If Anyone Can Save Ford....

Reality Check... With both housing and car manufacturing, we created more capacity than we need. Subsidizing these industries will not solve the problem. We need to downsize them to meet realistic demand. We don't need to continue to build houses that people don't need while we have a hugh and building housing inventory. If we need to employ home builders, turn them loose in the cities to rehabilitate houses/apartments ala Habitat for Humanity. Also, with regards to cars, are you going to buy a new car today or next year when you know in two or three years they'll be more efficient and maybe run on electricity or some other alternative fuel? With many people in deep credit debt and others losing their jobs, who is going to buy the new cars Detroit is planning on producing? I think we need to face reality and merge the big three car companies together. We need to take the excess labor and train them for new jobs outside the auto industry. Otherwise, we'll just be wasting our tax dollars and have to face the same problems down the road. Bite the bullet now and make better use of that bailout money.

The Detroit 3 Auto Manufactures contribute to 1 out of every 10 jobs in the US. If anything was to happen to one of these companies it would have a direct effect on every state. If you think because you are not directly dealing with one of the auto makers it won't effect your industry, you are dead wrong. If you truly believe they should fail, wait and see what happens to your industry? I can not believe that people would suggest that it would be better to have a foreign company meet the market demands. The domestic Auto Companies keep their money and invest in the US, foreign companies take it home to invest in their countries. Buy American, support America, keep jobs in America. It is the only way to get the economy turned around. I believe in free markets, but you have to re-evaluate the Detroit 3's products. Do you want us to purchase your goods & services? Maybe we should look for an offshore solution to your industry? How long could you survive? Its easy to say "let them fail" however, you have to look at the entire scope and impact that a failure would have on this economy. If you have not purchased a domestic car lately you really need to see how they have improved and exceeded quality standards against all the foreign competition. Ford, GM and Chrysler contribute more to the US economy then most people understand and their products are Best in Class.

I would agree to LOAN the big three automakers ONE years worth of cash PROVIDED there were some drastic changes BEFORE the loan occurred; else they can go under like all the other companies that have made POOR decisions. 1. As condition of the ONE year cash flow loan. The UAW is disbanded and no longer threatens to walk out strike or any other action to stop the flow of cars off the assembly lines. 2. Car companies get OUT of the financing industry. 3. All employees are working for the companies; not the UNIONS. 4. All the companies agree to offer multi-fuel models. This is not difficult; Ford already does this in South America. 5. The companies agree to setup their own insurance for employees and remove it from the cost of a car. 6. The employment structure is established closer to what Toyota does. It looks like they have it right. Granted the car companies will say "bunk" about this; however it is obvious their business model has FAILED. They failed their employees, their retirees, stock holders and any other investors. When they have to come to the government for a multi-BILLION dollar BAIL OUT as a direct result of their poor planning and poor decision making; then we in turn should have some say about what they can and cannot do regarding future needed dollars. If they only want the dollars with no accountability (like AIG going on business vacations on our dollar, and even those who have not invested in the company); let them FAIL just as they have. Someone like Toyota and Honda will step in to fill the gap. Let the private sector take care of them.... oh, yea... not many takers out there it looks like..... hhhmmmmmm... maybe we really need to think this one over some more as well.

I hope Ford is sued retro in class action for polluting, wrecking the atmosphere, causing pulmonary distress - no doubt some cancers from auto emissions. Turn off the machine - use the force Luke.

There is a time to criticize and time to understand.I owned a GM cars since 1970's I also owned 2 Japaneese cars , one Italian and one French.All 4 of my foraign cars did not last very long.They were a pile of junk.Every car manufacturer have its share of problems.It is very competitive market.But who is responsible for the problems in the car industry.Politicians because of ever increasing demand on polution,milage,unions because of unreasonable wages and benefit demands and finaly us.Lots of us are plainly ignorant and buy foregn cars because we believe that they are better.If one takes a time to research milage,quality and cost of ownership he will find that there is very small diference between imports and domestic cars if any. I travel a lot visiting countries all around the world.I Germany a great percentage are German cars,in France French cars in Japan Japaneese cars in USA foreign cars. The only country where I sow most American cars was China.I guess that Chineese know more about American cars then we do.

