON INITIAL PURCHASE.

They're NOT better cars and haven't been since 1982.

control I'm looking for in my next car. This one has been great - 125,000 miles and other than maintenance, no problems. I bet no one will be able to say that once they start making them in Mexico. I for one won't be their customer to find out. I'm letting them know via letter to headquarters first thing Monday morning. Why don't all their top execs move there as well as really enjoy Mexican living?

Racist much?

Youpay less, you get less quality work is the general line of thought.

Kind of like buying furniture. You can shell out a lot for something made here by the amish, sturdy and will last a lifetime. Or you can buy some cheap crap churned out in china that might get you a few years before falling apart.

People pay more for quality, and that in turn generally means the people producing it are paid more as well - which allows you to attract and keep quality employees.

They're going to start producing low-riders with a Mexican theme.

I understand there will be an American Union soon anyway ( Mexico, US, Canada merging as one ) So it makes sense to get a jump on the building of infrastructure.

Trying to cut cost to be bone.

Price wasn't the reason this company was failing. Big pricy trucks moved just fine. IT was the cost of GAS stupid!

For over 20 years Ford and GM fought against what they called 'cheep' cars coming into the USA and competing against their 'expensive' cars. Sure, price is one marketing feature. But there was another that they NEVER talk about. But people have begged them for, over and over again.

Cars that use less fuel. Amazingly enough, those 'cheap' cars from over seas did just that!

The more we (consumers) begged them to make cars that run on less fuel, the more they would spout that we wanted the 'big tough' autos that looked cool. What ever happened to listening to the consumers? What ever happened to be compitive? The automakers idea of being compeitive was to go to DC to write bills to keep consumers getting what they WANT.

And still they think it's all about the price.

In 'An inconvient truth', Gore mentions that Ford (or was it GM?) was suing the state of CA because of some of their tougher rules that they will be slowly intementing. Rules that would make it almost impossible for the company cars to be used in the state. INSTEAD of getting to gether and making a product that would fit what the consumers WOULD need..... They sue the state.

Same old story! And they wonder why they are hurting!!!

I didn't see that in the link, so I don't know.

FWIW, my father was an officer of FM Co. in Mexico in the 1950's. They manufactured cars for Central and South American markets, not the US.

Perhaps things have changed.

...Ine-Quality is Job #1!

:grr:

and I live in Michigan for 4 months of the year. I grew up in a GM town (Flint) and had a very hard time going to this car --- but would be a hard sell going back to GM or Ford due to reliability and premium service.

If this car is on it's last legs (or carburetor ) etc.), I would look at all and hope a completely US product met my expectations --- but I expect this car will last for at least 5 years. Given that the global economy makes the assessment more difficult - I will focus on reliability and service reputations in making my choice, along with mpg.

gm and ford.and I would rather have a picture of a ford as the keys to any of the others. old or new I have never to this day had to walk home when I started off in a ford product, can't say the same for the others.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

I just bought my fifth Mustang last month. My last Mustang was 12-going-on-13 years old and NEVER showed any signs of aging until this year.

People still believe American cars are as they were in the 1970s - and American cars haven't been able to overcome that bad PR. It's sad, really, because they're more affordable, get as good of gas mileage and are as well built.

Some people on this thread sound, well, racist. They will purchase an automobile made in Japan, but not Mexico? Sounds prejudicial to me.

I've already dumped $5000 in repairs in it, not including the massive warrantee work that was done. Why did I keep it? Well, at the time I said, "Oh a busted spring is just an oddity, $900 in repairs is cheaper than a new car". Then it was "oh, I use the air conditioning alot here in south GA, it's bound to show some wear, $1200 is cheaper than a new car".

At some point I had to admit, the thing is a piece of shit.

Dear brother's 1990's explorer was made in St Louis. This is a brother well known for his excellent care of cars. He still has his 1960's Mustang in almost perfect condition, He just handed off a 1989 Chrysler minivan to his pregnant daughter in almost perfect condition. He's says all of them have just been normal wear and tear and scheduled maintainance. The explorer? He refuses to sell it. He refuses to put any more money into it. He's letting it go to shit. He says when he comes out and it won't start anymore he's going to go out of his way to make sure it's destroyed so no one ever ends up with any part of it.

I'm not saying all Fords are pieces of shit. I'm saying Ford's so called quality is not as consistent as you think.

don't want to take.

Edit...I'd rather have a dose of the clapp than a Ford, because the clapp is easier to get rid of!

My husband is losing his job at the Atlanta Assembly plant so they can hire a bunch of Mexicans for 50 cents a day instead? Through all this crap, I kept telling my husband that Ford is in a pickle and is making tough decisions to survive. It's not personal. Well, obviously, it is. They can't afford to keep their American plants open but they can drop BILLIONS into Mexican plants. This is bullshit.

You know what, I've put up with Ford's shitty cars for 22 years. That's it. I'm done. Fuck them. Next car will be a Toyota. Yeah, I'll be helping to screw my own husband out of his pension when they dump it but I'll be able to hold my head up and say I BUY AMERICAN!! Because OBVIOUSLY Toyota care about America more than Ford fucking does.

I'd better turn straight... I don't want to get the wrong impression about me formed and rolling...