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GasBuddy News Article

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Bill Ford sees Sunnier Days after weathering '07 storms

Detnews.com -- By Alisa Priddle

Excerpts

Payoff is quality, fuel efficiency are known, he says

Royal Oak -- Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. ...said the angst his family went through three years ago, and the company's decision not to follow GM and Chrysler in accepting a government bailout, are paying off today.

Continued product development, Bill Ford said, helped the company weather dark days.

When Alan Mulally was brought in three years ago to steer the ship as Ford CEO, "I really believed we had the right plan," Bill Ford said.

The payoff, he said, is that consumers are recognizing Ford's quality and fuel efficiency.

Hybrids and electric vehicles "will become a core competency," he said.

With the Mercury line slated for extinction, Ford is concentrated on its Ford and Lincoln


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Submitted Aug 22, 2010 By: UncleCurt
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Bill Ford sees Sunnier Days after weathering '07 storms Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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FordF2502001
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Apr 24, 2011 10:17:28 PM

Bill rocks!
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1006
All-Star Author Birmingham

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Message Posted: Aug 26, 2010 5:41:37 AM

what's Bill got to do with this . .besides pull the dividends?
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min_fuel
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:09:45 AM

ford has a good Business model ==> focus on the (new) core competency
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jedintheshed
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Aug 24, 2010 10:16:12 AM

Go FORD!!!
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1006
All-Star Author Birmingham

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Message Posted: Aug 24, 2010 5:38:20 AM

never liked fords, never will.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Aug 23, 2010 5:41:34 PM

it shows that when greed is not the first, but maybe "only" the second, third or even fourth reason for making money with a company, then the fiscal policies will be better than if greed is #1.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Aug 23, 2010 5:40:27 PM

Was it rejection of the bailout or was it simply, they weren't so badly driven into the dirt that they couldn't get out using a 4x4?
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Vette1967
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:33:31 PM

I still wonder what the real reason was that Ford stopped short of getting one of those bailout loans. Whatever it was, their rejection turned out to be one of the most successful sales pitches in American history. If nothing else...it was a brilliant move.
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us4usa
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:30:08 PM

We are trading GM trucks in for FORDs...
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traindude
Champion Author Virginia Beach

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:29:33 PM

all without a bailout
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ORHusky
Veteran Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:22:35 PM

Go Ford!!
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Buddy2264
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:14:33 PM

When family is still involved it makes for a better company. Conservation keeps your money in your pocket.
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CobraLeader
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:09:49 PM



Thrills!
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LoneGuy
Champion Author Lansing

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:08:39 PM

If Ford had not mortgaged their company to the bankers before the mortgage bubble burst they would not be sitting so pretty. Luck was on their side. When GM got around to borrow money to get through the tough times there were not banks willing to lend and they had to go to the government as the place of last resort.
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tedjm1
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:07:01 PM

They must improve their quality to beat the overseas companies like Honda & Toyota.
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bbreff
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:06:41 PM



OK - This time Ford had a better idea -- NO FEDERAL BAILOUT.

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uptherefiners
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 11:03:39 PM

HEY CHRYSLER, CAN YOU HEAR THIS WITH YOUR HEADS UP YOUR BUTTS??

PAY ATTENTION
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danreino
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:57:42 PM

***If I had money, tell ya what I'd do; I'd go downtown buy me a Ford Fusion or two***
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FuelOilOH
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:56:14 PM

Ford makes a pretty good vehicle for the money. Mulally has the company on the right track.
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signwiz
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:47:47 PM

The Strong will survive.
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kcboy
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:47:29 PM

Lead the way Ford.
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SeerLV
Champion Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:44:14 PM

Glad Ford is still solvent.
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opecsucks76
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:43:41 PM

Ford keep up the good work.
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JettaKnight
Champion Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:41:39 PM

warlord1
Georgia
"I am glad that at least one automaker didn't want a bailout"

