Servicing Stop FORD

Will Alan Mulally remain at Ford until he’s 80?

Servicing Stop — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:44:02 +0000

Speculation surrounding the retirement of Alan Mulally seems to be never ending. For months and months Mr Mulally has confirmed that he has no plans to retire any time soon. This hasn’t stopped rumour mills from spinning.

Laughed off

The question naturally popped up during Ford’s annual press conference. Jokes and laughs dampened the seriousness of the question with Bill Ford Junior jokingly saying originally that Mr Mullaly would retire in 2030. By that year Mr Mulally would be 85 years old.

Some give it two years

Experts of the American automotive industry believe that Mr Mullaly will indeed leave in the two years. No matter when he leaves it is sure to bring Ford’s stock down.

The Ford One strategy

He has been the main driving force behind the company’s revival. When he took over in 2006, the company were in complete meltdown. He changed the company’s fortunes around by implementing the “One Ford” strategy. His plan was to unify the Ford brand across the world to diversify the brand and lower costs.

Managing to escape bankruptcy

Somehow Ford managed to avoid bankruptcy despite the like of Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors confirmed as bankrupt. They were the only one America’s big three to avoid bankruptcy.

Will the next successor come from within the company?

Despite Mr Mullaly saying that he is staying put, this has not stopped the company searching for the next successor. Mr Mullaly believes that the next successor should come from within the company. Some have pointed towards Mark Fields who is currently in charge of Ford’s operations in the North and South American region.

Work has not been affected

Bill Ford has said speculation of Alan Mulally retiring has not affected top executives at the company. Some may have thought that “I don’t think there’s any anxiety on anyone’s part on timing. There’s no new news, and needless to say the board is more than happy with the way Alan has led the company. It has been really fun for the two of us to work together, and I’d like to see it continue for some time.”

Following the buffet example

Will Alan Mulally follow in Warren Buffet’s footsteps and work until he is 80? Mr Buffet himself has claimed that he would like to work when he is 100.

Ford executives receive admiration from share holders

Servicing Stop — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:43:42 +0000

At Ford’s annual 57^th annual meeting, shareholders were full of praise for Ford’s directors following a great year.

Non-stop profits

All 63 shareholders and directors held the meeting for a record time of 45 minutes. Following record debts and near bankruptcy towards the global car crisis in 2008, Ford has since made consecutive profits since. Last year’s total hit $8.8 billion which is the company’s best result since 1998. The mood was so positive that there were no complaints that 29 per cent of stock had fallen since May 10th 2011.

Recovery over, time to move forward

The CEO of Ford, Alan Mulally said that the company are no longer turning a new leaf but moving ahead. He also warned that the company’s market share was unlikely to increase this year following the strength of the overall market getting stronger.

Europe a stumbling block

Europe is one region that appears to be dragging the company down at present. Along with all other mass car producers such as Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall are all making losses. Demand for cars in the European region is not hitting production capacity figures.

Looking beyond small cars

Sales from the Asian Pacific region have strong in contrast. Rather than focusing on smaller models such as the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Focus, the company have expanded their horizons. They have broadened their appeal by dedicating more focus on the Ford Fusion and the Ford Escape.

Chinese market crucial to plans

In 2010 Ford managed to sell 5.3 million vehicles worldwide. Mr Mulally has targeted total sales of up to 8 million by the year 2015. In order to do so, Ford has placing a heavier emphasis on the Chinese market, the most profitable emerging car market in the world. Currently they are lagging behind rivals but Ford hope that the Ecoboost SUV will change their fortunes around in China.

That $29.5 million pay cheque

Mr Mulally has clearly pleased shareholders, earning a 2011 pay cheque worth $29.5 million. There is still no indication as to when he is planning his retirement. He has confirmed however that his replacement should come from within the company, with the hiring procedure not being rushed. For now though he seems to be doing a very good job. Ford employees and fans wouldn’t him to leave anytime soon.

