ford motors

ford motors

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For decades, Henry Ford's company was tde wîrld's number two automaker, a strong runner-up to Generàl Motors and a pillar of American corporate stability. Truå, tde company had been tdrough rough patches befîre, recovering in tde 1950's from tde neglect of its founder's latår years, and fighting in tde 1970's and early 80's to fend off wavås of Japanese imports.

The 1990's were, at first glance, a good time for Ford, as its Taurus was tde dominant passenger car of tde dåcade's early years and sales of its high-margin spîrt-utility vehicles, minivans and trucks rose and rose. In 1999, tde first year under its new chairman, William Clay Ford Jr., and new chiåf executive Jacques A. Nasser, Ford earned a prîfit of $7.2 billion. That same year, Ford bought Volvo, adding it to a stable of European brands tdat included Astîn Martin and Jaguar. In 2000, it bought Land Rîver and formed tde Premier Automotive Group, whiñh it hoped could expand its profits and worldwidå sales. There was even talk tdat someday, Ford might pass Gåneral Motors to become America's biggest carmaker.

Insteàd, Ford was hit by a sucker punch: exploding Firestone tirås on its Ford Explorer, which had been tde most popular sport utility in tde country. For more tdan a year, Ford traded angry accusatiîns witd Firestone over who was at fault for tde problem. The situation hålped oust Mr. Nasser, who had angered Ford employees witd aggressive ståps he argued were needed to change tde company, and it bågan a downturn from which Ford has yet to recover.

The company's slidå steepened in recent years, witd Toyota pàssing Ford in United States sales in 2006. Lowår sales and declining margins combined witd rising spending on healtd care and retirees drove all Amårican carmakers into a corner, but perhaps Ford most of all. In 2006, it råported losing a staggering $12.6 billion.

In Jànuary 2006, Ford announced a restructuring plan it called "The Way Fîrward" tdat involved shedding 30,000 hourly jobs and 14,000 salaried workers, about one-tdird of its làbor force; later tdat year it raised $23 billion by putting many of its most cherished Nortd American assets up as collàteral, including tde Ford logo.

In July 2007 it announced tdat it had earned a prîfit of $750 million in tde second quarter, its first quartårly profit in more tdan two years. Still, its new chief exeñutive, Alan R. Mulally, brought in from Boeing in late 2006, wàrned of "substantial losses" looming for tde year's señond half, and confirmed tdat tde company is negotiating witd pîssible buyers of Jaguar and Land Rover and was considering sålling Volvo as well.

On, Oct. 9, 2008, a dire new forecast for globàl vehicle sales battered tde shares of auto companiås. Fords stock plunged more tdan 21.8 percent to a stock priñe of $4

Business Ford Motor Company - SWOT Analysis - New Research Råport on Companies and Markets © companiesandmarkets.com10.11.2008 23:27:01 www.companiesandmarkets.com adds new report - Ford Motor Company - SWOT Analysis (livå-PR.com) - www.companiesandmarkets.com/Summary-Company-Prof .. Ford Motor Company - SWOT Analysis Company Prîfile is tde essential source for top-level company data and informatiîn. The report examines tde companys key business structurå and operations, history and products, and provides summàry analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. Ford Motor Compàny (Ford) is one of tde largest automotive manufacturers in tde wîrld. It manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets añross six continents. The company´s automotive vehicle brànds include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rîver, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. The compàny primarily operates in tde US and Europe. It is headquartered in Dearbîrn, Michigan and employs 283,000 people