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Sukree Sukplang / Reuters
Ford CEO Alan Mulally smiles during an interview in Bangkok.
The economic outlook might look gloomy for most of us, but Ford's CEO Alan Mulally still has a sunny disposition, telling reporters Thursday that he thinks the U.S. economy will continue to expand.
He also said that the second-largest U.S. automaker is sticking to its target of adding 7,000 jobs in the United States over the next two years.
Mulally told a small group of reporters in Bangkok on Thursday that he sees an economic expansion in the U.S. and not a double-dip recession, as some have predicted.
"In the U.S., we're still seeing economic expansion," Mulally said, according to Reuters. "We're very encouraged by the recovery even though it is slower than in the past."
Reuters added that Ford had said in January it would add the 7,000 jobs in 2011 and 2012. According to its 2010 annual report, there were 75,000 employees in Ford North America.
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Well at least his company did not take any govt handout $$. That being the case I bought American and bought a Mustang. It is not a bad car. I am impressed with Ford. The original Mustang I had in 64 rusted out in the quarter panels. And the floor wells. So now it is a better product. Good for you Ford.
Good for your, ren! We just bought two Fords last year and are happy with both. We all , as a country, need to understand that this economy won't turn around without us spending money at home. It's almost impossible to find American-made products at Wal-Mart, but Sears and other outlets have them. It just takes a little research to find them. Corporations react to demand. If we insist on buying only American-made goods, they will have to bring back the jobs. If we give up and just go to Wal-Mart to get the cheapest thing, then this weak economy will be the new reality.It's up to us as Americans. Corprations have become sociopathic in their slavish devotion to the stockholders and the bottom line. They won't do anything out of the goodness of their hearts. They have to be lead by their purse strings.
And the Tea Party has GOT to get out of the way! They have no clue how much damage they are doing to this country.They think they are being partriotic, but it's just the opposite result. They are being played as fools by the Koch brothers.
I disagree Bucky, we need more of the Tea Party beliefs such as balanced budgets and for folks to be held more accountable for their own actions. I believe we need to get the Unions out of the public sector, I would like an option to purchase an American auto companies auto made here in the US by Non-Union American citizens. Unions no longer do any good but for the actual workers in them and their family members. For the other 85% of Americans not in Unions, they do nothing but increase the cost of every single product, service or tax they are tied to, this only increases the burden on the already overburdened taxpayers.
Sorry, can no longer support the UAW or any company where CEOs make millions and millions of $'s per year. Who wouldn't be smiling all day long, even in their sleep for the rest of their life and painting a sunny picture for the future if they banked over 20million last year too? No need to answer the question because we all know only the folks who banked more would not.
ren-755775..everything built in 64 rusted out !
Mullally's a smart guy. He made a huge bet when he came to Ford and borrowed all he could. Saved Ford and as a consequence they didn't need to take bailout money. If he's optimistic it's probably not without reason.
It also helps that Ford is in bed with the UAW. As a company, Ford has typically bowed to the demands of it's unions, and has been able to avoid labor issues that have plagued the competition.
There is one very big, or huge reason, the UAW settled with Ford...And it is the huge Ford Plant in Brazil..It is about 90% automated with the part suppliers on the very same property.
How it works...Ford's Management tells the part suppliers daily about how many parts they need becasue there only going to build X number of cars that day. The Suppliers make the parts and roll them over to Ford either on dollies or conveyer belts directly to the assembly line.. This affords the Suppliers and Ford that a zero waste of resources occurs.. Ford can control it's inventory based on Sales around South America, They do not make any excess vehicles and can control quantity and quality right on site...
The Plant uses 1/4 the number of workers that an American plant uses....And Ford could choose to build those Plants here in the United States if it wants to...And I understand they are looking at the idea of "Regional" Plants, small efficient and close to the suppliers and their resources....
So finally it appears that Ford Management has the Union just about where they want them....And I believe that other companies that have to deal with the UAW are looking at the same system...
I foresee the UAW going belly up in the foreseeable future...Which will be a wonderful thing for Car buyers...
I saw a little Ford the other day and had to look three times to make sure I wasn't looking at the back end of either a Honda or a Toyota..At first I thought maybe someone just switched monikers on the owner, but in front it had the ugly Ford symbol there..So. instead of creating their own, they went to making copies of the cars that people are actually buying...Good Marketing...Now if only the quality was the same...
I just refuse to buy a vehicle from any Company whose main source of income comes from the sale of Replacement Parts... That's it, short and simple and plain and to the point..