Lets see, Mr Mulally an Aerospace Exec, is going to save a car company. How original! Well actually, wasn't Studebaker supposed to be saved by Curtis-Wrigt's Ron Hurley? And boy didn't that work in 1957! Actually he turned a 200 million doller company into a 20 million dollar in the space of a year. Good luck Alan!

A little eco 101 for those who say I dont want my money to save the big 3. First of all if they file bankruptcy their pensions become unfunded and the us government is on the hook for them. 2nd if their stock goes to zero your retirement plans if in mutual funds will take a hugh hit as not only do the big 3 go under so will thier suppliers. Their suppliers are also unionized so then we have more pensions to cover. That means local and national store chains will lose thousands of customers and then some will have to close down increasing unemployment. A lot of these people will have their houses forclosed on forcing down the value of your home. That means more loses for the banks and you will end up paying for that all over again. The issue is what is cheaper for everyone. I would love to see the big 3 given 50 billion in loans. It was not mismanagement that caused the issue they are facing. It is an union that did not get the fact that at some point you cannot get more when the company starts loosing money. I bet if given a choice all those union members would take 2/3rds pay versus unemployement. However the union will never let that happen. they would rather see people lose their job rather than give something up.

I worked for ford for fifteen years. I was a sales manager for most of those fifteen years. We all saw it coming. Ford quality is TERRIBLE. The taurus was known for its bad transmissions. The T-BIRD was a total disaster. Ford took a great car that everyone could afford and turned it into a (sports car, two seater, that very few people could afford, and priced it with the BMW crowd)IT FAILED The contour which Ford said it spent a billion dollars on to develop was an ugly car, TERRIBLE QUALITY, and looked like a disaster when it came out. Then they made the Freestar, which they called a CROSSOVER, but was just a station wagon. The ford 500 was so under powered we told the sales people not to take it on a test drive on the freeway.!!(TURNS OUT FORD NEW ABOUT THE UNDER POWER OF ITS 3.0 LITER ENGINE, WHICH WAS JUST A TAURUS ENGINE STUCK IN A N EW 500 FORD) The focus, we sold it to college students....THE F-150 was FORDS bread and Butter..... Then the gas crisis.....I HATE FORD PRODUCTS, I HOPE THEY FOLD and take all the union idiots with them... They made their own beds... SLEEP WELL FORD!!!!!!AND THE FORD ESCORTS HAD A TERRIBLE CRASH RATING... PUT THE FORD EXECUTIVES IN JAIL!!!!!!!!!! YOU DESERVE TO GO BANKRUPT!!!!!!!

Consumers have voted with their dollars. The verdict, let the Big 3 go under. If the consumers wanted to give Ford or GM a bailout, they'd do it by purchasing their products at prices higher than Ford and GM's cost to produce them.

I mentioned this over on the American Spectator blog, but I have a hard time understanding why Ford isn't doing considerably better than GM. I've driven models from both companies the past few years and have the sense Ford has come far closer to giving me the Honda Accord style driving experience I've wanted.

Ford invested $300 Million into plants in the Soviet Union to enter that market area to offset declines in sales elsewhere. Don't know if this is actually good or bad. They are asking for a bailout, and yet they are putting money in another country. How much of the bailout will the send off shore? What guarantees are they putting forward to protect jobs in America?

Hi LIZ, I MUST SAY YOU ARE AMAZING I LOVE YOUR WORK AND YOU ARE THE BEST NEWS ANCHOR ON TV BAR NONE! ANYWAY ALAN MULALLY IS AND HAS BEEN TRYING EVERY WAY TO KEEP FORD MOTOR CO ON THE MAP BY COST CUTTING AND LOWERING PRODUCTION I AM AGEN SALES MGR IN A LARGE FORD DEALER AND I SEE LOTS OF CHANGES RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE BY THE HOUR EVERY DAY! INVENTORY LEVELS ARE DIFFERENT, FLOOR TRAFFIC HAS DECREASED , AND CREDIT APPROVALS ARE A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. HOWEVER AFTER 30 PLUS YARS IN THE BUISNESS I SAY THIS TRUCKS AND SUV'S WERE THE FILET MIGNON HERE IN THE US FORD WAS PHAT WE WERE PHAT NOW THAT FUEL PRICES WENT UP WELL THAT SCENARIO CAHNGED DRAMATICALLY ALTHOUGH WE ARE SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN TRUCK SALES WTH THE 09 F-150 WHICH BY THE WAY IS AWESOME IN EVERYWAY. IN EUROPE THE SMALL CARS ARE THE FOCUS OF BUISNESS, NOW WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE SMALLER FUEL EFFICIENT CARS PLUS HYBRIDS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES TOO. SO THEREFORE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ALL THIS THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE THE FUNDS TO KICK START THE NEW AND IMPROVED AUTO INDUSTRY OR THIS ECONOMY WILL NOT ONLY LOSE MILLIONS OF JOBS BUT WILL COLLAPSE THE INDUSTRY THAT IS THE LARGEST MANUFACTURERS OF PRODUCT NECCESSARY TO DRIVE THE MARKETS SO MR PAULSON SHOULDNOT EVEN HESISTATE ONE SECOND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY BAIL OUT AIG AND BEAR STEARNS ETC. THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS MY HEART AND SOLE EVERYDAY EVERYTIME WITHOUT FAIL AND NO EXCEPTIONS LIZ THANK YOU AARON KOMINSKY GM NEEDS MOE HELP SO HELP THEM

