I know they're just starting their 'way forward' plan, but has anyone else gotten a sick feeling as to how Ford's going to do this year? First, I like Ford, and I think they've got themselves and their relations with their subsidaries much, much better set up than GM has with theirs... but in the shorter term, i think Ford's about to be in trouble.
Specifically, what got me on this today was that the Explorer was 'warmed over' last year and looks exactly the same. Sales are down. GM revises their Tahoe/Yukon and makes them (IMHO) class-leading and sales begin strong.
GM also revises the Suburban and it receives rave reviews. Ford will give us a warmed-over Expedition later in the year. It could be a great truck, but it's coming across more as a refreshing of the vehicle than a redesign.
More importantly, Ford has already released the Fusion, and sales are starting to climb.
That's just about it. While GM has introduced the Solstice and Sky, the G6 convertibles are finally coming out, and Saturn is getting a glut of new product...
Ford waits for the Edge.
But, the final nail that put me over the edge was when I'm reading about the good stuff GM is doing and their excellent interiors, the latest C&D has an article on Ford's new STATION WAGON that's slow, expensive, and has an ugly interior. Oh, and the article on Australian Fords that could "save the company now". Anybody remember the GM experiment that was Holden product to america??
I see GM focused and rolling out good product and after years of stumbling along with only a 4 speed auto tranny (which I hate them for), they're skipping the 5speed entirely and rolling out their 6 speed!! GOOD FOR THEM.
Ford has the Fusion.
So, thoughts? I'm quite concerned that this year will end up brutal for Ford. JP