What I know about Ford finally made public

[Bossxr8]

Long service leave is extra leave you get after 7 years of service, fully paid. Here after 7 years you need permission or justification to use, not so after 10 years.

I just passed my 10 years last month.

[naddis01]

Superannuation is where you employer, whoever that may be, puts away 9% of your pay into a superannuation fund. When you retire at 65 (0r 60?) you can withdraw this money. It is more complicated than that, but that is basically it.

Then we also have an aged pension that is paid by the Government from our taxes.

Long service leave is as Bossxr8 has said. Extra fully paid leave above your normal holidays. It is a bonus for staying with the same employer for 10 years or more.

[qwiksix]

Superannuation (aka super) in Australia = 401(k) in USA. We don't really have an equivalent for SS.

qs

[Ohio XB]

Ok, I think we are on the same page now. Yes, in the US a 401K is a retirement fund you can choose to participate in at many employers. This is where you can choose to have a certain percentage of your pay directed to a retirement account, before your pay is taxed. Yes, you can start taking distribution of these funds around age 65, though I am not exactly sure if that age is accurate.


We get weeks of vacation pay based on years of service. Maximum is after 20 years at Ford, this earns you 5 weeks of vacation. Right now I am at 4 1/2 weeks (Been at Ford 17 years). Actually, two of those weeks are "personal time" where you can take the time one day off at a time, the rest are regular vacation weeks. You have to have two weeks available for the annual 2 week shutdown period.

You receive additional vacation time at 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, and max at 20 years. I think you start with 2 weeks at 5 years.


Steve

[Luke Plaizier]

Is 401k compulsory? 9% Superannuation contributions are mandatory in Australia, but you can voluntarily contribute above that. All contributions are taxed at a much reduced rate, but you are not supposed to be able to access that until you reach retirement age - previously and currently 65, but due to go up to 67 in a few years time. However there are duress conditions where people can apply to APRA to access their superannuation funds before retirement (loan foreclosure, illness, death etc)

The money is generally placed in a managed investment portfolio and as such it's value is dependent on market conditions. I know quite a few people that were planning to retire late in 2008 but could not because of the GFC slashing the value of their superannuation payout. Nearly all I know have elected to stay in the workforce until the economy, and the value of their 'super', recovers.

Out of curiosity, Australia has some very heavily regulated OH&S (Occupational Health anbd Safety) laws that apply to all workplaces in the country. These laws add substantial burecratric and cost overheads to any major project, but have resulted in major reductions to injury and death counts over the years. Such laws include maximum lifting weights, muscle pressures, operating machinery, working with hazardous materials etc. Are there similar applicable laws such as these in the US?


Lukeyson

[Ohio XB]

Luke, these lines from my above post will answer the question about compulsory participation...

Yes, in the US a 401K is a retirement fund you can choose to participate in at many employers. This is where you can choose to have a certain percentage of your pay directed to a retirement account, before your pay is taxed.

It is not compulsory at all, it is strictly voluntary, but there is a maximum percentage of your pay that you can contribute, I think 25%. The money directed to this account is removed from your pay BEFORE your pay is taxed. This reduces your tax burden on payday. The money you route to the 401K account is NOT taxed until it is withdrawn after you retire. This allows your money to earn the most interest possible without losing money to taxes until you take distribution.

Yes, many American's 401K's were wiped out due to the crash of the economy due to where that money was invested.



We have OSHA; Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They also regulate health and safety laws in the US. They will drop in occasionally as well for a spot inspection.

However, due to the nature of repetitive assembly line work, there is just no way to get around the repetitive work injuries.

There are "torque bars" on many of the guns used to run in screws and bolts that counter the torquing action of the gun as it secures the fastener.

There are balancers that suspend the heavier guns at work level so that the worker doesn't have to deal with the full weight of the gun all day long.

