Ford unveiled a Fiesta Van and it's adorable

[Intuit]

You of course realize that Tesla sells all electric vehicles in market that doesn't yet have the infrastructure. It isn't necessary to throw out the baby with the bath water. I meant what I stated in "...take a page...". Microsoft has it's OEMs and resellers, but they also are able to retail directly from their own website.

Read these...
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/09/10/why-tesla-lost-the-fight-to-sell-cars-in-texas/
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2...tations-for-texas-but-still-cant-sell-direct/
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/02/19/172402376/why-buying-a-car-never-changes
https://www.npr.org/2012/11/09/164736569/car-dealers-sue-tesla-citing-state-franchise-laws

 

[jmrtsus]

You of course realize that Tesla sells all electric vehicles in market that doesn't yet have the infrastructure. It isn't necessary to throw out the baby with the bath water. I meant what I stated in "...take a page...". Microsoft has it's OEMs and resellers, but they also are able to retail directly from their own website.

Read these...
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/09/10/why-tesla-lost-the-fight-to-sell-cars-in-texas/
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2...tations-for-texas-but-still-cant-sell-direct/
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/02/19/172402376/why-buying-a-car-never-changes
https://www.npr.org/2012/11/09/164736569/car-dealers-sue-tesla-citing-state-franchise-laws

Yes, I understand Tesla decided to build a car then try to support it, that was their bad decision. Dealers? Not everybody wants to buy a car you can't see, drive or get charged and serviced. They build city cars, I need to travel and have zero desire to trip plan based on charging stations. Your listing are 5 year old tears of Tesla, they knew the laws then and now.That is old news, get the laws changed by the voters in the states that do not have any desire to deal with them. What has that got to do with Ford or GM or any other car maker that has dealerships and stockholders that expect to make money. Do you think Ford will start competing with their own dealers on sales then expect the dealers to service the cars? Tesla as a business is a joke, they do not want dealerships because they would have to find more gamblers with hopes to actually have a car to sell. Or they could try to sucker in more money and open dealerships themselves but again what is a dealership with only pictures of cars? They may make a novel niche city car but have very little relationship with the real auto industry.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Maybe, just maybe we will get some fed laws on all the tax breaks and funding foreign car companies get and allow the same breaks for US car companies and make US cars competitive again pricing wise. But niether Ford nor GM can compete on quality and content when their costs are higher. So walk away is the proper thing to do in the business world.

THIS!^^^

Sadly, they would STILL be fighting their 'legacy/union co$t$' which all of the others do not have to worry about, and more importantly the vehicular EXCLUSIVE 'Nipponphilia' (and to a lesser extent, the 'Teutonphilia') which is rampant in this land concerning everything save for trucks, and even THAT seems to be going away with the Tundras and Tacomas, etc.

 

[jmrtsus]

THIS!^^^

Sadly, they would STILL be fighting their 'legacy/union co$t$' which all of the others do not have to worry about, and more importantly the vehicular EXCLUSIVE 'Nipponphilia' (and to a lesser extent, the 'Teutonphilia') which is rampant in this land concerning everything save for trucks, and even THAT seems to be going away with the Tundras and Tacomas, etc.

Jap trucks sales 170K, American 2.3 million so only 1 in 13.....not big impact.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Jap trucks sales 170K, American 2.3 million so only 1 in 13.....not big impact.

Let U.S. HOPE it stays that way!!

 

[Intuit]

Yes, I understand Tesla decided to build a car then try to support it, that was their bad decision. Dealers? Not everybody wants to buy a car you can't see, drive or get charged and serviced. They build city cars, I need to travel and have zero desire to trip plan based on charging stations. Your listing are 5 year old tears of Tesla, they knew the laws then and now.That is old news, get the laws changed by the voters in the states that do not have any desire to deal with them. What has that got to do with Ford or GM or any other car maker that has dealerships and stockholders that expect to make money. Do you think Ford will start competing with their own dealers on sales then expect the dealers to service the cars? Tesla as a business is a joke, they do not want dealerships because they would have to find more gamblers with hopes to actually have a car to sell. Or they could try to sucker in more money and open dealerships themselves but again what is a dealership with only pictures of cars? They may make a novel niche city car but have very little relationship with the real auto industry.