If the American Car Industry (Ford, GM, Chrysler) can't survive as they are currently constituted, then let them go Chapter 11 like any other US business must. If the Government bails them out, then they will not have to address their basic problem of "Operating Costs." They have the highest labor costs of any car manufacturing company in the world - and their product quality does not warrant it.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the bailed out states of America and to the world by wich it`s owned one nation under water with freebies and handouts for all

Ford should lead the way with natural gas powered options. A vehicle can be converted for about $1,000. This should be an option on new cars. Pickens is getting a lot of attention with his plan; Ford should join. A gasoline/natural gas 'hybrid' (not in the new usual sense of the word) would be attractive in this market. It would also force the market to put more of the infrastructure needed to support NG powered vehicles. As for Mulally, he has fans and foes. He's as capable as anyone to run the company, but the economic forces in play are bigger than one person or one company. I don't think there is anyone who can "save" Ford from the economy...

pump and dump, see what he did at boeing. much credit but everyone wants a hero and royality. does ford have a leader or a showman? show us the directives to cut pay of leadership, cut low profit/volume vehicles, mandate to set all vehicle mpg over 30 mpg and make all vehicles run on natural gas in 2010. Given ford tells gov at all levels to permit ( check out each state's regulations, rules, and permit process if you want to see eco stupidity that will significantly delay cnc refuling) cng refuel station cause we (ford) is going to make all vehicles cng starting 2010. reducing need for unfriendly country oil requirements and using pickens plan is leadership and change. congress needs leadership to go forward to a target like pickens, but if ford not getting on board then its all talking heads. if gov not smooth and ease placing cnc refule stations then no way to get of oil). does ford leadership have its executive vehicle fleet running on cng? how many $ could be saved if all fed, state and local vehicles were mandated to run cng in 2009. putting workers to work on converting vehicles would make jobs and inspire improved technology and give a sense of purpose and not just more talking heads and politicians who really believe they are leading.

IF you want to *save* Ford, or any one of the big 3, or all 3, you need to transform them from being run like *automakers* to being run like any other profitable industry. The proof is Saturn... The best methods in the world will still fail if/when dragged down by corporate &/or incompetently executed. Cutting jobs wholesale, or targeting older workers (Ford), &/or higher priced [read experienced & talented] workers (Chrysler), often just means you're in no position to compete. They need to polish & guard the gems and unload the rocks that are dragging them underwater. Hard to do when your corporate structure has institutionalized failure, so that needs reformed & re-formed 1st. RE: Changing product mix... Feel like Homer Simpson saying: "Doh". Ford & the other 2 making up the big 3 have the technology - they've both bought and invented it - but traditionally have failed in execution. It's very hard (if indeed possible) for them to put that know-how into a quality-built product that can compete, & then sell it so it does compete. They haven't even had much luck re-branding imports that sold well worldwide under the original label. The same "Doh" goes for re-purposing plants... The remaining old, 1st 1/2 of the 20th century plants need leveling or at least gutting. If you've never stepped inside one, the worst of the lot make you think of a Chinese coal mining sort of environment. I don't think you can hope to build anything of quality in those places, where substance & alcohol abuse are traditionally the only way many autoworkers make it through a shift. That said, assuming bailouts for the big 3 are coming, what about the new administration's stance on Outsourcing? Should a stand be taken in return for our billions, given that the big 3 are some of the biggest outsourcers in the country? If we're upset about the millions traveling overseas for oil, what about hundreds of millions in effect subsidizing overseas industry? If outsourcing receives any scrutiny in DC, Ford could be hit particularly strongly.

