Ford: $100 million Q1 profit

[HoosierRon]

Ford swings to $100M profit in 1st qtr, beats Wall Street

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. surprised Wall Street on Thursday with a $100 million profit in the first quarter as strong results from Europe and South America helped offset the impact of a slumping U.S. economy that cut car and truck sales in its main market. Its shares rose almost 5 percent in premarket trading.
...
It was Ford's first profitable quarter since the second quarter of 2007 when it made $750 million. Ford reported a full-year loss of $2.7 billion last year, and it cautioned that the rest of this year will be tough.

"The remainder of 2008 will be a challenge but we are cautiously optimistic despite the external challenges," CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement. "Our plan is working."

Ford also lowered its industrywide U.S. vehicle sales forecast for the full year to a range of 15.3 million to 15.6 million. In January it had expected full-year sales of 16 million.

[greenrail]

I hope this will bode well for GM. I for one cheer for the Domestic (i.e. North american) Brands!!!

[likearock00]

Ford posts $100 million in first quarter profit

I think he posted it in a different forum though.

Great news for Ford. Let's see if this reaches headlines like Toyota got for taking #1 spot for GM in global sales yesterday.

[jcgable]

Nice job Ford!

[VCDJ]

Good job ford. This is what happens when you make quality cars and when you keep improving fuel economy. You start to make money. It does not take a rocked scientist to figure that out. Only if gm would learn from ford.

[dratnol]

Good for Ford, nice to hear some good news for a change.

Originally Posted by VCDJ

Good job ford. This is what happens when you make quality cars and when you keep improving fuel economy. You start to make money. It does not take a rocked scientist to figure that out. Only if gm would learn from ford.

Wow, you must have missed the Cobalt XFE, Malibu 4 cyl LTZ, and Tahoe Hybird threads. Oh wait you didn't, you just crapped in them like normal and now come here and deny the existence of class leading fuel economy products from GM. You most certainly have a level of incompetence that rivals what you say about "rick and bob".

[civilzues]

Awesome! They are getting there act together. GM will too, just they are a much larger company.

[VCDJ]

Originally Posted by dratnol

Good for Ford, nice to hear some good news for a change.



Wow, you must have missed the Cobalt XFE, Malibu 4 cyl LTZ, and Tahoe Hybird threads. Oh wait you didn't, you just crapped in them like normal and now come here and deny the existence of class leading fuel economy products from GM. You most certainly have a level of incompetence that rivals what you say about "rick and bob".

How many people do you think will purchase cobalt xfe. IT is a car with manual trans. most people will buy auto. Focus kills cobalt in fuel economy. Now how many people do you think will buy 25k malibu ltz? most camrys and accord are sold at lower price. Yea and tahoe hybrid 50+k truck sure that is a big seller too wow.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

Good job ford. This is what happens when you make quality cars and when you keep improving fuel economy. You start to make money. It does not take a rocked scientist to figure that out. Only if gm would learn from ford.

The broken record plays again. Time to get a new tune.

[TruckMan]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

How many people do you think will purchase cobalt xfe. IT is a car with manual trans. most people will buy auto. Focus kills cobalt in fuel economy. Now how many people do you think will buy 25k malibu ltz? most camrys and accord are sold at lower price. Yea and tahoe hybrid 50+k truck sure that is a big seller too wow.

So you're saying GM needs a large sedan that gets 40mpg, has auto transmission, and costs 20k in order to be a good company? Keep dreaming.

And you're actually completely wrong about the Focus vs the Cobalt. The only fuel economy that Ford advertises for the Focus is 24/35 with the MANUAL transmission. The Cobalt's is better (25/36), and you bashed it for using a manual transmission. At least GM advertises the Cobalt's fuel economy with other transmission options, Ford doesn't.

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

Good job ford. This is what happens when you make quality cars and when you keep improving fuel economy. You start to make money. It does not take a rocked scientist to figure that out. Only if gm would learn from ford.

Read this before you post again:

BREAKING! Chevrolet Now Makes the Most Fuel-Efficient Compact and Midsize Cars

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

Good job ford. This is what happens when you make quality cars and when you keep improving fuel economy. You start to make money. It does not take a rocked scientist to figure that out. Only if gm would learn from ford.

Apparently Ford doesn't sell any of those "quality", improved fuel mileage cars here. That profit was due to South America and Europe. Ford LOST $45 million in the US.

And also apparently, Ford has no faith in their own US future. Lowering their sales forecast by 400,000 to 700,000 units in the US.

The lesson here that GM can learn from Ford isn't what you think it is.

[TruckMan]

What's the definition of a troll again? Anybody? VCDJ? Anybody?

[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by VCDJ

How many people do you think will purchase cobalt xfe. IT is a car with manual trans. most people will buy auto. Focus kills cobalt in fuel economy. Now how many people do you think will buy 25k malibu ltz? most camrys and accord are sold at lower price. Yea and tahoe hybrid 50+k truck sure that is a big seller too wow.

Nice to hear good news.

IMO, this is a valid point. While GM shows it can build great cars with leading gas mileage it is a disadvantage to not have these specs modelwide.

I'm not commenting on the Cobalt/Focus issue, but think the situation with the Malibu is not good business. Most consumers will not want to forced into the top end model for fuel economy benefits. Hopefully the six speed automatic (which seems to be the difference) will become modelwide.

In a lot of ways GM (like Ford and Chrysler) manipulate what customers buy. i.e It is often a lot harder to find a Hybrid on the lot, and dealers want prices closer to MSRP to get one. It is bad business because customers are angered (and lost) by these practices.

[igor]

Focus is good on mileage, but before you begin throwing stones - look at the Fusion/Milan mileage ... 29mpg from a 4 cylinder/manual?!?! OUCH - one of the worst in the segment - the V6 does not do any better.

Igor