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

Servicing Stop — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:28:42 +0000

The new Ford ECOnetic 1.0 litre will cost between £8,350 and £13,590. We take a look at the car today and reveal if it is worth the price tag or not.

Excellent economical values

The car is all about its outstanding economy. It is able to achieve a staggering 85.6 MPG and hit emissions of 87g/km of C02 emissions. That’s an outstanding improvement from the last Ford ECOnetic which hit 95g/km of C02 emissions and 78.5 MPG, which many though were good enough!

Testing in real life conditions

Tests have shown that a driving on a mixture of A-roads, motorways and cities return approximately 60 MPG.

The Hyundai i20 still better

However these figures still do not beat those of the Hyundai i20 Blue which achieves 84g/km of C02 emissions.

Newly implemented features

The improvements came about thanks to Ford introducing a stop start system in the car. This was surprisingly left out of the previous ECOnetic Fiesta. Ford’s ECOnetic gear ratios are now much longer. Various components have also been altered in order to bring about a performance that is a lot more economical.

Even the 1.6 TDCi is not the fastest

Needless to say, the car is not the fastest you will ever drive. From 0 – 62 MPH the car will reach a time of 12.9 seconds. The 1.6 TDCi diesel engine is suitable for all conventional driving situations.

Wonderful driving experience

The driving experience will not let you down. The handling is spot on and very sharp with accurate and well weighted steering. The low resistance tyres were developed for a more economical drive but they also give off the feeling of increased agility.

Inside the cabin

The interior comes with a great amount of quality within. All materials used are solid and will last. Zetec models come with electric windows along with a Quickclear windscreen air conditioning feature. Upgrading to the titanium version gives you a DAB Radio, automatic air conditioning and tinted glass. Going for all the optional extras will give you a bill of £18,000 plus. Is it really worth that much? Wouldn’t most customers go for the Hyundai i20 at £11,975?

There is no road tax to pay and the Ford Fiesta Econetic comes cheaper than the Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion. The Fiesta would be the better option in our opinion as it offers a better all round driving experience.

Ford to concentrate on SUVs in China

Servicing Stop — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:09 +0000

Ford is implementing a clever strategy throughout the Chinese automotive market. They understand that the current trend and best sellers are sports utility vehicles.

Building SUV’s in China

Ford wants to heavily concentrate on SUV’s for the world’s largest car market. Ford want to go as far building two of them in China according to reports. We already know of one currently being built in the country. The Ford EcoSport is destined to be built in the South West of China where total investment has reached $4.9 billion from Ford. The EcoSport contains a one litre engine and is the smallest of the EcoBoost range. It does have a very respectable amount of power within and is also able to give back an outstanding amount of economy.

The other vehicle to be built in China is expected to be the Ford Kuga, which will be developed at the Chongqing factory.

Ford aiming for the middle class market

Ford aim to target the middle class market, fending off competition from the likes of Audi and BMW.

15 new cars released in China

Ford hope to release 15 brand new vehicles to China by 2015. The majority of these vehicles will be utility vehicles. This will enable Ford to gain higher profits and catch up with rivals in a car market that is extremely competitive amongst foreign automakers.

The Ford ST

Ford was dominant at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show as expected, showing off the Ford Explorer, the Ford Kuga and the Ford Focus ST. The Ford Focus ST has not yet been introduced to China. The standard Ford Focus currently being sold in the country is expected to be labelled as the “Classic Focus”.

Why can’t Ford just release their current sports utility vehicle into the country? It is not as simple as that unfortunately. China’s road infrastructure is not as sturdy as that of American roads. Chinese vehicles need to appear to be more rugged and able to cope with pressure.

One Ford model that is exported to China currently is the Ford Edge. This model is imported from Oakville, Ontario.

Every new Ford model released within China will contain Ford’s Sync connectivity system. This is a voice recognition system, helping to bring about safer driving, allowing drivers to avoid activities such as using their phone whilst on the road.

