OMG... Possible Merger talks between Furd and GM!!!

[DarkFury]

Now you KNOW things are bad when these two companies even remotely considering a merger/alliance between themselves...

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/MergerOrAllianceForGMAndFord.aspx?GT1=8506



Merger or alliance for GM-Ford?

Merger buzz is shaking Detroit today after an industry newspaper reported that automakers General Motors (GM, news, msgs) and Ford (F, news, msgs) were discussing a merger or alliance.

Trade journal Automotive News quoted what it said were several people familiar with the talks as saying that discussions involving senior executives began in July and are not taking place now.

The journal quoted one source as saying that GM Chief Financial Officer Fritz Henderson and his Ford counterpart, Don Leclair, discussed a GM-Ford alliance in August.

GM and Ford declined to confirm any talks.

... more info at the link above


Seriously, both of these companies are in bad shape... :2far:

[Airencracken]

So now we can have cars that are ugly, break often, and have 8 gazillion brands?

Toyota FTW!

(I <3 thinking about how this would kill all Ford/GM fanbois) :D

[DarkFury]

(I <3 thinking about how this would kill all Ford/GM fanbois) :D
/me hugs my Chrysler and Dodge... and hangs on tight. :D

[psycho-]

/me hugs my Chrysler and Dodge... and hangs on tight. :D


We know how you love your german cars :P

[DarkFury]

We know how you love your german cars :P

German [sexual] Chocolate! :thumb:

[mechmike0034]

/me hugs my Chrysler and Dodge... and hangs on tight. :D

The Chrysler Group is on track for a $1.2 Billion loss as well...

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/myway-com/news-story.asp?guid={9A2D70E3-717A-4C84-BB3F-A9DAD741CABB}

Ford and GM are already in joint development of a six-speed transmission.

More here:

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060918/NEWS99/60918001/1014/BUSINESS01&template=printart

Manufacturing alliances and brand/marketing alliances are two different things.

[DarkFury]

The Chrysler Group is on track for a $1.2 Billion loss as well...

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/myway-com/news-story.asp?guid={9A2D70E3-717A-4C84-BB3F-A9DAD741CABB}

Well, Chrysler still has the same pension/retiree problem that GM and Ford has... however the main difference is, their vehicles are currently pretty popular and are selling. However they just aren't selling fast enough to cover the guarantees made to their retiring "baby boomer workforce".

Furd's sales have lagged and they DEPEND on fleet sales to keep them afloat... an advantage that Chrysler doesn't have as good a foot hold in (like when was the last time the police pulled you over and they were in a Chrysler/Dodge vehicle? :heh: )





Manufacturing alliances and brand/marketing alliances are two different things.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend..." :shrug: :D

[mechmike0034]

Manufacturing alliances and brand/marketing alliances are two different things.

Yes, this is a cryptic statement. Let me elaborate.

There are manufacturing alliances between the world's automakers today. One example is NUMMI (http://www.nummi.com/), which is a joint manufacturing venture between GM and Toyota.

The vehicles that come out of that plant are joint-venture produced, but each is marketed and branded separately.

RE the original article/post - Competitors talk to each other all the time. I think Automotive News and the rest of the media made a bigger deal out of it than it really is.

[mechmike0034]

Well, Chrysler still has the same pension/retiree problem that GM and Ford has... however the main difference is, their vehicles are currently pretty popular and are selling. However they just aren't selling fast enough to cover the guarantees made to their retiring "baby boomer workforce".

Good basic synopsis, sir! More here: http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/myway-com/news-story.asp?guid={B8934486-6753-40B3-A309-1A8863F49EC6}


DaimlerChrysler said Tuesday it's planning to ship 135,000 fewer Chrysler vehicles in the second half of the year than it first planned because of waning consumer interest in its truck and sport-utility vehicles and in a bid to better align dealer inventories with customer demands.

DaimlerChrysler (DCX: news)(710000: news), going into further detail on Tuesday about the issues that led to a profit warning last week, said it plans to ship 90,000 fewer vehicles in the third quarter and 135,000 fewer in the second half than initially planned.

The forecasts are of Chrysler's retail sales, which exclude those made to car rental agencies and other fleets.

[Prngr44]

Furd's sales have lagged and they DEPEND on fleet sales to keep them afloat... an advantage that Chrysler doesn't have as good a foot hold in (like when was the last time the police pulled you over and they were in a Chrysler/Dodge vehicle? :heh: )


Our town actually just received shipment of 4 Charger police cars (and they weren't DARE.)

[DarkFury]

Our town actually just received shipment of 4 Charger police cars (and they weren't DARE.)
Bout time...

I've seen the police package... just never "live and on the streets" patroling.

Too many Furd LTDs & Crown Vics or Chevy Impalas. :D


I guess the Charger is the new "chase car" since interest in the "high performance" Mustang (SVT team dissolved) and Camaros (Discontinued but coming back in 2008) have passed.

EDIT... has anyone seen one of these on the road...

http://site220.webhost4life.com/minineopet/ebay%20picture/9-1-05/300C-POLICE-1.JPG

[Jeffbx]

(like when was the last time the police pulled you over and they were in a Chrysler/Dodge vehicle? :heh: )


Heh - not surprisingly, the Auburn Hills police (where the DCX HQ building sits) are all Chargers & Magnums. But that IS about the only place I see them!

[DarkFury]

Good basic synopsis, sir! More here: http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/myway-com/news-story.asp?guid={B8934486-6753-40B3-A309-1A8863F49EC6}
But please notice... only DODGE and Jeep sells the trucks and SUVs, Chrysler is all cars, station wagons, and mini vans.

Yes, DC gives big discounts on the Dodge stuff, but getting additional money off of a 300.... well.. you gotta "know somebody" (wink, wink ;) )


(Until recently when they FINALLY allowed the 300 to participate in the "Employee Discount for all" promotion... before that, they most they would give you off of a 300 was like $1,000 pending the use of DC credit. :puke: )