Alan Mulally
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Once CEO of the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F], Alan Mulally has now joined the board of technology firm Google—just as the tech giant expands its automotive horizons to in-car entertainment and autonomous vehicles. Mulally became the boss of Ford in September 2006, but left the firm earlier this month, handing the reins to chief operating officer Mark Fields. Mulally's departure from Ford was six months earlier than expected, but it's now become clear that he had his sights on Google and whatever challenge awaits there. Mulally leaves the Blue Oval in good shape, though—Ford is...
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Ford CEO Alan Mulally May Retire Early: Report
Ford CEO Alan Mulally, the man primarily credited with turning around the automaker’s fortunes by streamlining operations and implementing the ‘One Ford’ policy, may step down from the top job earlier than planned. The 68-year-old exec is scheduled to resign at the end of 2014 but...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Lincoln Looking To China, Losing Waterfall Grille
Putting a luxury face on an automaker in a region where it's known more for affordable commuters than superb sedans is a tough endeavor. Lexus and Cadillac, and more recently Infiniti, are facing that challenge in Europe, and if upmarket Ford brand Lincoln hopes to be around in years to come it too...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Posts $2.1 Billion First Quarter Profit
Ford today reported a profit of $2.1 billion for the first three months of the year, beating most estimates by almost 50 percent and coming in a staggering $3.5 billion over the same period just one year ago. Ford cites strong demand for new products, streamlining of its global operations and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mercury’s Future Is Smaller Cars And Crossovers
As we have been reporting for the past couple of years, the future of Mercury is in limbo. An aging fleet, poor sales and lack of image is causing the brand to slowly wither away. However, Ford CEO Alan Mulally seems defiant the brand will survive, but fails to mention how it will manage to do so...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Planning Lincoln And Mercury Versions Of Kuga Crossover
Ford originally planned to build Lincoln and Mercury versions of the Kuga in Germany and import them to North America back in 2008.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Despite the faltering economy - or maybe because of it - Ford will be refreshing the majority of its lineup in various regions around the world over the next three years. According to the company's CFO, Lewis Booth, Ford will be refreshing as much as 90% of its vehicle lineups in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa. The figure of 90% refers to volume, rather than actual model numbers, indicating that Ford will be focusing on refreshing its highest selling vehicles in those various regions over the next few years. Booth explained to The Detroit News that the strategy of bringing...
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Ford posts $424 million second quarter loss
Ford today reported a pre-tax operating loss of $424 million in the second quarter of 2009 (excluding special items), a $609 million improvement compared with the second quarter of last year. The gains made during the quarter were the result of cost reductions, net pricing, positive Ford Credit...
Ralph Hanson -
Report: Ford looking to spawn three sedans from new platform
Ford’s future models are to share common vehicle platforms across the globe, a practice that is the keystone of CEO Alan Mulally’s strategy to help shed costs and turn around the fortunes of the company. The first of these new global cars has already been launched in the form of the...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford boasts profitability by 2011
Of the Detroit 3 carmakers, Ford is easily the strongest and compared with its global competition the Blue Oval isn’t looking too shabby either – impressive considering U.S. new car sales are at their lowest level in decades. Furthermore, Ford insists it will be able to reach...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford posts $1.4 billion loss during first quarter, expects to break-even by 2011
Ford has cemented its position as the most viable carmaker out of the Detroit 3, with the company’s first quarter financial results showing some very promising figures. Ford is the only Detroit 3 carmaker operating without federal bailout loans and while it still posted a $1.4 billion loss...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford continues to look toward Toyota, Honda for inspiration
There's no denying Toyota's rise to power has been as close to meteoric as things get in the lumbering automotive industry. Though it's decades younger than its Detroit rivals, it is healthier, larger and more technologically advanced in almost every way. That's why Alan Mulally is trying to guide...
Ralph Hanson -
There's been a lot of public and media outcry over the big salaries and swank travel and accommodations of Ford's top men, especially with the ready contrast of General Motors' Rick Wagoner and Chrysler's Bob Nardelli, both taking commercial flights and $1 salaries. But there's a side to the story that few outlets are bothering to cover. Ford hasn't hopped on the government loan list yet, and there's actually an economy to the use of private jets. Sure, Ford is still working on other cost-cutting measures as well, including eliminating merit-based salary bumps for U.S. employees, lowering...
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Ford execs take 30% pay cut
Ford has been one of the most active of the Detroit 3 carmakers when it comes to cutting executive pay and white collar jobs, and today the Blue Oval announced its latest measure for weathering the economic storm and turning around its slumping performance. Hourly workers at Ford will get yet...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford reports $5.9 billion loss for fourth quarter of 2008
Despite being the only Detroit 3 carmaker to decline the federal government’s bailout offer, Ford has revealed that it is still doing it tough by reporting a substantial $5.9 billion loss for the fourth quarter of 2008. This figure roughly equates to just under $500 million lost each week or...
James Martinez -
Ford confirms it won't need any loan money
As the economy and the car industry transform to lighter, more compact versions of their previous selves, the primary agent of change is cash. Ford CEO Alan Mulally took an opportunity this weekend to re-affirm his company's ability to stand on its own, without government-backed loans, however...
Ralph Hanson -
Washington: Automakers, Senators working on solution
The CEOs of America's major carmakers, before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee today, are acknowledging their past shortcomings but also projecting future strategies based on lessons learned. Lawmakers thus far appear to be more receptive to the idea of loans now that the...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford CEO to drive Escape Hybrid to Congressional hearings
Last week we reported that executives from the Detroit 3 plan to drive down to Washington for Congressional hearings in some of their most fuel efficient models, rather than taking their expensive corporate jets as they had done for the last round of hearings. Ford has now announced that its CEO...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Despite posting a gross operating loss of $2.7 billion for the third quarter, Ford Motor Co.'s net after-tax third quarter losses only amounted to $129 million. That's a significant improvement against last year's $380 million third-quarter loss, though the pre-tax picture is much more grim: a $194 million profit last year was replaced with a $2.7 billion loss in Q3 2008. Ford has a plan for combating the current downswing in the American market, however. Among its 'improvement actions' is a 10% reduction in 'salaried personnel-related costs', likely meaning a significant number of...