Absolutely.

However, the 'stimulus' package is in many ways designed to benefit incumbants, and could actually result in a few new jobs by the 2010 elections (so what if they are temporary jobs and cost the taxpayers $ millions each).

The media, president and congress will find a few statistics that show economic improvement, and they will shout them from the rooftops, ensuring wide spread re-elections.

 

Ford auto sales highest since July 2008.

I like the sound of that....even though sales are still down 24.3% from last year.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/02/news...ales/index.htm

 

I really think Ford should start advertising that they are the only true American car company left.

 

Honestly, this is the kind of article and data that are overly optimistic about the economy and the American auto industry, IMO. It uses selected tidbits to show we are at the bottom, but ignores other info that would paint a more complete picture.

So a 24.3% year to year drop for May is good news, because

1) it beat analyst projections
2) was not as big a drop year to year seen in April 2009,
3) Was the most units sold in a month since July, 2008


All fine and dandy, but a 24.3% drop over 12 months is pretty hard to spin as good news, if you ask me.

Is May traditionally a much stronger month than April or July?

When was Ford's best May ever? How did May 2009 compare to that in terms of units sold, $ gross revenue and $/net revenue?

IOTW, a 24.3% drop in units over 1 year may not sound THAT bad, but what if the unit price is also down dramatically, and the May sales were down 80% from Ford's best May ever? Basically, they could have moved more units, but lost even more money than any month ever.

 

I am sure they are thinking about it.

But they have to be very careful about pissing off the Executive branch. If the government takes offense at Ford's advertising campaign, they could easily step in and pull the plug on Ford sooner rather than later.

My bet is Ford will test the waters with the administration before they advertise anything that could be construed as critical of govt. takeover of the auto industry. Afterall, Ford may find itself being taken over someday soon, and they want to be able to negotiate the best possible terms of surrender.



Welcome to the new Amerika, comrade.

Change you can believe in.


Ford's status as 'America's last great non-government owned car company' could be a very short lived honor. If they make it to 2016 I'll be amazed.

 

To hell with them, let them advertise for gm and chrysler. Ford is now in compitition with the Governemnt, so I for one think they should point out how ineffecient other government run programs are.

 

not in this lifetime... WOLVERINES!!!

 

I wish you were right. And I do think it would appeal to many Americans, including me.

"Buy a Ford, give the Government the FINGER!" Works for me.

However, this is the same Ford that got chastised for flying the Exec's in on corporate jets late last year, then Ford made sure they flew commercial for the next round of public shaming (I mean meetings with our great Congress). If they were going to tell Congress and the Government to shove it, they have had plenty of opportunities.



FWIW, Ford's US vehicle sales in June, 1999 were 431,033 units. In May, 2009, they sold 155,954 units. That's a monh-to-month drop of 275,079 units, or a loss of 63.8%.

Not good, considering the US population has grown substantially since 1999 and Chrysler and GM were healthy back then.

 

Good one!

Russkie troopers in the heartland would be a piece of cake compared to the cadre of socialist elected officials and their Chinse bankers that are already entrenched in our capitol.

We could use a new Patrick Swayze about now. Too bad the original is sicker than the Constitution. You know, that old document that our courts, legislature and executive branch have already shredded.

 

there is a reason the f series is the best selling truck for what..30 years. i was a die hard chevy man ...people kept telling me ford and i finally broke down and bought a 97 f 150 and im hooked.. im on my third truck and its ford from now on.

 

I heard they are going to offer free health care at all GM dealerships. That way, when you buy a new car or truck you can visit the Doctor on site for a free rectal exam to see how bad you got screwed.

 

You're DAMN right the people didn't want the bailouts. We tried like hell to tell our representatives to vote against them.

I called, and otherwise contacted my representatives many, many times, and also called and otherwise contacted the heads of the house and senate (majority and minority) many times, get this, WHEN BUSH WAS OUR PRESIDENT, to tell them to vote againsed any bail out. It was wrong then just as it is wrong now.

Since we've been blessed with our new leader, I've called and otherwise contacted my and other elected representatives to ask them to vote against any bailouts. They aren't listening. Either that or I am that naive to believe that a majority of people in this country don't want our tax dollars used to bailout privately owned companies.

I don't really know what the future of Ford will be. I hope that they can survive without being propped up with our tax dollars. I can't imagine the government is going to let that happen. We are headed down a road, that many believe is going to make life easier for them, but that in reality is going to take just enough freedom from each and every one of us to leave our government holding way, way too much power. It would be nice to see the American people stand up to retain every bit of freedom, and keep the governments power in check. I do believe that there will be a day when that happens. It'll be the day that it's just too late though.

I've typically traded in my vehicles every few years. I think that I'll be driving this Edge for several years to come. We'll have to see what happens, but I can't say that my next vehicle will be a Ford. I hope that they can keep it together so that it can be.

 

What sucks more is that we own 60% of GM and I wouldn't sell one to my mother-in-law. - Og