Comments on: Ford slashes debt by US$9.9 billion

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:00:05 +0000

Dan,
Gee thats a weird way to look at stuff….

Its like saying I wish I had better luck at paying attention at school to become smarter…..(hypotheticlly of course)

Management isnt based on luck, its based on decisions and making good ones at that.
It would be bad luck if GM invested money into new programs and systems and then a bomb hit the place and wiped all their records,
Thats bad luck, refusing to help yourself isnt

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:44:09 +0000

Dan Da Man,
this isnt good luck,
this is a display of great management.
It also displays that Ford isnt going to just sit there refusing to help them selves like GM and Chrysler are.

Tom,
perfect response.

By: Phil C.

Phil C. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:42:48 +0000

Ford offered this deal to institutional investors and it was quickly snapped up. GM offered a similar deal and was rejected.

Clearly, there is ALOT more confidence in Ford. Rightly so too.

Ford had in fact turned a profit in Q1 2008 which was just before the real onset of the GFC.

The deals with the UAW and now this really stand Ford in a competitive position business wise for the future.

By: ben

ben — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:50:13 +0000

Yeh baby, fords back on its way up, keep up the good work fellas

By: Limited Slip

Limited Slip — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:10:18 +0000

eh179driver……..Ford still have 13% of Mazda. They will still share\design Mazda platforms\vehicles etc…. which is a good thing for both companies. It is one of the best partnerships in the auto world and has done alot for both companies over a long period of time. I hope Ford continue to give us some good auto news !! If GM go it will impact the whole auto scene lets hope Ford are ok…….

By: adam (aka mada)

adam (aka mada) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:05:42 +0000

As i’ve maintained before, Alan M is a far more capable Business executive than Rick W, former CEO of GM or Bob N CEO of Crysler.

Ford is in the best position for when the global auto market starts to level out.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:03:20 +0000

Tom – game, set & match.

This is good news that will make local operations feel slightly safer in the short term. Now if only GM could do something similar. Note the word “could”. I smell a fire sale coming on soon. Holden anyone?

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By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:45:22 +0000

Point is Ford have shown strength, stability and all round good management in an unstable market. The average Joe will have more confidence investing in a Ford than GM or Chrysler at the moment.

By: Frontman

Frontman — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:38:12 +0000

Eh179driver (nice tag had a lot of fun in a van in my early years )
Mazda isn’t really the darling brand it appears once you get out of the Australian market. Whilst it has been on the improvement (market share) it is still way behind Subaru, Nissan and Hinda both domestically and globally. By reducing the shareholding Ford reduced it’s income agreed, but it also reduced it’s liability as well. Becuase of the model sharing Ford was putting up most of the R&D Dollars for mazda whilst the other shareholders just got the (little) profit. Under its new situation Ford still product shares and developes, but is able to push the expense to th other owners. Acces to the 4cyl technology is not a drama as Ford Europe is equal to the challenge (Focus / 3 2.0l is a Euro motor despite popular belief) and Ford Europe Diesels are highly regarded. That is even before ecoboost 2.0 is in porduction.

By: eh179driver

eh179driver — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:26:28 +0000

What they did not say was that most of the 2.2b came from selling down their large (almost controlling) shares in Mazda. However by selling there shares (I think down to 3%?) they also loose the profits from one of the most successful auto companies world wide. I also understand that they only have access to Mazda vehicles and 4cyl technology for a limited time.
It could be a decission that bites them in years to come.