There are many ergonomic practices in place on the line for many things, however it is the shear number of repetitions of the exact same motions that eat at your body. One way to experience this is to perform this action:

Go to your garage or work bench, wherever you have a typical hammer that you use at home. Now, hold it in your hand the way you normally would. Now extend your arm with the hammer straight out in front of you, hold it there for a 2 count, then raise it upward to a 45 degree angle, then back in front of you again, then put it back down to your side. Do this slowly, and do it 500 times, always with the same arm. Then tomorrow, do it another 500 times with the same arm. Oh, you also have to walk 20 feet as you do this, then walk back 20 feet to start again, each time. (When I work a 350 vehicle shift this 20 feet in both directions works out to 2.65 miles a day.)

I don't know how many assembly lines build 500 vehicles a shift, if any, but then again you are not performing the 8 other operations that would be on your job either, all done 350 - 400 times a day. Hey, that hammer isn't so heavy, is it? :evil3:


If anyone does the above exercise I believe when you start the second day the repetitive injury potential will be pretty well understood. It really is hard to explain to anyone that has not worked on an assembly line. It's not a real hard task, it is doing 8 things exactly the same way 400 times a day, 2,000 times a week.


Steve

[Ohio XB]

Anybody try my work example above yet??? :


Steve

[eb2fairmont]

Yes.

Well in a different way. I'm a geologist and I spend my time in the field panning and logging samples. We'll drill between 200-400 metres in a day, which is 150-300 samples. Each sample has to:

1. Be panned to wash off clay and test for heavy mineral (takes 2 minutes)
2. Logged according to washability, colour, grain size, lithology, heavy mineral percentage.
3. Samples which are good have to go to the lab.
4. Standard and duplicate samples have to be collected (QAQC)
5. After the hole is drilled, between 500-750 kg of sand has to be shovelled back down the hole, raked over, and made pretty.

And then at the end of the day I get a helicopter ride back to the camp, where I listen to people whinging about not having any ham, when we're 400km from the nearest shop. So yeah I understand your pain.

But I actually love my job. So yeah, I'm certifiable.

[Iggypoppin']

Sort of Steve. Every day at work I must carry timber for customers to be cut. While the amounts vary, it is usually MDF skirting boards, and for examples sake, let's say it's a mid size board, at the standard length of 5.4 meters. 90x19 single bevelled. Let's say I have to carry 10 every 10 minutes to the cross saw 30 metres from my work station. Cut. Travel back with cut pieces and load. As averages go I would do this every 10 minutes, 10 boards, all day. On my shoulder. I'm skinny and have next to 0 muscle mass. After a year I feel stronger, as well as physically depleted. My shoulder has permanent rash and cuts from the weight of the timber, as well as not as much movement as I used to have. And it's only been 1.5 years there! Imagine 30!

[imugli]

Speculation over on BOF has a Falc based RWD Lincoln very close to being approved...

LINK

It's only speculation but : anyway!

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by imugli

Speculation over on BOF has a Falc based RWD Lincoln very close to being approved...

LINK

It's only speculation but : anyway!

There was an E8 Lincoln Flagship Sedan slated for 2012, but I haven't heard anymore about it. It could be.


Hey guys, you know what repetition is. I am talking about anyone that does not have a job that involves repetition. Rocks and timber is rough work!


Steve

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by imugli

Speculation over on BOF has a Falc based RWD Lincoln very close to being approved...

LINK

It's only speculation but : anyway!

This is where it came from. GMInside news. Poster westcoent who has a post count of 6781. So, he is a regular!

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...29/index2.html

Post #23

On another note... Falcon-based Lincoln is getting closer to approval..

But, yes they are also talking about it at BlueOvalForums.

Quite like this quote

Originally Posted by Blue II

Let's all hope Ford gets well real soon. There are plenty of irons in the fire. Maybe a bird of prey with a bad to the bone Coyote in it's maw looking for some Schnitzle.