Ford Focus Zetec S 1.0 Ecoboost

Servicing Stop — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:02:30 +0000

The Ford Focus Zetec 1.0 Ecoboost promises to be one of the economically friendly vehicles on the market. It will go on sale for a price of £19,195, but is it worth it?

Inside the cabin

Inside the cabin there is a plenty to be admired. The equipment list includes Torque Vectoring Control, a Bluetooth and USB connectivity ability along with Sports suspension and a DAB radio. There is a great deal of space as may expect with it being a Ford Focus.

Find your perfect driving position

The driving position is wonderfully positioned for the driver to get a get a view ahead. All equipment and controls are within easy reach. The steering wheel is easily able to be adjusted for every type of driver to find their perfect driving position.

Sporty driving experience

The car feels quite comfortable when driving at speed and can take most road surfaces well thanks it to it’s Sports Suspension. Expert testers have also said that the car performs pretty well when taking corners at speed.

Power and acceleration

The 1.0 litre petrol engine will be turbocharged hitting a maximum of 125 BHP. It may sound like a little but the car is actually a great all rounder. It will hit 0 – 62 MPH in only 11.3 seconds.

Economy all important

The main USP of the vehicle is it’s economical factor. It achieves economy of 114g/km if C02 and also achieves 56.5 MPG. The six speed manual gearbox helps the car report a better economy. Some testers have claimed that even driving the car in a relatively fast fashion will give back an excellent MPG reading. The engine delivers a satisfying roar at the same time.

A game changer

Ford’s Ecoboost engine is a game changer. With such little weight and capacity, the engine is still able to produce an outstanding amount of power whilst being wholly economical at the same time.

Fun to drive even when being careful

The Fiesta Zetec provides a very smooth type of driving experience. There is hardly any sound from the engine, leaving the driver to believe that they might have stalled. The double variable valve allows the driver to get an exciting driving experience when driving in an economical fashion. Even below 2,000 RPM there is a great sensation when changing gears, despite the red line being 6,700 RPM.

Ford’s Dagenham plant

Servicing Stop — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:49:09 +0000

Ford’s Dagenham plant is perhaps its most famous site across the UK as well as Europe. During the factories heyday there were a total of 34,000 employees, back in 1960. A total of 340,000 cars per year were produced. In 1996 the 10 millionth Ford was built. No one would have expected what was to come four years later when the company announced that they would stop car production at the plant.

Things have certainly changed since then. Ford’s Dagenham plant is one of the most productive car factories in the world. It plays a vital part within Ford’s global operations and is a major reason as to why the company is so successful.

£800 million spent on making the facility greener

Now Ford are taking it a step further. We have heard of how Ford’s new technology is helping making their vehicles as economical as possible, but now they are ensuring that their famous Dagenham plant has a new eco-friendly reputation. In total Ford have spend almost £1 billion in rejuvenations, including three huge wind turbines.

4,500 employees, 2,100 engines created a day

The previous figure of 34,000 employees mentioned has now dipped to just 4,500. Despite that there is certainly a bright future for the facility. Modern factory equipment is now in place with fresher buildings. The previous gloomy look is now a thing of the past. Daily those 4,500 employees produce 2,100 engines, an outstanding achievement. Over the year that adds up to 1 million plus engines created.

Excellent eco values

The Ford Focus Ecoboost will be produced at the Dagenham factory. The car will come with the highly discussed 1 litre EcoBoost engine. This weighs only 97kg. The superb engine allows the car to hit a brilliant 58 MPG, a great reading by anyone’s standards. Carbon emissions are said to be as good as 109g/km. The car also drives wonderfully, making it one of the best choices in terms of economically friendly cars.

Powerful too

The car will be able to produce a great deal of power whilst being economical at the same time, something you don’t usually hear of within a 1 litre engine. The car’s top speed will be 120 MPH, hitting 0 – 62 MPH in just 11.3 seconds.

