Ford to purchase Brazilian car company?

[nadepalma]

I thought this was too interesting NOT to post.

It seems as though Ford of Brazil is interested in making an acquisition in the local Brazilian market. According to AutoBlog, Ford wants to increase it's market share in Brazil and is looking to buy a local offroad/truck outfit to supplement their locally built products.

Buying the company wouldn't be all that difficult for a huge company like Ford, but you almost have to wonder if they're setting themselves up for a law suit from DCX seeing as how the T4 is basically a Jeep knockoff. DCX doesn't seem to mind or takes little notice when small third-party manufacters end up producing similar looking Jeep knock-offs (it's happend in India and in China already) but having one of the world's largers automakers doing it might cause immediate problems due to the size and breath of Ford.

I'm sure Ford would rebadge this as a Ford product rather than keeping it under the Troller nameplate -- that would be the logical assumption, no?

One wonders if this proves to be a good purchase and successful for Ford in Brazil, if they might consider bringing it to the US as a dirt cheap product for the entry-level market?

All interesting to ponder as Ford tries to expand it's footprint in South America.

Here is the Troller Site in Brazil

Originally Posted by AutoBlog.com

SOURCE:http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/13/f...lian-products/

Ford trolling for new Brazilian products
Posted Nov 13th 2006 5:54PM by Chris Tutor

Ford operates three factories in Brazil where it has a 12% market share. According to a Detroit News article in July, 20% of Ford's 2005 worldwide profit came from its Brazilian operations. But it looks like hefty competition from the usual suspects (Honda, GM, Toyota) have the Blue Oval looking for new product. Thus it's no surprise that Ford of Brazil is in buyout talks with Brazilian automaker Troller Veiculos Especias, Reuters reported Friday.

Troller was founded in 1997 and with its 500 employees turns out about 100 vehicles a month. The company makes two models, the very Jeep Wrangler-like T4 (shown above) and the Pantanal pickup. Both are powered by a 160 HP, four-cylinder, 3-liter, common rail, International turbo-diesel. No word yet on when the deal might conclude or how much it would be worth.

Troller T4



Troller Pantanal



MORE HERE

Originally Posted by Reuters

SOURCE:http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...ORD-BRAZIL.XML

Brazil's Troller says negotiating its sale to Ford
Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:05pm ET

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Brazilian off-road vehicle maker Troller Veiculos Especias said on Friday it was holding talks with Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) that may lead to its sale to the U.S. company.

Troller, which based the design of its T4 markee vehicle on the Willys jeeps, has 500 employees and produces about 100 automobiles a month. The company, founded in 1997 in the northern state of Ceara, makes two vehicle models: the T4 and a pick-up truck called Pantanal.

"The negotiation is taking place indeed, but the deal hasn't been closed," Troller's communications department said, adding that there are no guarantees the sale may go through.

Ford's communications department in Brazil said in a statement it "constantly prepares studies and evaluations with a goal of finding business and product opportunities. However, we don't comment on those issues."

MORE HERE

[civilzues]

WOW! talk about knock off's!

[asim]

Yeah...I don't know if DCX will like this at all, especially since it IS crosstown rival, Ford, that wants to buy this Troller company.

[Mr. Burns]

Originally Posted by civilzues

WOW! talk about knock off's!

its actually quite the clever knockoff, i mean it looks like a jeep at first glance, but it doesnt that much, when you look deeper.

I think ford is being retarded, unless of course they buy the brand, and rebadge some of their own products under its name to sell in brazil. You know, kinda like scamming the brazillians.

[PocoToro]

In the words of Steve Martin "What the F*******????????"

I thought Ford lost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
How and why would any part of Ford be looking to buy a company until Ford's house gets in order?

The Ford waters are mucked up enough as it is. Like they need any thing else on there plate

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by PocoToro

In the words of Steve Martin "What the F*******????????"

I thought Ford lost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
How and why would any part of Ford be looking to buy a company until Ford's house gets in order?

The Ford waters are mucked up enough as it is. Like they need any thing else on there plate

Well the actual price of the buying Troller is probably insignificant for that market and considering Ford's size. They say they make about 100 vehicles per month -- that's a drop in the bucket for Ford and arguably speaks to the "cheapness" of the company. And since Ford says that 20% of their profits come from this market, so some kind of investment and making a purchase like this make a whole lot of sense.

And of course, the fact that company is so small also means that Ford can exploit this and increase their numbers by transferring production to one of their other sites or expanding the Troller facilities.

[Watchdevil]

That Pantanal looks like some Dodge Truck concept reject....

[superstreet]

wow, is that a rebadged wrangler?

[01cavalier]

Originally Posted by Watchdevil

That Pantanal looks like some Dodge Truck concept reject....

It sure does. I dont really get why they would bother buying such a low-volume company.

[dmaxpwr]

that Pantara is pretty cool/unique looking and powered by an International Diesel!!

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by PocoToro

In the words of Steve Martin "What the F*******????????"

I thought Ford lost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
How and why would any part of Ford be looking to buy a company until Ford's house gets in order?

The Ford waters are mucked up enough as it is. Like they need any thing else on there plate

These companies (American co's) are Usually sooo large, that such a purchase, (500 employees, 100 Vehicle a month) might not make it to a North american board meeting.. not worth their time.. in $$ terms.. So, perhaps this is a Ford Brazil issue and a 15 Minutes discussion with their N/A liason at corporate

[FoMoCo Fan]

There's got to be more to this story. Something doesn't add up. I could see them buying it if they had a lot of plant capacity, but it doesn't seem like that is the issue here. Odd story. Odder looking truck.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

There's got to be more to this story. Something doesn't add up. I could see them buying it if they had a lot of plant capacity, but it doesn't seem like that is the issue here. Odd story. Odder looking truck.

Is "Odder" an English word..
I know what you mean though.. I just do not know if odder has made it into the oxford English dictionary yet

[gotz_otto]

I like the snorkel on the T4, makes it look ready for more than a wrangler is ready for.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

I thought this was too interesting NOT to post.

It seems as though Ford of Brazil is interested in making an acquisition in the local Brazilian market. According to AutoBlog, Ford wants to increase it's market share in Brazil and is looking to buy a local offroad/truck outfit to supplement their locally built products.

Buying the company wouldn't be all that difficult for a huge company like Ford, but you almost have to wonder if they're setting themselves up for a law suit from DCX seeing as how the T4 is basically a Jeep knockoff. DCX doesn't seem to mind or takes little notice when small third-party manufacters end up producing similar looking Jeep knock-offs (it's happend in India and in China already) but having one of the world's largers automakers doing it might cause immediate problems due to the size and breath of Ford.

I'm sure Ford would rebadge this as a Ford product rather than keeping it under the Troller nameplate -- that would be the logical assumption, no?

One wonders if this proves to be a good purchase and successful for Ford in Brazil, if they might consider bringing it to the US as a dirt cheap product for the entry-level market?

All interesting to ponder as Ford tries to expand it's footprint in South America.

Here is the Troller Site in Brazil

For India, Mahindra obtained the licence from Willys-Overland since the days of the CJ-3A http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/India2.html http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/India.html

Ford might label it as the "Ford Troller"

the chassis could be perfect for a new Bronco or an updated Ford Ranger. And you got an interesting point about Ford expanding it's footprint in South America, currently compared to India and China, South America is not a big player in the actual context but South America is a sleeping giant and if this sleeping giant decide to wake without a warning, we might have some surprises.