Hmm. Now where have i seen that 'Coyote in it's Maw' quote before!?!

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by phillyc

This is where it came from. GMInside news. Poster westcoent who has a post count of 6781. So, he is a regular!

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...29/index2.html

Post #23


But, yes they are also talking about it at BlueOvalForums.

Quite like this quote


Hmm. Now where have i seen that 'Coyote in it's Maw' quote before!?!

Road Warrior's signature, also from Blue II. Very much "game on".

Where are all the doubters now?

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Road Warrior's signature, also from Blue II. Very much "game on".

Where are all the doubters now?

Bankrupt.....???

While others spun their stories and put on a brave face, Ford has meticulously but deliberately set to work. They have put together the business plans for each model, and went to market with that product on its merits. GRWD may not have been a priority, but as the world economy improves and Ford get's all its ducks in a row, well then we will see what the Falcon can do....globally...

[Luke Plaizier]

Those guys are also speculating that Ford might build Falcon in the US and export to Oz. At the outset, not ideal for us.

But what if the Falcon based Lincoln is actually a revival of the LWB model, that was apparently fully designed during FG development but not rolled out? I think Oz could swallow importing an LWB FG from the US if it meant we kept SWB production - although the relevance to a Wagon replacement is cloudy. You could assume that ADR approval would be valid across both variants if the basics were the same, and that parts and servicing would already be in place.

With LH engineering also applicable to SWB versions, that might open up export opportunities for the performance models out of Australia in to LWB markets.

So either Oz becomes SWB build only for both RHD and LHD, or Oz becomes RHD build only for both SWB and LWB. Those are my two takes on it.

Given Ford Oz's success at the top end of the model spectrum in '09, it makes me wonder if they might be well served to provide for additional poducts at (or above) that level - and I mean G6ET here. I've often thought that Ford really needed a 'Premium' brand in Australia. Given the commonality of parts and components, it could be a good time to bring the Lincoln brand to Australia on the back of a US Built LWB Falcon - assuming the Lincoln guys really can make a difference to perceived quality.

Remember that it's the LWB Commodore that is being presented for US Cop Car duty. A LWB Falcon based Continental 'Interceptor' fits that mould too.


Lukeyson

[Luke Plaizier]

Also makes you start to wonder what Burela really was talking about when he was suggesting AWD was on the horizon?


Lukeyson

[data_mine]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Given Ford Oz's success at the top end of the model spectrum in '09, it makes me wonder if they might be well served to provide for additional poducts at (or above) that level - and I mean G6ET here. I've often thought that Ford really needed a 'Premium' brand in Australia. Given the commonality of parts and components, it could be a good time to bring the Lincoln brand to Australia on the back of a US Built LWB Falcon - assuming the Lincoln guys really can make a difference to perceived quality

Nice idea, but I see two problems there.

1. I don't see Australian's identifying with a Lincoln. (after all Holdens big selling point is that they're Australian*)

2. Are we big enough to support another brand?

Other than that, US support on the Falcon can mean great things.

[Luke Plaizier]

True. Certainly bringing Cadillac into the country has been problematic. And Lincoln is not perceived to be as up market as Cadillac in the US - a preconception that Australia may well not suffer. With Ford selling off it's 'outsourced' prestige brands, it's left with a bit of a hole here in Australia in that market.

But were we big enough for Lexus? Are we big enough to bring back Nissan's Infinity brand which I've heard is rumoured to be happening? Are we big enough to bring over all those new Chinese brands?

I tend to think that one of the reasons that people are moving to European brands is the snob factor - something that a Cadillac or Lincoln product portfolio could cater too. Whether the US brands are snobbish enough is the real question.

But the other positive - if they are doing the development work to fit the 3.5 Ecoboost in the US, Australia would get a free kick in that regard, although I too don't want to see the end of engine production in Australia. Suddenly Burela's decision to keep the I6 for a few more years now looks like a piece of genius in that he now has someone else doing the expensive R&D work for him - what the heck was the previous guy thinking?



