The end result of backward thinking: THE WORKERS PAY THE PRICE

[CrackpotAmerica]

Remember when Ford and GM decided to continue down the SUV path and ignore economic indicators pertaining to the future of oil?



<snip>

Ford to cut up to 30,000 jobs

No. 2 automaker to close 14 North American manufacturing plants in effort to stem losses.
By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer
January 23, 2006: 11:56 AM EST


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Ford Motor Co. said Monday it plans to close 14 manufacturing plants in North America and cut between 25,000 to 30,000 jobs in the coming years as it tries to stem losses and adjust to its new, significantly lower market share.

The nation's No. 2 automaker said that it will close a total of seven North American assembly plants, including three U.S. assembly plants identified for closing Monday -- in St. Louis, Wixom, Mich., and Atlanta. Two other assembly plants yet to be determined will also be closed by 2008, while the St. Thomas, Ontario assembly plant, with nearly 2,600 employees, will lose one of its two shifts.

</snip>

Rest here..

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/23/news/companies/ford_closings/index.htm?cnn=yes

[rfranklin]

1. SUVs were the big profit makers, $10,000 per vehicle...

but switching to sedans would have not helped. Ford's share of that segment is shrinking faster than SUVs.

[CrackpotAmerica]

2. But, the competition...

took to the task of exploring updating all of their vehicles on the basis of fuel economy...

Ford came in very late with its version of hybrid engine. Thus, a surplus of gas guzzlers sit unsold.

Toyota has become advanced in its hybrid SUV engines (and now Lexus.) Ford offers only one hybrid SUV.

[Skidmore]

3. This regressive thinking places short-term profits over

the long-term industrial growth of the nation. The corporations that America originated has sold her out. The corporations have chosen to race for the bottom as long as they profit.

[zbdent]

4. Gee, focusing on gas-guzzlers, employee-pricing sales to all,

Zero-percent financing (which was how they really made a bundle in the 90s) in a minimal-prime-rate environment . . .

Yep, it's all the employees' faults . . . :sarcasm: :eyes:

[CrackpotAmerica]

5. Here is another article that supports the SUV theory:

<snip>

News bulletin
Ford to shift away from SUVs

BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford aims to end its over-reliance on sales of traditional SUVs like the Explorer and Expedition, introduce new types of vehicles and reinvigorate its design staff with bold-looking cars and trucks under the company’s reorganization, the automaker’s top executives said in Dearborn.

The company will keep its three U.S. brands – Ford, Lincoln and Mercury – but increase the differences between their models to give each a clearer identity, Ford executive vice president Mark Fields said.
</snip>

Rest here:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060123/NEWS99/60123010