Ford to Drop to Number 3 Behind Toyota

Ford to Drop to Number 3 Behind Toyota
Ford Motor Co. expects Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. to unseat it next year as the second biggest company behind General Motors Corp. in the American car market, a position Ford has held since the 1920s, the New York Times said on its Web site on Thursday.

Citing internal Ford projections, the paper says the projections show that company officers believe Ford will permanently fall to third place as soon as January.

Ford, which is struggling to restructure itself under a plan called The Way Forward, predicted in September that its market share within two years would bottom out at 14 to 15 percent of the market, making it smaller than Toyota is now, the paper said.





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EL34EL34 - 12/21/2006 12:05:08 PM
-2 Boost
Whatever, now that all cars are built in computer programs and Ford knows in order to be #1 they have to build reliable cars they will come back.


kart1kart1 - 12/21/2006 2:44:36 PM
+4 Boost
Not just reliable cars, but good cars too. Compared to the almighty Toyota, Ford products aren't that good. "Wait - but they just got that new 3.5l V-6" Well the Toyota version is more powerful. The 500 is really good - I believe that the Toyota model called Avalon is better. The Fuzion - The Camry just got COTY from MT. F-series = will be hurt because of higher gas prices in the future and because of the Silverado and Tundra. Etc, etc, etc.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 12/22/2006 12:11:59 AM
+3 Boost
"The 500 is really good - I believe that the Toyota model called Avalon is better. The Fuzion - The Camry just got COTY from MT. F-series = will be hurt because of higher gas prices in the future and because of the Silverado and Tundra. Etc, etc, etc. "

The 500 really isn't so good. 300C shows cars in this class can have imagination, and Avalon shows that cars in this class can be competent.

The Fusion is mediocre.

The F-Series, however, is still the benchmark. To say that it's a gas guzzler, when every other truck in this class is a gas guzzler (including the Tundra), is ignorant.


99gs40099gs400 - 12/21/2006 12:57:50 PM
+2 Boost
When is Ford gonna file bankruptcy ?


ElSparquitoElSparquito - 12/21/2006 1:36:45 PM
+3 Boost
GM brought in several models from Opel & Holden - it worked. The Saturn lineup has changed dramatically.

Ford has some pretty nice cars in Australia that I have driven, but isn't bringing any of them over. The Falcon from Aus or the Mondeo from Europe would be a good start. Ford's car model lineup sucks (trucks minus the Ranger are OK) and they just mimic the suckiness across three nameplates (Ford/Mercury/Lincoln). Is Mercury even necessary?

Toyota is just a friggin juggernaut. I just hope the momentum does not adversely affect quality.


RupertRupert - 12/21/2006 3:35:28 PM
+1 Boost
funny, the ranger is the only american ford we get in europe. i'm serious, nothing else at all. no RWD ford (bar ranger), no AWD fords, no SUV fords, just small european fords.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 12/22/2006 12:14:34 AM
+1 Boost
bulldogz, he means the NEW Saturn lineup. It's dramatically improved and poised to make a stake for itself in the industry.

And no, Mercury really isn't necessary. It's a fairly historic nameplate, but Ford has diminished it to an upscale Ford. Why is that an upscale Ford, if there's an even more upscale Ford- Lincoln? It's either one or the other- no middle of the road. If you spec up a Ford, it can be just as good as any Mercury platform-mate.


AntiFanboyAntiFanboy - 12/21/2006 1:59:31 PM
+4 Boost
Ford just needs to clearly define their brands..Everything looks and feels the same to me.


JUGNUJUGNU - 12/21/2006 3:39:40 PM
0 Boost
Go Toyota.

Toyota for life

JUGNU


DaveDave - 12/21/2006 6:17:32 PM
+1 Boost
Am I missing something or didn't Toyota ALREADY pass Ford as the #2 automaker a while back?? And isn't Toyota on track to pass to pass GM in the near future?
Someone clear this up for me.




S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 12/22/2006 12:15:42 AM
+2 Boost
No- read closely. I thought so, too. But this is in the American market. Worldwide, Toyota is #2. But currently, Toyota is #3 in the US market, and this is saying that they could overtake Ford as soon as next month.


sewingmachinesewingmachine - 12/21/2006 7:05:26 PM
+1 Boost
globally yeah, but not america.


2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 12/22/2006 1:27:13 AM
0 Boost
This must be old,Toyota has had the number two position since 2004!!!


2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 12/22/2006 1:29:13 AM
0 Boost
This article should say GM's name instead of Ford!!!



SilverAeroSilverAero - 12/22/2006 8:27:13 PM
0 Boost
yeah, but as astonishing as that sounds maybe its not true. gee


truckmentruckmen - 12/22/2006 6:42:19 AM
+2 Boost
Maybe Ford will start to rethink there stratagie and start to build more reliable vehicles.My ford experiences wern't good.


ElSparquitoElSparquito - 12/22/2006 9:14:18 AM
+2 Boost
I wish Ford would begin to put an emphasis on making great cars and not so much on going Way Forward with restructuring the company. I know both go hand-in-hand, but all you ever hear when you mention the Ford nameplate nowadays is how much they are losing or what is at stake with how much they are borrowing - not about their "great" cars. It's sad to see a domestic auto manufacturer in such dire straits.


courtstonecourtstone - 12/22/2006 11:29:16 AM
+3 Boost
Boy times are really changing. Its really sad to see the American auto companies lost their soveriegnity in the US, but the truth is that the Japanese are doing it better than they are. Im just afraid that they may never recover!

Im not cheering about becaue I think its rather sad.
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