Lukeyson

[naddis01]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/51726/fp...tted-on-video/

Check out the 3rd pic down. Coincidence?

[Luke Plaizier]

Wow.

Photoshopped or real? This seems deserving of a new thread, it's almost buried in here.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11284553


Lukeyson

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/s...ps-production/

SAE 2010: Ford confirms Explorer, F-150 EcoBoost, ups production target to 1.5M

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Apr 12th 2010 at 12:01AM

This Tuesday, Ford's VP of global powertrain development, Barb Samardzich, will be addressing the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit, and Ecoboost technology will again be at the top of her agenda. Samardzich will confirm that before the end of this year three more Ecoboost engines will be in production at Ford, including the 1.6-liter inline-four due to be built at the Bridgend plant in Wales and debut in the new C-Max people mover.

At the Chicago Auto Show it was announced that the new 2.0-liter inline-four will go into the 2011 Edge and during Tuesday's address Samardzich will also confirm that turbo'd four-pot will find its way into the new unibody Explorer as well. That installation should come as no surprise since just such a combination was listed as a powertrain for the Explorer America concept that debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show when Ecoboost was originally announced.

The final announcement (and one of the worst kept secrets in the industry) will be the confirmation that the 2011 F150 will be available with a 3.5-liter V6 Ecoboost. This will be the first rear-drive Ecoboost application, and brings the total number of announced Ecoboosted vehicles to eight (nine if you count C-Max and Grand C-Max). However, Ford is saying there will be 11 Ecoboost vehicles this year, with the Lincoln MKX one likely candidate for the 2.0-liter and the Mondeo may get one of the four cylinder units as well.

Samardzich will also announce that Ford has upped its Ecoboost production target from 1.3 million to 1.5 million by 2013 – not bad when you consider when Ecoboost was first announced Ford was targeting 750,000 units.

[Source: Ford]
Show full PR text
FORD ADDS THREE MORE ECOBOOST ENGINES; NOW EXPECTS TO DELIVER 1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY BY 2013

* Ford to launch three more EcoBoost™ engines by the end of 2010
* The company remains on track to equip as much as 90 percent of its North American nameplates with EcoBoost, which would deliver worldwide sales of about 1.5 million units – 200,000 more than earlier estimates
* By 2014, nearly 20 percent of Ford's global vehicle nameplates will be available with a fuel-saving stop/start system

DETROIT, April 12, 2010 – Ford Motor Company announced today that three more engines with the company's patented EcoBoost fuel-saving technology are scheduled to be launched by the end of the year. By 2013 Ford expects to be producing approximately 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally, about 200,000 more than originally expected.

Plans call for an EcoBoost engine to be available in 80 percent of the company's global nameplates and 90 percent of North American nameplates. About half of the 1.5 million EcoBoost engines are expected to be sold in North America, while the rest are to be sold in Europe, South America and Asia Pacific regions.

"We are focused on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that's how Ford will truly make a difference," said Barb Samardzich, Ford's vice president of powertrain engineering.

Samardzich is expected to detail EcoBoost production plans as well as the next three EcoBoost engines scheduled for launch by the end of the year during remarks Tuesday at the SAE World Congress.

The next three EcoBoost engines include:

* 1.6-liter four-cylinder that will be offered in the European C-Max people mover.
* The 1.6-liter EcoBoost will deliver quick acceleration and class-leading fuel economy.
* 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV and Edge CUV.


This new engine will deliver best-in-class fuel economy and V-6 performance.

3.5-liter V-6 for the F-150. Ford engineers have upgraded the 3.5-liter V-6 for rear-wheel-drive applications. The EcoBoost F-150 is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy along with the power and towing capability of a V-8.

The three new engines will increase the number of global nameplates available with EcoBoost
to 11. EcoBoost is available now in the Ford Flex and Taurus and Lincoln MKS and MKT.