Here ya go...
https://www.popsci.com/new-automated-car-vending-machine-opens-in-nashville

 

[jmrtsus]

Here ya go...
https://www.popsci.com/new-automated-car-vending-machine-opens-in-nashville

What does buying a used car have to do with anything?

 

[Intuit]

.....vending machine and seven day trial period.....

 

[jmrtsus]

.....vending machine and seven day trial period.....

I am lost........are you trying to make some kind of case for Tesla?

 

[Ford ST]

I am lost........are you trying to make some kind of case for Tesla?

I am lost why you hate Tesla so much?

Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk

 

[Intuit]

Didn't you know? Everything leads back to TESLA. http://soundbible.com/grab.php?id=1918&type=mp3

 

[jmrtsus]

I am lost why you hate Tesla so much?

Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk

I don't hate Tesla, I think their business is a joke financially .You don't seem to understand the basics of running a business has nothing to do with "diversity" of products it has to all to do with paying the bills and making money. Look at the car market in the past 20 years. GM has killed all the B.O.P cars now with the Buick dying and Ford dropped Mercury. GM preceded Ford's announcement about dropping small cars by about a month and Honda shut down the Accord line for 2 weeks due to poor sales and a 4 month supply of cars sitting around. Ford did not need a bail out because they were a little better at predicting the market in the USA years ago. All signs have pointed to a serious decline in cars sales for many years. Even VW here in Chattanooga is trying to get 3 SUV's built and can't sell the cars they are building.
A business only pays taxes on what they own, almost all cars on the lot are owned by the manufacturer not the dealer. A dealer stocks what seIls, if a truck buyer can't find what he wants on your lot he will walk away to another dealer did my businesses taxes and payroll taxes for 40 years, never trusted other people with my money so I have a good understanding of business finances. I don't like it but understand totally why Ford is doing it. And thanks for your views, I may not agree with them but it was enlightening to hear other views on this subject.

 

[Scotman2]

It is not selling......less sales than the Fiesta. Fiesta sold 47K in 2017 the TC was 34K


Ford
Transit Connect
2017 34.473
2016 43.232
2015 52.221
2014 43.210
2013 39.703
2012 35.216
2011 31.914
2010 27.405
2009 8.834

I would assume Ford makes a profit on each TC. Ford also admitted that the Flex never met its sales targets.But. the transaction prices were higher and more profitable per unit than was expected. So, it got to stay on. Im also aware that many stripped down TC got several thousand dollars in upfits prior to delivery to make them suitable for various tasks.
Just imagine what even five to seven thousand unit sales. Per year could have done for the Fiesta business case in North America. Marketing. Marketing. Marketing.

 

[jmrtsus]

I would assume Ford makes a profit on each TC. Ford also admitted that the Flex never met its sales targets.But. the transaction prices were higher and more profitable per unit than was expected. So, it got to stay on. Im also aware that many stripped down TC got several thousand dollars in upfits prior to delivery to make them suitable for various tasks.
Just imagine what even five to seven thousand unit sales. Per year could have done for the Fiesta business case in North America. Marketing. Marketing. Marketing.

7000 is a drop in the bucket and would not even be considered with the costs of certification to sell it. Why would I as a store owner not want to see more profitable items selling rather than less profitable items, I only have so much shelf space so why stock low profit items.That is all Ford is doing and have floors of bean counters looking for ways to make money so I am sure the simple answer is that an F150 earns them $12 to 30K I read and a Fiesta maybe $1500 and the dealers sell 20 F150's to 1 Fiesta. What would you build and stock? Ford sold the public along with GM and Dodge that bigger is better so they moved the US market to a more profitable position for them and less for the foreign companies.They will take the high profit sales and surrender the low ones in return. With the tax advantages Ford and GM cannot compete and make as much as the Foreign companies can in the US on cars. Smart move on their part.