Obviously you've forgotten that Ford went to D.C. as-well-as GM & Chrysler. ALL of them flew there in their CORPORATE jets looking for handouts. They were ALL publicly shamed for travelling to D.C. in such a blatantly frivolous manner and that that behaviour meant that NONE of them was taking it seriously.
After that public disgrace, ALL THREE came back... without their corporate jets.
FORD was STILL there... until they found out that there were NO handouts, but offers of CONDITIONAL LOANS... their books HAD to be made available to their potential lenders for analysis and approval (amongst numerous other financially responsible restrictions).
Upon hearing the conditions, FORD removed themselves from the "negotiations"... PROVING that they didn't NEED handouts (nor loans), but that it wasn't beneath them to ask for freebees anyway.
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goodbuy
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:40:31 PM

Ford had quality?
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DrCashFlow
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:40:27 PM

hiring the right man led the company to determine the right plan.
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schatzila
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:38:35 PM

Found On Road Dead ?

The Bev Hills Ford dealer with new and used lots has closed for quite some time now.

Are the putting all their eggs in the Electric basket?
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goodbuy
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:37:28 PM

Sad day when the Mercury Gran Marquis goes away.
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MRED3
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:37:07 PM

You said it judgemobile.
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HEBster
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:34:32 PM

Still Likin' Ford...Big time!
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judgemobile
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:33:57 PM

GO FORD, the only carmaker NOT owned by BHO and his gang of czars.
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Sneakers55
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:28:04 PM

gasokie wrote:

>Go Ford.....Buy American!!!!!!!!!!!

Except for the Fusion... buy Mexican!
Except for the Transit Connect... buy Turkish!
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abcdMA
Champion Author Worcester

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:23:24 PM

Ford was smart to stay away from the governmental takeovers
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fuelconscious
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:12:59 PM

The majority of of foreign automakers have rec'd some sort of bailout in their lifetime, why are we americans so rugged individualists?
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DEG
Champion Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:11:30 PM

I will not buy from GM nor Chrysler again. They stole from the taxpayer. They should have had to go through bankruptcy before receiving one red cent from the taxpayer. The UAW needs to be disbanded as anti-competitive.
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mdskier
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:10:24 PM

Looks like Ford quality has improved so we're
no longer looking at Fix Or Repair Daily (F.O.R.D.)!
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JuicyQ69
Veteran Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:08:09 PM

Henry would definitely be proud.
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mmene
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 10:06:28 PM

Bailout free cars. At least one US auto company we can all be proud of.
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PetroPedro
All-Star Author Florida

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:53:37 PM

Go FORD!!!!!!! I now own a FORD and I will never ever buy a GM ever again
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Jarod13
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:45:25 PM

I now this doesn't have anything to do with oil or gas prices, but if Bill Ford and family, but if he had taken this same approach in overseeing operations of the Detroit Lions, then maybe they wouldn't be the laughingstock of the NFL. I truly believe that it's time for the Ford family to pass the torch onto someone elsea and let them bring the Lions back to prominance once again...it's been over forty years since they were a team to be reckoned with. Let's hope that "change" happen soons, otherwise, Lions fans will continue to disappear. With regards to the way Bill Ford and Family run the Ford Motor Company, kudos!

[Edited by: Jarod13 at 8/22/2010 10:45:48 PM EST]
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ss70
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:44:21 PM

they did good by getting CEO from outside of auto industry.
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warlord1
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:43:09 PM

I am glad that at least one automaker didn't want a bailout
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Ernman
Champion Author Orlando

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:42:48 PM

Good for Ford...I may just switch from GM cars back to Ford...
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fullauto
Champion Author Reading

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:41:53 PM

maybe ford will build 75 mpg mopeds to increase it's fleet mpg average too.
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Foxychic
Sophomore Author Miami

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:39:13 PM

Whoopi for the Ford Co.
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carefrey
Champion Author Orlando

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:33:28 PM

Ford is getting it done!
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gilfarm
Champion Author Alabama

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:29:30 PM

Go Ford. get her done!
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zeddieiv
Champion Author Columbia

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:23:45 PM

Go Ford!
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NHLiveFree
Champion Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:23:01 PM


Now if they could shift all the Focus, Fiesta, and Mustang six-speed transmission production back to the USA, Ford would truly become a great USA corporation again. How about it Bill???
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methaneman
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Aug 22, 2010 9:13:40 PM

GO Ford! Show the competition what a quality vehicle should be!
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