EcoBoost technology combines direct fuel injection, variable cam timing and turbocharging to reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and cut vehicle weight, while giving drivers the performance of a bigger engine.

While Ford is rolling out the first generation of EcoBoost engines, researchers are studying ways to further downsize future EcoBoost engines, while preserving performance and raising fuel economy. More efficient turbochargers, super-precise control of the direct-injection fuel system, optimum gearing of the transmission and final drive will enable a smaller engine to run in what engineers call its "sweet spot" more often, said Dan Kapp, Ford's director of powertrain research and advanced engineering.

When an engine is in its sweet spot, it is running at its most efficient. That, combined with dramatic reductions in vehicle weight, will improve performance and fuel economy. Ford has committed to reducing vehicle weight by between 250 and 750 pounds per vehicle.

"We are trying to get in front of the pack in leveraging EcoBoost for fuel economy," Kapp said. "It's going to be a trend in the industry, and we can't rest on our laurels for one minute. We are going to keep wringing more efficiency out of EcoBoost."

EcoBoost is a key technology that will enable Ford not only to fulfill the company's goal to be among the leaders in fuel economy in every segment, but also to meet the federal government's new 35.5 mpg fuel economy standard, which takes effect in 2016. Samardzich said Ford could develop EcoBoost engines smaller than 1.6-liter.

In addition to high volume, affordability will be another key attribute of not just EcoBoost, but Ford's other fuel-saving powertrain technologies.

The new Fiesta, for example, is available with an optional fuel-saving six-speed dual-clutch PowerShift automatic transmission. When equipped with PowerShift, Fiesta is expected to get an EPA-rated 40 mpg on the highway. The PowerShift transmission also will be used in the next-generation Focus due in early 2011. PowerShift improves fuel economy as much as 9 percent over a four-speed automatic.

In addition to EcoBoost, other near-term powertrain technologies Samardzich outlined include:

Electrification: Ford has committed $1 billion to build plug-in, hybrid and battery electric vehicles and a plant that will assemble battery packs for these vehicles. The Transit Connect Electric is being launched later this year, while the Focus Electric is due next year. A hybrid and a plug-in hybrid will be built off Ford's global C platform, which underpins the Focus. Ford also plans to move battery pack production from Mexico to Michigan to support the production of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Six-speed transmissions: By the end of 2012, 98 percent of Ford North American vehicles will be equipped with fuel-efficient six-speed transmissions. A six-speed transmission can improve fuel economy between 4 and 6 percent. The latest vehicles to get six-speed transmissions are Mustang, which gets a new six-speed manual and a new six-speed automatic; Super Duty, which gets a new six-speed automatic; and Fiesta, which will introduce the segment's first dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission.

Stop/Start systems: By 2014, as many as 20 percent of Ford's global nameplates could be equipped with stop/start systems, which turn off the gasoline or diesel engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and quickly restarts the engine when the driver's foot leaves the brake pedal. A stop/start system can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by around 5 percent, depending on conditions.

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/72509/fo...uaw-repayment/

Ford cuts debt by $US4B through UAW repayment
By Tim Beissmann | July 1st, 2010

Ford Motor Company announced overnight that it is reducing its debt by more than $US4 billion ($4.74 billion), primarily by paying in cash a debt owed to the United Auto Workers retiree medical benefits trust.

Ford President and CEO, Alan Mulally, said the repayment would further strengthen the company’s balance sheet as it gains momentum in 2010 with solid sales and profits and positive automotive operating-related cash flow.

“We are pleased to make these payments ahead of schedule for the benefit of Ford and our UAW-Ford retirees who count on the Trust for their health care benefits,” Mr Mulally said.

“Our One Ford plan to profitably grow our business is working, and we are increasingly confident about the future. Importantly, our business results make it possible to take these actions while still accelerating the investments we are making in our business to serve our customers with the very best cars and trucks.”

