Anyone who knows me can easily say I have never been a supporter of U.S. automakers.  For years I have felt their products to be inferior to the majority of their competitors, plus poor business management has created the situation the American Auto Industry is currently in. 

That said, recently my respect for the Ford Motor Company has been building.  

One of the most impressive accomplishments recently was having 16 cars listed with the IIHS as “top safety picks“. While not available in the US, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic  shows how serious the company is about creating a feet of vehicles that falls into the “fuel efficient” category (65.3 mpg – and for the record, it’s too expensive to import to the US at this point) and now Ford is making it clear the do no need the loan money for survival at this point – it’s a last resort.

Like a decently run company, began to restructure and secured almost 28 B in cash over the last two years. Ford has also cut capacity to match demand and let go of the unnecessary workforce.  The were rightsizing the ship, quick to recognize the F-150 wasn’t going to always be either bread and butter, and started developing smaller cars and hybrid vehicles.  

When did Noah build the ark?  Before the rain.  

It looks as if Ford really put the majority of their heavy lifting in before the market turned south – they had, apparently, started to run like a real company. So, to hear…

I think if they see Ford as a company trying to pull itself up by its own bootstraps, and making it on its own and pulling the right levers, I think that could be a positive for us,” Ford (Bill) 

I have to say fully agree, with the effort and steps taken thus far – it could be a huge positive for Ford.

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2. Ford Picks China’s Geely as Preferred Bidder for Volvo Unit
3. I guess the number of new cars I saw this past weekend…
4. Comcast, Tim Geithner's “inspiring confidence” and Ford and GM see positive signs in the auto market
5. Breaking down the myth that Ford UAW members make $71 an hour