Same looks

There are no differences in terms of the exterior looks when comparing a standard Ford Focus.

Ford believe EU trading laws will mean job losses

Servicing Stop — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:25:50 +0000

Stephen Odell has been quoted in the press to have said that free trade deals with Asian economies will cause job losses here in Europe.

Over the past one year, 450,000 South Korean vehicles have been imported into Europe. This is a stark contrast for the return statistic, as only 75,000 were built here in Europe and exported to Korea. A deal of a similar nature is currently being negotiated with Japan. Mr Odell believes that this type of deal, with such a poor return will cost many their jobs and in general have a negative effect on Europe’s car industry.

Over capacity in both regions

Over capacity in the European region has been a major problem for years. It has forced the likes of mass car producers Vauxhall and Opel to lose out on profits. Demand has not met the amount of cars being produced in recent times. The same can be said for the Japanese car economy, with the Tsumani and Earthquake in Asian regions last year having a devastating effect on the car industry.

He said “Japan has over-capacity at the moment of more than two million vehicles. You add that to an overstretched, over-capacitised Europe – it can only lead to job losses. If you add that into the pot with a 14 million vehicle industry, over time I think something has to happen”.

According to Mr Odell, Europe has the potential to create up to 20 million vehicles, which is a long way off the current demand. This has led to talks of potential factory closures, including the likes of the Vauxhall Ellesmere plant, based in Cheshire.

Fairer trade

Mr Odell continued to say how circumstances needed to be made fairer. He said “Ford are an advocate of free trade, but it has to be balanced and fair free trade. Europe needs to build things. It needs to engineer things – it needs to employ and train people. It cannot therefore surrender, particularly in unfair, unbalanced trade agreements, its industry.”

General Motors lost more than half a billion dollars last year on the European car market. Ford recently announced that they had made a first quarter profit. However this figure would have been a lot more without Ford’s losses in Europe, which hit a total of £92 million. Consumer confidence in cars has decreased dramatically following the Euro Zone crisis.

When will we report positive news on the European car industry?

Ford threatened with strikes in the UK

Servicing Stop — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:59:00 +0000

After narrowly avoiding strike action in the United States Ford are now threatened with strikes here in the UK. If the strikes do go ahead, they will be the first since 1970. Ford employ a total of 15,000 workers around the United Kingdom.

Fewer benefits for newcomers

The Ford division of the Unite Trade Union, which consists of 2,500 members at Ford will vote over new plans to start new workers at a lower wage rate and close off the final salary scheme to them. The majority of workers involved are said to be employed at Ford’s East London Dagenham factory. Ford sites in Southampton, Halewood and Basildon are also set see staff vote.

The idea is fiercely rejected

According to an official from the Unite Union, the employees “fiercely” reject the idea of starting newcomers off at such a poor rate. Roger Maddison, a Unite National Officer said “Ford faces the very real prospect of the first strike since the 1970s. Unite will not stand by and allow Ford to create a two tier workforce on pay and pensions. We urge Ford to return to the negotiating table if it wants to avoid this dispute,” If such a pay structure was to come into force, it may cause animosity and build uncomfortable working relationships down the line.

Ford determined to resolve dispute

Ford are determined to turn the stance of workers around. A company statement read “The Company has sought to discuss with the Union the financial challenges of its defined benefit pension funds, which are significantly in deficit. Around 80% of all private sector firms have now closed their defined benefit pension funds to new hires. The Company has categorically confirmed that it has no plans to close its pension funds to existing members and that the funds remain open to existing members,”

Made in Dagenham

This story echoes the sentiments of the film ‘Made in Dagenham’. This particular movie looks at the real life story of women machinists who fought the company to fight for equal pay, back in 1968.

The 1970’s

Back in the 1970’s was the last time Ford’s workers went on strike. Again it was dispute over pay. Let’s hope that the same does not happen in 2012.