President of Independent Fiduciary Services, the investment manager for the UAW retiree medical benefits trust, Samuel W. Halpern, welcomed the announcement.

“We are very pleased with this transaction, which continues the process of diversifying the Trust’s assets at very attractive values and assists the thousands of Ford retired employees, their families and survivors and others who look to the Trust to fund their retiree health benefits,” Mr Halpern said.

The repayment is the second made by Ford for the second quarter after a $US3 billion ($3.55 billion) payment in April. Given that Ford’s debt was $US34 billion ($40.25 billion) at the end of the first quarter, it is believed Ford’s current debt is now closer to $US27 billion ($31.96 billion). Ford said the second-quarter debt reduction will save it more than $US470 million ($556 million) in interest annually.

In late 2006, Ford borrowed $US26 billion ($30.78 billion) in a move that allowed it to avoid bankruptcy.

Ford sales in the US have increased by more than 30 percent this year, almost double the overall industry gains.

[vztrt]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0701-znj9.html

Ford Motor to repay $4bn of debt July 1, 2010 - 8:53AM
.Ford Motor Co, the only Detroit carmaker to avoid bankruptcy protection, said on Wednesday it will reduce its huge debt by another $US4 billion ($A4.72 billion) as it continues to show signs of financial strength.

The Dearborn, Michigan, carmaker will pay $US3.8 billion ($A4.5 billion) in cash to a United Auto Workers trust fund that pays retiree health care bills, and it will pay out $US255 million ($A301 million) in dividends on preferred securities that had been deferred as the carmaker worked its way through financial troubles.

The company now will make quarterly payments on the securities, which are a combination of preferred stock and bonds.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement that the payments are another sign of confidence that the company's restructuring plan is working.

"We expect to continue to improve our balance sheet as we deliver on our plan," Mulally said. "Our business results make it possible to take these actions while still accelerating the investments we are making in our business."

Ford sales are up more than 30 per cent through May, almost double the 17 per cent increase in total US car sales.

Ford shares rose 50 cents, or 5 per cent, to $10.38 in midday trading.

The carmaker said the actions combined with a $US3 billion ($A3.54 billion) debt payment in April will reduce its total debt to around $US27 billion ($A32 billion) from $US34 billion ($A40 billion) at the end of the first quarter.

The payments will save Ford roughly $US470 million ($A555 million) in annual interest costs, the company said.

Ford was forced to mortgage its factories and even its blue oval logo to borrow more than $US23 billion ($A27 billion) in 2006 and 2007. But the move helped it avoid bankruptcy protection, unlike Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Corp.

Recently Ford has reported sales gains and four straight quarterly profits. It earned $US2.1 billion ($A2.48 billion) in the first quarter, helped by higher transaction prices for its cars and trucks, which have been getting high quality ratings from third-party groups such as Consumer Reports magazine and JD Power and Associates.

As the US car industry headed toward financial disaster in 2007, the UAW agreed to set up trust funds that would take on enormous health care payments for Ford, GM and Chrysler retirees. Ford made initial payments to the trust and agreed to pay roughly another $US7 billion ($A8.26 billion).

After the payments, Ford will still owe the UAW trust about $US3.6 billion ($A4.25 billion), payable over three years. The company said it intends to repay the note early but wouldn't say when.

In March, the trust raised $US1.78 billion ($A2 billion) by selling warrants to buy the carmaker's stock.

It pays health care bills for more than 200,000 retirees and their spouses. Ford agreed to fund the trust with a total of $US14.8 billion ($A17.47 billion) in cash and other assets.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/14/r...-company-ceos/

Report: Chung, Mullaly, Winterkorn named top car company CEOs

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) on Jul 14th 2010 at 5:32PM

Automotive News has put together its list of 2010 auto industry all-stars, and taking first place in American, European and Asian CEO categories are Ford CEO Alan Mulally, Volkswagen CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn, and Hyundai-Kia CEO Chung Mong-koo. Hard to fault the choices, and it shouldn't come as a surprise at all that the same three gentlemen took slots two through four of Motor Trend's list of top 50 auto execs for 2009.

