http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060918/ap_on_bi_ge/gm_ford


I said this months ago... (What if?)

Oh you're crazy...
That'll be the day...
Are you on crack...


Now look... The powers that be are contemplating it. I guess it's "circle the wagons" time. Too bad Chrysler can't really help, you know, since they're not really one of "us", anymore... And, with hot cars hitting the market (300, Magnum, Charger, Liberty, Commander...), and the 3rd hottest truck (Ram), they really don't need to...

 

Explain to me how you being right about one thing means you are not crazy!

 

Good point..

OK, business-wise, I knew something like this might make sense... It might tick off some blue oval guys, and some GM fans; but from a business perspective, this could be a formidable alliance. It probably won't happen, but, imagine an F-150 with GM's 6.1L 345 HP V-8 engine...

Or, better yet, a Mustang with the 6.1L V8, massaged to 380 - 400 HP as it is in the GTO. The only guys wo'd REALLY be pissed, is the UAW- but, I wouldn't really care, and they shouldn't either, as long as they still have jobs.

 

I said it then and I'll say it now...

What in the world makes them think if they can't manage their own companies that combining two failing companies into one big mess will make it easier...

I guess it would streamline the Chapter 7 or 11 process though.

 

Well, GM is also mulling a cooperation with Renault/Nissan, who Carlos Ghosn has damn-near single handed wrenched away from the jaws of oblivion. Now, Nissan is as hot as they ever were, and Infiniti is hotter than they have ever been. He's focusing on Renault now...

If GM/Ford/Renault/Nissan comes together, I think they should make Carlos Ghosn the CEO.

 

Mattineer is going to loose his mind................

Look at it this way, if they merge, we can double the "crap" output....


How about Ford and Honda merge?

 

Honda has been in bed with GM for a litle while. The engine in the Saturn VUE is a detuned Honda 3.5L V-6 (MDX, Pilot, Odyssey)...

The Fusion is Sexy now, and the 500 is growign on me. Imagine those cars infused with some Japanese quality control, know-how, and attention to detail.

 

Each company is struggling with resources and cash flow, streamlining and combining components or sub assemblies might each the economic pinch they're both feeling. A you lean on me and I'll lean on you and we both won't fall down sort of thing.

 

ahh the making of a truly successful venture...

I think they should write that in the new business plan.

Welcome to GMORD where we lean on each other to keep from falling over.

Built GMORD tough....like a rock

The heartbeat of the hoofbeats



How can it fail

 

Speaking of GM...I guess you've seen the new 2007 Silverado and GMC twin? If you ask me, they look great. I see they've taken a lot of hints from the new 2004 F150 though...easy lift tailgate, new front suspension with rack and pinion, boxed frame, power rear supercab windows, etc, etc. The interior is very nice...just nice overall. If it runs, drives, holds up as well as it looks, it'll be a nice truck.
http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/prelaunch/index.jsp


..

 

I think combining the two corporate cultures would probably put the combined organization into rigor mortis.

I mean, it's one thing to have a DC-type thing, where both organizations retain a certain amount of autonomy. But combining companies with so many competing and/or overlapping product lines would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to pull off!

I think the UAW alone would probably bring the company down with some kind of "scorched earth" negotiating policy once they were faced with losing that many jobs!

 

Ditto. Ford also announced today that there were no talks or negotiations that took place. Even they don't know where the rumors started. There are always talks of collaborative development between any two corporations in the same game. Hell, all of the big-3 have been doing it for years. Ford and Toyota developed the hybrid powertrain for the Escape/Mariner. Ford and GM developed a 6-speed automatic transmission (although I forget what it's in offhand). Ford and Mazda... ('nuff said on that one), Ford and Nissan built the Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest, Ford put a Yamaha V-8 in teh Taurus for a few years... the list goes on and on. Automotive Engineering Magazine (an SAE publication) used to put out a chart every year of the different corporate alliances and projects. You'd be amazed at how inter-twined all the companies are.

The last chart I saw was for 2000, and it was sponsored by Visteon. I still have it, but it's way too large to scan. Quick search online didn't turn up anything concrete....

As for the talks, nothing concrete or recent AFAIK.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...D-UPDATE-2.XML

 

Hoofbeats are louder than heartbeats.

GMORD or FORGM? I like the latter

 

To the table... Ford w/ the best Pony car, truck line up. Gm has the 'Vette, and On-Star.

 

probably call the new company "american motors"

...zap!