prrhorseshoecurve posted:
Originally posted by Bigkid:
Bill Ford's problem is that he isn't a numbers guy, in many ways his problem is he is too much the dreamer IMO.
At a time when the US auto industry was/is basically doubling down on Trucks and SUV's, he made a big push for
hybrid technology and improving fuel mileage,which unfortunately wasn't what the public wanted in a time when
gas prices are still ridiculously low compared to the past, everyone wants the SUV and pickup trucks.
I suspect the vision for this building was him as well, and it isn't the first generation, for all his faults
Henry II tried to do what he could to revitalize Detroit, the Renaissance project was his baby for example.I am sorry but I will have to Disagree with you. If ford didn't invest in hybrid Tech, when the gas crunch hit from 2008-2010 ford would have been under just like the other two. also with the recent ford announcement of cancelling production of cars to almost an all SUV lineup, this hybrid Tech/ improving fuel mileage will allow them to do this while still holding to the C.A.F.E. rules.
Like GM didn't take a Big hit by selling Toyota back in 2003 the GM Hybrid technology for a mere 5 million bucks!
NAH We Don't need no Stinkin' Hybrid cars!!!! Lets make more gas guzzling trucks cause they sell!
Another 1978 Gas Crisis isn't coming!
Not sure what you are talking about with toyota hybrids, they developed the synergy drive they still use in the 1990s and introduced the prius in 1997, and they license the technology to other makers,so they would have no reason to buy any gm tech...not to mention gm makes hybrids like the volt plug in and hybrid versions of trucks and cars.
The problem with cafe is they look at the fuel mileage of cars sold. Unless Ford goes all hybrid, they may have problems selling hybrids because of the premium charged for it. Potentially they could do that and eat the cost difference, without having to subsidize sedans and such (suvs and trucks have huge profit margins), the cost of the hybrid may be offset by the losses on sedans they will no longer have (the mustang has high margins too from what i know,bc people tend to buy the pimped out ones w large margins). Not sure they can meet cafe with standard suvs and trucks w the current ratio of hybrid to non hybrid, non hybrids sell at a pretty large multiplier to hybrids,something like 5 to 1.
On the other hand they may be ok, the epa is talking about rolling back cafe or even getting rid of it,and congress may grant that.
When i said bill ford was a dreamer it was because he championed things like hybrid technology and put serious effort into fuel cell and ev research long before 2008.
