Automakers adjust

Posted at 9:26 AM on July 24, 2008 by Bob Collins (3 Comments)
Filed under: Economy

So, the New York Times was right. Sort of. Ford has decided small cars are the way out of a constant flow of red ink, and some truck assembly plants would be converted to auto production.

So close. The St. Paul plant had a good news-bad news day. Good news that it's going to stay open for two more years (well, good news except perhaps for the people who took a buyout on the expectation it would close in 2009), but bad news that it won't be converting to auto production and stay open beyond 2011.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally had a plan to return Ford to profitability in 2009. That plan has now been scrapped, too.

But big isn't entirely out at Ford. Among the initiatives announced today is a seven-passenger Lincoln.

There's at least one more adjustment the automakers need to make, as a quick scan in a car dealer's lot revealed to me this morning. Can you spot it?

Update Ford says electric cars commercially feasible by 1977 (h/t: Michael Wells)

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Comments (3)

Looks like it's time to update the Estimated Annual Fuel Cost. 15000 miles will be much more expensive at $3.85 than $2.80.

Posted by MR | July 24, 2008 9:51 AM

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Lincoln is missing an opportunity here, there are already many 7 passenger vehicles out there. They need to up the ante. See the others' 7 passenger vehicles and raise them a truck that'll haul 10-12 people. If gas holds at $4 per gallon, in 25 years it won't seem so expensive. Patience people.

Sarcasm never comes across well on these comment boards!

Posted by Andy | July 24, 2008 11:11 AM

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I presume you mean the $2.80 a gallon price estimate for gasoline.

Tell Ford and Popular Mechanics I'm still waiting for my personal flying car...

Posted by Bob Moffitt | July 25, 2008 8:45 AM

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