[Perian]

Source: Automotive News Email Alert

Ford delays 2009 F-150 release by two months,

More production cuts announced, profit outlook dims further

Amy Wilson - Automotive News - June 20, 2008 - 10:40 am ET

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. said today it will delay the introduction of the 2009 Ford F-150 and make deeper cuts to North American truck production plans as industry sales worsen.

The 2009 F-150 will be delayed by two months because of the need to sell down inventory of the current model, Ford said. The revamped model will now go on sale in late fall.



Ford Motor Company press release:

FORD FURTHER CUTS TRUCK PRODUCTION AS DEMAND SLOWS; MORE CARS, CROSSOVERS, FUEL-SAVING POWERTRAINS ADDED

* Next-generation European Ford Focus and Fiesta small cars reach North America in 2010.

* North American large truck and SUV production further reduced for remainder of 2008; new Ford F-150 pickup introduction timing adjusted due to market conditions and current-model sell-down.

* Production reductions will be achieved through additional downtime, shift reductions and line-speed actions at Ford's large truck and SUV assembly plants.

* Production will increase for the Ford Focus sedan and Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles.

* Next-generation, European Ford Focus and Fiesta small cars to begin production in North America in 2010, as Ford confirms it is revising its product plan to add more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains, including many from Ford's acclaimed European lineup

 

[Perian]

June sales are not going to be good...for anyone.

Even Honda may be down - you can't sell what you don't have.

GM stock - $ 14.12 @ 11:05am. How low can it go?

 

[doh]

And Ford had a short supply of Super Cabs for the last 2 order cycles. We will only have 2 of them until the 09's come out.

 

[Hitman1970]

June sales are not going to be good...for anyone.

Even Honda may be down - you can't sell what you don't have.

GM stock - $ 14.12 @ 11:05am. How low can it go?

Buy @ $10.

 

[osv_alero]

Great to hear Ford is reacting in the right way.

 

[1931Chevy]

i think the pick up sales will be between -30 to -40% for every automaker but atleast Ford is proving they want to keep inventory in control by allowing to reduce the old fleet before the new truck arrives because then dealers will have the more old trucks sitting than the new ones

 

[sepi]

Good move by Ford to delay launch. Perhaps there can be some tinkering with gearing or computer settings to increase miles per gallon.

 

[Greg Burr]

Fusion hybrid in 2009 Euro Focus and Fiesta in NA by 2010. Ford is listening. Is the end of the world coming?

 

[Perian]

Fusion hybrid in 2009 Euro Focus and Fiesta in NA by 2010. Ford is listening. Is the end of the world coming?

The end of the world is not coming.

But perhaps $150 per barrel oil is.

 

[BrickTamland]

That is a wise decision. Had they kept the original release date, the dealers would have been full of 2008s and 2009s. When a person who actually wants to buy a pickup comes in to test a 2009, but sees a 2008 with $10k off, sales of the 2009 will really hurt.

 

[Greg Burr]

The end of the world is not coming.

But perhaps $150 per barrel oil is.

$150/barrell is here for practical purposes.

As for the other point, the natural order of the universe is for Ford and GM to have great cars overseas and deprive Americans of them. Then it appeared that Ford would take this to new heights, and manufacture cars in the US for the European market, while depriving Americans of these great cars. You can imagine the shock.

 

[1931Chevy]

June sales are not going to be good...for anyone.

Even Honda may be down - you can't sell what you don't have.

GM stock - $ 14.12 @ 11:05am. How low can it go?

and with and inminent downgrade that will come soon for the big 3 I wonder how long before a chinese company starts ammazing a lot of stocks from GM or Ford, right now GM market cap is off about 8 billions

 

[Perian]

and with and inminent downgrade that will come soon for the big 3 I wonder how long before a chinese company starts ammazing a lot of stocks from GM or Ford, right now GM market cap is off about 8 billions

It's not going to be that easy.

The one benefit to $150 per barrel oil is that it will now cost Chinese automakers in the range of $1500 to $2500 just to ship a vehicle here. If they were planning on entering the lower end of the market to begin with - a new game plan may be necessary.

GM stock is trading at $ 13.86. Incredible.

 

[Sinner]

It's not going to be that easy.

The one benefit to $150 per barrel oil is that it will now cost Chinese automakers in the range of $1500 to $2500 just to ship a vehicle here. If they were planning on entering the lower end of the market to begin with - a new game plan may be necessary.

GM stock is trading at $ 13.86. Incredible.

I think he meant amassing stocks from GM and Ford, could a Chinese company pull off a takeover of GM?

 

[Member17739]

I think he meant amassing stocks from GM and Ford, could a Chinese company pull off a takeover of GM?

Many Chinese companies have enough money to take over the GM, I still doubt it will happen due to the political reasons. In the corporate world $8B is a pocket change.

 

[kain01]

I think he meant amassing stocks from GM and Ford, could a Chinese company pull off a takeover of GM?

I say we all pool our money and WE take over GM

 

[Michael_S]

That is a wise decision. Had they kept the original release date, the dealers would have been full of 2008s and 2009s. When a person who actually wants to buy a pickup comes in to test a 2009, but sees a 2008 with $10k off, sales of the 2009 will really hurt.

I was thinking the opposite. The 2009 F-150 is getting stronger engines, lighter materials, side curtain airbags, six speed automatics with every engine except the base V8, electronic stability control, and (I think) Sync. That's safety, economy, performance, and luxury improvements.

It's possible there are people out there holding out for the 2009s that don't want the 2008, no matter how cheap it gets.

But that's just a guess on my part, I have no idea how many people (if any) would buy a 2009 over a heavily discounted 2008.

 

[ChevroletRevived]

The situation for trucks is awful, that's for sure. I anxiously await June's numbers, for GM, for Ford, for Toyota; everyone. We're going to be seeing some big declines. It not if, it's how much, unfortunately.

 

[LBTheDawg]

I think he meant amassing stocks from GM and Ford, could a Chinese company pull off a takeover of GM?

Why not?

Japan and China already "own" everybody we "elect".

 

[RedVee8]

So what if no one buys the 08s because they know the 09s are around the corner?
stalemate?