 

[Sprinkle_Star]

[h=1]Ford unveiled a Fiesta Van and it's adorable[/h]

While that Fiesta variant may be adorable, the Chevy Spark is hands down the cutest.

 

[Intuit]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...cus-active-thats-headed-for-the-us/ar-AAwonoI
Anyone else think of Mazda's "SkyActive" when they hear about the "Focus Active" ?

I don't hate Tesla, I think their business is a joke financially .You don't seem to understand the basics of running a business has nothing to do with "diversity" of products it has to all to do with paying the bills and making money. Look at the car market in the past 20 years. GM has killed all the B.O.P cars now with the Buick dying and Ford dropped Mercury. GM preceded Ford's announcement about dropping small cars by about a month and Honda shut down the Accord line for 2 weeks due to poor sales and a 4 month supply of cars sitting around. Ford did not need a bail out because they were a little better at predicting the market in the USA years ago. All signs have pointed to a serious decline in cars sales for many years. Even VW here in Chattanooga is trying to get 3 SUV's built and can't sell the cars they are building.
A business only pays taxes on what they own, almost all cars on the lot are owned by the manufacturer not the dealer. A dealer stocks what seIls, if a truck buyer can't find what he wants on your lot he will walk away to another dealer did my businesses taxes and payroll taxes for 40 years, never trusted other people with my money so I have a good understanding of business finances. I don't like it but understand totally why Ford is doing it. And thanks for your views, I may not agree with them but it was enlightening to hear other views on this subject.

Ford ST's comment wasn't serious. Again, again, again, some more and again LoL... you've made it clear that you believe Tesla is out to steal investor's money; a sham of a company... a "pyramid scheme" as you put it. What's funny is all this came from a single "take A page" comment with regard to their intent on utilizing direct-sell; which is a means of cutting overhead (impacting profit margin). Instead of replying to that, you go off on a multiple paragraph tangent about aspects of their company that I never brought up, never mentioned, along with things and views I never implied or thought about to the point that *I* am almost confused about what was stated. You're obviously very passionate about Tesla. No problem. Everyone is passionate about certain subjects.

You may find these interesting...
https://www.quora.com/Do-car-dealer...se-of-afloor-fee-that-the-dealer-gets-charged
https://www.factcheck.org/2011/09/ford-motor-co-does-u-turn-on-bailouts/
http://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/editorial-did-ford-take-bailout-money-too-yes-they-did/

What you're repeating about market trends and other company actions was already mentioned in posted articles and again brought and/or reiterated earlier in this thread. So it isn't news to us, nor have I been arguing that these trends should be ignored and/or weren't true.

"Diversity" doesn't mean "make all vehicles at any cost". That is strictly your conflation. It is common sense that no business can operate this way. Initially I heard that they were just keeping the Mustang. Now it appears they're keeping a tweaked/updated version of the Focus. Sounds more reasonable. It'd still be nice to have the subcompact Fiesta segment. Every time I see a Focus I think about how large it is. Why have a *completely* different vehicle just because the powertrain goes from gasoline to hybrid to electric? "Modularize" the frame to support at least two of the three powertrains and keep the "same" vehicle. That alone cuts out several lineups furthering the quest to maintain at least one more choice. https://www.carscoops.com/2018/05/ford-executives-shed-light-killing-cars/ If traditional channels no longer satisfy their desires for per-sale profits, there are other alternatives to consider. Join Tesla in their quest to kill, (relax or tweak) state laws that ban direct-sale and adopt the "vending machine" approach that grants seven day trials. The dealerships won't care as they don't want to stock these lower volume vehicles anyway. Of course Ford would still have to rely on their dealer network service centers for some post sales support. All these things serve to cut overhead and increase margins. All these small businesses on Shark Tank claiming to move millions of dollars in product without a "dealer" a.k.a. retailer operate on the direct-to-consumer sell. Few of them would've ever gotten off the ground if they had to rely on the traditional retail shelf route.