HILiz Iam a great fan of yours from way back at cnbc. you're the best! anyway about FORD, I am a gen sales mgr ina ford dealership, I can only say that Mullaly is trying every angle to re structure the company's position to re develop the product line to meet the demand of the consumer. The only problem is that if gas prices should drop considerably and stay lower the demand for suv's , trucks and larger size vehicles will re appear and after spending billions of dollars to re-tool for smaller fuel efficient cars somebody in the auto industry will be ready to accomodate the demand again. Ford is supposedly re-calling workers to produce the new f-150 truck, Ihope this vehicle HITS THE GROUND RUNNING, I'ts a really nice looking truck , so many new amenities and the styling should turn millions of heads hopefully to purchase and lease. Ford needs a shot in the arm. I don't understand one thing after 30 plus yrs in the buisness why Ford didn't prepare for this problem knowing it's been lurking around for many yrs. all the small cars were being built in europe and trucks, suv's here gas prices overseas are astronomically ridiculous therefore trucks and suv's are scarce, however here in the US we need all size vehicles priced accordingly . so as we face this dilemma for a while the best advise I can give the auto industry is to make sure the dealers engage their internal customers in order to have their external customers to work as a team to help consumers get a world class shopping experience.

This is bull. Car makers that cant make cars that get decent milage, and cost 30 thousand dollars, just dont get it. They are the problem, not the solution. Let them fail, and new, inspired buisness prevail. Ford, Chevy, et al, are doomed by the unions and their lack of truly grasping what the worlds vehicles are destined to be. Smaller, lighter, cheaper.

The big 3 suffer from bad leadership and bad planning. When SUVs were going big and strong they took the profits and ran, never planning for a rainy day. They all were told that 'this could not last'. They knew it but did not care to change. They all continued to produce sub par economy and midsize cars. Honda and Toyota got it right. So, I don't feel sorry for the big 3. They can go out of business for all I care. I'll never own a Ford, GM, or Chrysler product again due to continued bad quality.

Energy Independence needs to be included in the realm of our economic issues. Our dependence on foreign oil impacts every aspect of our society and economy. This past year we were slammed by high prices at the pump that drained our wallets. The cost of food and every consumer product has risen because of increased production and shipping costs. The average family had no money left over to spend, save or invest. So we tighten our belts, we spend less because we have less and sadly that results in more job losses. We have so much available in the way of FREE energy, solar and wind that can be utilized to replace oil. Hybrid and electric plug in cars would replace another huge percentage of our dependence on foreign oil. The last stimulus checks cost our government 168 BILLION. It did zip for our economy.That money could have gone a long way towards getting America started on the path to energy independence.Jeff Wilson has a great new book out called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in seeing our country become energy independent http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com

Liz, Why are we so concerned with the the big three auto makers? I do not want any of my tax dollars spent to help them pay for bad labor contracts that they have negotiated and now can not pay for. I need MY money to pay for MY retirement plan. I know this new administration is itching to spread my wealth so I'm sure that the big three will get all the money they need to float bad companies. If there were anything of worth left in these car companies then private investors would be flooding them with cash. It is the same reason no one looks at the airlines as a "good investment" either.

I agree with all of the above,another positive decision he has made is to keep the Ranger plant open in the Twin Cities. Ford has the "only true compact truck" on the market, it is a product that should sell in a recession.For those that are not vehicle savy let me educate you.... The Ford Ranger has been around for in excess of twenty years, its "proven and solid".I recently purchased an 08,unbelievably priced,unbelievable fuel economy,the 2.3 litre 4 cyl engine is "durable" and responsive.Ford should be striving to ensure their,s a Ranger in every driveway.Once people realize how "durable/fuel efficient"their Rangers are,they,ll realize this tough quality also exists in their cars.President-Elect Obama suggests the people have a part to play in any economic recovery....I suggest you promote what I will call the "Ranger Project". PS. The engine block is made in a casting plant in Cleveland, the engine comes from the engine plant in Dearborn, the truck is assembled in the Twin Cities.