Ford exec: Japanese hogging hybrid parts

[notacarguy]

Ford would offer more hybrids, COO says, if more parts were available

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. could be offering more hybrid vehicles if it weren't for the shortage of specialized components, partly due to the "predatory" approach taken by some Japanese automakers, Ford Chief Operating Officer Jim Padilla said Tuesday.

It is a supply issue, and it's supply of several technologies," Padilla said at the Reuters Summit in Detroit. "The Japanese have shown a little bit of a predatory approach."

Company Chief Executive Bill Ford Jr. has said he wants more hybrids in the fleet of the world's third-biggest automaker, after trailing Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. with the fuel-efficient technology.


Source: http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/20/Auto...reut/index.htm

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by notacarguy

[size=3]"The Japanese have shown a little bit of a predatory approach."

Oh quit crying. They beat you to it is all. Not saying hybrids are the holy-grail some think they are, but Toyota was first and so far they've been best. Why aren't there any American companies working on these batteries and other hybrid components? I'd think it's a huge opportunity for a domestic company.

[SilverSTS]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Oh quit crying. They beat you to it is all. Not saying hybrids are the holy-grail some think they are, but Toyota was first and so far they've been best. Why aren't there any American companies working on these batteries and other hybrid components? I'd think it's a huge opportunity for a domestic company.

Why aren't there any Canadian companies on these batteries and other hybrid components????

[asim]

Hey they develop it, they control it. Kinda unfair though.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by SilverSTS

Why aren't there any Canadian companies on these batteries and other hybrid components????

Well okay, them too! I wasn't slamming the US... just asking a genuine question. It's apparently an untapped North American market.

[FStephenMasek]

Ford has many excellent diesel engines which would be instant hits if offered in the USA. Who would not want more power and 40% better mileage than the gasoline engine, all without the smoke and noise of the past generations of diesel engines, but with the longevity of diesel engines?

[genjy]

Oh boo-hoo Ford. It would probably be exactly the same if GM or BMW or Nissan were in Toyota and Honda's place. It's just business.

[Cortazzo]

It's because NA suppliers can't or won't develop the components, and it seems the japanese suppliers are giving their hometown boys preference in deliveries. So much for the beauty of globalization...

[surferdude00711]

Maybe if Ford was faster getting theirs to market they wouldn't have this problem. Suddenly GM's light-er hybrids don't seem like that bad of an investment.

[01cavalier]

I remember hearing about this one before, it really doesnt surprise me that this is happening. Im sure if they really wanted they could find other suppliers to pick up the slack.

[stewacide]

Reminds me of the Apple Computer business model of the past few years: buy out the first-run global supply of whatever the latest and greatest technology is (large wide-screen LCDs, mini-hard-drives, high-capacity flash memory, soon-to-be HD-DVD drives, etc.) and try to turn your temporary monopoly into long-term segment leadership. Seems to be going very very well for them...

That sort of opportunity doesn't come along often in the auto business, and Toyota to their credit took advantage of it...

[x2222]

Oh man, they not only researched the technology way before the competition but they even let companies like ford lease the technology. In such a competeive market ford has no reason to complain. The big three need to become self sufficient on hybrid tech and its scary that Hyundai and Kia might actaully beat them to that.

[Mr. Burns]

stupid thing about american companies is that they do what sells. back in the good old days, the caddys with mountains of chrome sold like hotcakes yet no one gave a **************** about the environment, GM sure never did because it cared more about profits. this is what i like better about toyota and honda as opposed to GM: when SUVs sell, GM neglects everything and makes them why? for profits not caring about the environment etc... toyota cared about the environment and released a hybrid car, GM didnt do anything, why? not profitable, and not selling. then the market began heating up, ford joined in and GM is scrambling back and saying wow, these things can make profits. they are the average american corporation, one who cares only about profits and not a **************** thing about anything else (sae market share etc...) unless that "else" is a potential gold mine. heck if hummers began flying off shelves GM will begin to produce tons of them and make them bigger and meaner and not give a **************** about the environment, because they will be making profits!!! this is something toyota and honda will never do.

[vanshmack]

Originally Posted by Mr. Burns

stupid thing about american companies is that they do what sells. back in the good old days, the caddys with mountains of chrome sold like hotcakes yet no one gave a **************** about the environment, GM sure never did because it cared more about profits. this is what i like better about toyota and honda as opposed to GM: when SUVs sell, GM neglects everything and makes them why? for profits not caring about the environment etc... toyota cared about the environment and released a hybrid car, GM didnt do anything, why? not profitable, and not selling. then the market began heating up, ford joined in and GM is scrambling back and saying wow, these things can make profits. they are the average american corporation, one who cares only about profits and not a **************** thing about anything else (sae market share etc...) unless that "else" is a potential gold mine. heck if hummers began flying off shelves GM will begin to produce tons of them and make them bigger and meaner and not give a **************** about the environment, because they will be making profits!!! this is something toyota and honda will never do.

Toyota builds hybrids because they care about the environment? Are you really that naive? What about all those Tundras and Sequoias with their extremely dirty iForce V8s that get worse mileage than the equivalent GM V8?

Why not get off the Kool Aide and say that Toyota builds hybrids because they saw a niche they could make a profit exploiting?

I've had enough of the fallacy that is the benevolent Toyota.

And Fujio Cho needs to punched in the mouth to get that retarded smile off his face.

[Mr. Burns]

Originally Posted by vanshmack

Toyota builds hybrids because they care about the environment? Are you really that naive? What about all those Tundras and Sequoias with their extremely dirty iForce V8s that get worse mileage than the equivalent GM V8?

Why not get off the Kool Aide and say that Toyota builds hybrids because they saw a niche they could make a profit exploiting?

I've had enough of the fallacy that is the benevolent Toyota.

And Fujio Cho needs to punched in the mouth to get that retarded smile off his face.

i can assure you that if GM had never built SUVs toyota would not have followed, toyota had to build the SUVs to stay in the game, besides they dont sell nearly as much as the GMs and fords do. also please, when someone (i do this very rarely) states their opinions about an import being more favorable then a GM dont claim that he/she is drinking coolaid, agree or disagree civily.