Ford Toyota Merger?

[greg334]

I am watching local 4 - the Offical North American International Auto Show Station (Big deal) and they are all over the Ford/Toyota talks.

Well after reading about the 'whistle stop' tour of Ford managment to promote their product and tell everyone about Ford, I figure that they are not going to really ever recover, they seem to be reaching.

I read a great anaylis about Ford's problems from U of M in which they listed a few things that I think make sense;

Get the Union under control (AKA automation)
Get products that sell - shrinking the entire product line should be considered.
Get more competitive in the industry by lowering the prices and tightening up engineering and quality control.
(and the one I love) start eliminating the dealer franchise that will eliminate the dealer profit and make manufacture direct sales possible and pass the savings directly onto the consumer.

Ford's better idea lately has been trying to sell to it's employees and forget the rest.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

My take: Toyota wouldn't touch Ford with a ten foot pole. Ford has nothing to offer Toyota, nothing but debt,ageing plants and the UAW. The difference between the two is like day and night.

 

[themagicoen]

If they did they would probably just want the name. Take the Ford name slap it on one of their cars. Close the plants, sell the assets. Ford has the #1 truck I think (f150) so take the tundra, change it a tad throw on the F150 tag and now they have the best selling truck.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

The new Tundra plant was to be operational this winter in San Antonio TX.
Its a monster truck full North American sized and will compete with any of the big 3 full sized trucks. They better look out if Toyota builds it like the rest of thier vehicles, game over.

 

[Long Hauler 5T]

Greg334,

Is not U of M an acronym? oops.

Also something that has not been brought up is the fact that Ford has an ownership position in Mazda already.

 

[Jayman]

If I wanted a 1 ton super duty, what does toyota offer? Not much.

Jay
Proud owner of 3 F-150 XLT's

 

[OntarioVanMan]

>If I wanted a 1 ton super duty, what does toyota offer? Not
>much.
>
>Jay
>Proud owner of 3 F-150 XLT's


Always been a Dodge man myself...Grab life by the horns.

 

[greg334]

Greg334,

Is not U of M an acronym? oops.

Yes and No. It is a trademark, just like GM. So it don't count!

 

[fastman_1]

At one time in the late 70's Early 80's Toyota made a 1 ton Dually They mostly ended up as U-hauls.







































Owner/Operator since 1979
Expediter since 1997
B Unit Semi Retired
Somedays are Diamonds and Somedays are Stones
Home is Wherever you Park.
The Price of Freedom is Written on the Wall.

 

[jaminjim]

Greg: AKA

 

[rollnthunder]

Believe it or not Ford makes some parts and sells them to the competitors from the (Visteon and now ACH)plants.Toyota has talked about buying ford for a long time.Matter of fact they use to come and tour my wifes plant since its up forsale.Bottom line is they want some of our technology that we have and thats it besides the name.Her plant was set to be bought by Toyota and then when ford found out that they where going to close it and take what they wanted back to Japan or where ever Ford said nope.But this was a few years ago.Japanese has us beat in so many ways with technology im not sure what they would gain besides the name or Eliminating the name and having one less competitor.Who knows does Ford even really know...I doubt it.All i know is i thank them everyday for the $100,000 My wife got plus a better education for her on there dime....

 

[simon says]

I saw it on the news as well... analysts think it is probably just exploratory talks on some joint projects they might do. Ford wants Toyota expertise (just like they milked Mazda for the small car stuff in the late 80's-90's). Mazda built a 2.0L diesel that Ford put in its Escorts- and was a great engine. FYI: I just found out that the Mustang is built at Flat Rock on a d/u the other night...
All these companies can have joint ventures- GM has had them with Toyota as well.