Mulally was cited because his "steadfast plan to turn Ford around is bearing fruit in impressive fashion" and Chung was lauded for having " turned the Hyundai brand into a superpower." Winterkorn, who could have been awarded based on VW's Hulk-like growth, was actually noted for his "Strategy 2018," by which time he plans for the VW group to be selling ten million cars per year. Check this spot in eight years to see if he's still an all-star. For now, though, congrats to all.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req'd.]

[Falc'man]

Awesome

[JPFS1]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ford-S....html?x=0&.v=1

Ford Strengthens Leadership in Key Functions to Further Sharpen Focus on 'One Ford' Plan
prnewswire
Companies: Ford Motor Co.

Press Release Source: Ford Motor Company On Thursday July 15, 2010, 7:00 am EDT

DEARBORN, Mich., July 15 /PRNewswire/ --

* Ford Executive Vice President John Fleming to lead Ford's Global Manufacturing & Labor Affairs operations, effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo


* Stephen Odell, Ford vice president and CEO of Volvo Cars, is appointed Ford group vice president and Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo


* Ford Group Vice President Jim Farley will take an expanded role as Ford's global leader for Marketing, Sales and Service to support Ford's One Ford plan


* Stuart Rowley, currently chief financial officer of Volvo Cars, is appointed chief financial officer, Ford of Europe, effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo


* Eduardo Serrano, currently president and CEO of Ford of Mexico, is appointed executive director, Latin America, and will lead Ford's operations in Mexico and South America

[Ohio XB]

At our plant where we build the Econoline (E-series) full sized van we still have not heard what our next vehicle will be. We have been getting some good fleet orders and have also had some customers come back to the brand. The company is looking at an increase in line speed next year, which means even more units to be built. I believe production is supposed to end in 2015, but sometimes I hear sooner.

Of course there are plenty of rumors going around the plant, but they are just that. I did see some pictures of the new Transit and it has some subtle Econoline touches to it. I am thinking that is to give it a little more American look to it for our market, to make it more acceptable in appearance to Americans, otherwise it looked too much like the Dodge Sprinter, which is a rebadged Mercedes.

I haven't been hearing anything about GRWD. It's almost too quiet, which could mean they are intentionally not talking about it, but that is purely my own speculation.

As for EcoBoost engines, you ain't seen nothing yet!


Steve

[vztrt]

More to JPFS1 post.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/15/f...arketing-post/

Ford's Jim Farley reportedly promoted to global marketing post

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Jul 15th 2010 at 5:33PM

Ford Motor Company is making changes at the top of its organization, including an expanding roll for up-and-coming marketing chief Jim Farley. A new Detroit Free Press report indicates that the former Toyota marketing whiz will be elevated to the roll of global marketing chief effective August 1. That's significant in part because this will be the first time The Blue Oval has ever had a head of global marketing – in the past the job was handled on a regional basis.

In other FoMoCo management moves, Stephen Odell, vice president and CEO of Volvo Cars, will move over to the top spot at Ford of Europe as soon as the sale of Volvo is completed. The move will free current head of Ford Of Europe John Flemming to concentrate on his other role as head of global manufacturing and labor affairs. The top spot in labor figures to be a particularly important post in the near-term due to the 2011 contract negotiations scheduled with the United Auto Workers.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Ford]

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by vztrt

More to JPFS1 post.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/15/f...arketing-post/

so we might see some ripper advertising now

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

so we might see some ripper advertising now

Certainly hope so. The product is very good across the board with some real leaders like Falcon sedan and Ute, Fiesta and Territory which will really kick on with the facelift and turbo diesel!

Just need some better adverts!