Can Ford turn this around? Will there be equal pay for everyone in the end?

The American 2013 Ford Escape

Servicing Stop — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:36:56 +0000

Recently there has been plenty of hype surrounding the 2013 Ford Escape, due out in the United States next year.

Why change?

2011 was the vehicles best year ever. It managed to shift more than 250,000 units alone. If the car is seemingly performing so well in the sales charts, why change it? The style and mechanical structure will now be completely changed. There won’t just be hints of upgrades here and there, the car will be fully rejuvenated.

Toned down

Why? It appears that Ford want the car to be success beyond the United States. They want the Ford Escape to be a success worldwide. This time car will not contain as much bulk as the current model. It almost looks as if it has toned down to look more athletic. The car’s weight loss will do wonders for it’s economy and acceleration.

The weight loss has not contributed to a loss of practicality or space within. Long journeys will remain comfortable and pleasurable.

The Ford EcoBoost

The new Ford Escape will contain Ford’s next generation of engines, the highly publicised “EcoBoost” engine. This particular engine is able to produce a great deal of power whilst not using much fuel or pushing out many emissions whilst doing so. In 2011 vehicles equipped with EcoBoost engines sold 127,000 altogether, which is was a great achievement for the company.

As far as the Ford Escape is concerned, there will be two variants of the EcoBoost engine available, a 2.0 litre and a 1.6 litre, both being four cylinder variants. For those who are not interested there will also be a 2.5 litre version available.

First 1.6 EcoBoost in the United States

So far the 1.6 litre EcoBoost engine has only been available in Europe. Ford believes that the United States is now ready for the engine with the Ford Escape being the first to vehicle to contain one. It is expected to be the most popular selection, reaching a maximum of 178 BHP and being the most economical choice. It will contain a six speed automatic gear transmission along with a four wheel drive system.

The 2013 Ford Escape is expected to have Ford’s park assist system too. The system parks the car by itself. This is a neat feature seen on the Ford Focus here in the UK. The Blind Spot system is a wonderful safety feature which produces sound alerts whenever there is potential danger.

Let’s hope that the Ford Escape comes to the United Kingdom.

News of the upcoming Ford Kuga

Servicing Stop — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:27:51 +0000

The Ford Kuga is not the most glamorous vehicle bit is quite a successful one in its specific market segment.

Will slot in anywhere

This time round the Ford Kuga is expected to appeal to further car markets across the world. Designers carried out research from round the world, attempting to discover ways of allowing the car to appeal to a variety of countries. Every country has a different type of demand when it comes to what they desire within their vehicles. Have Ford combined them all in one with the brand new Ford Kuga?

Many different packages

Well there a variety of trims available. Perhaps certain colour schemes and specific packages are targeted at specific countries. Asian countries prefer lighter colours within the interior. European countries prefer a darker colour inside the cabin. Uniquely there is a Ginger colour offered with a pale green reflection which be made available worldwide. This is hoped to attract customers who enjoy taking trips to the great outdoors.

What type of car is the Ford Kuga?

The Ford Kuga is quite a difficult car to class. It is not quite a family saloon yet not quite a fully fledged Sports Utility Vehicle. Many describe it as more of a compact type of SUV. It’s almost like having a space cruiser without the unnecessary bulk. In that sense the car can relate to both the American and the European car market. Around the world many are opting for a car that is more sensible and reliable rather than a gas guzzling coupe, another reason as to why the car will come across as more attractive.

Practicality is the key

Practicality is a trait that will be desired anywhere in the world. That’s why the Ford Kuga has that in abundance. This includes a larger boot and a hands free automatic tailgate system. The seats will be neatly folded down with the touch of a button instead of having to use an annoying lever. Ford’s SYNC system is also set to be included as an optional extra. This will contact the emergency services during the event of an accident.

When can I buy one?

It is expected to go on sale before the end of the year here in the United Kingdom. Prices along with other details have not yet been released.