Ford and FCA cutting car lines can benefit GM, Toyota and Honda
http://www.chicagotribune.com/class...o-cover-0503-ford-gm-cars-20180427-story.html
<<........"Although passenger car segments have declined over the last number of years, they're still very important," said Chuck Stevens. "The compact crossover segment globally is the biggest, and then it's compact cars and they still represent here in the United States a fairly significant portion of the overall sales.".............GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra , according to WardsAuto, said car segments remain significant.................... "Even if it's only 20 percent globally, that's still 15 to 20 million a year. That's not an insignificant quantity," Abuelsamid said. .................... ..........>>

Eh, I don't care. I'm just throwing this in because I know how much *you* enjoy talking about Tesla...
https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/tesla-pays-back-energy-dept-loan-early-091791
(...and yes, I know they likely just shifted debts between hands... just posted as something to set you off all over again...)

 

[jmrtsus]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...cus-active-thats-headed-for-the-us/ar-AAwonoI
Anyone else think of Mazda's "SkyActive" when they hear about the "Focus Active" ?




Ford ST's comment wasn't serious. Again, again, again, some more and again LoL... you've made it clear that you believe Tesla is out to steal investor's money; a sham of a company... a "pyramid scheme" as you put it. What's funny is all this came from a single "take A page" comment with regard to their intent on utilizing direct-sell; which is a means of cutting overhead (impacting profit margin). Instead of replying to that, you go off on a multiple paragraph tangent about aspects of their company that I never brought up, never mentioned, along with things and views I never implied or thought about to the point that *I* am almost confused about what was stated. You're obviously very passionate about Tesla. No problem. Everyone is passionate about certain subjects.

You may find these interesting...
https://www.quora.com/Do-car-dealer...se-of-afloor-fee-that-the-dealer-gets-charged
https://www.factcheck.org/2011/09/ford-motor-co-does-u-turn-on-bailouts/
http://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/editorial-did-ford-take-bailout-money-too-yes-they-did/

What you're repeating about market trends and other company actions was already mentioned in posted articles and again brought and/or reiterated earlier in this thread. So it isn't news to us, nor have I been arguing that these trends should be ignored and/or weren't true.

"Diversity" doesn't mean "make all vehicles at any cost". That is strictly your conflation. It is common sense that no business can operate this way. Initially I heard that they were just keeping the Mustang. Now it appears they're keeping a tweaked/updated version of the Focus. Sounds more reasonable. It'd still be nice to have the subcompact Fiesta segment. Every time I see a Focus I think about how large it is. Why have a *completely* different vehicle just because the powertrain goes from gasoline to hybrid to electric? "Modularize" the frame to support at least two of the three powertrains and keep the "same" vehicle. That alone cuts out several lineups furthering the quest to maintain at least one more choice. https://www.carscoops.com/2018/05/ford-executives-shed-light-killing-cars/ If traditional channels no longer satisfy their desires for per-sale profits, there are other alternatives to consider. Join Tesla in their quest to kill, (relax or tweak) state laws that ban direct-sale and adopt the "vending machine" approach that grants seven day trials. The dealerships won't care as they don't want to stock these lower volume vehicles anyway. Of course Ford would still have to rely on their dealer network service centers for some post sales support. All these things serve to cut overhead and increase margins. All these small businesses on Shark Tank claiming to move millions of dollars in product without a "dealer" a.k.a. retailer operate on the direct-to-consumer sell. Few of them would've ever gotten off the ground if they had to rely on the traditional retail shelf route.

Ford and FCA cutting car lines can benefit GM, Toyota and Honda
http://www.chicagotribune.com/class...o-cover-0503-ford-gm-cars-20180427-story.html
<<........"Although passenger car segments have declined over the last number of years, they're still very important," said Chuck Stevens. "The compact crossover segment globally is the biggest, and then it's compact cars and they still represent here in the United States a fairly significant portion of the overall sales.".............GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra , according to WardsAuto, said car segments remain significant.................... "Even if it's only 20 percent globally, that's still 15 to 20 million a year. That's not an insignificant quantity," Abuelsamid said. .................... ..........>>

Eh, I don't care. I'm just throwing this in because I know how much *you* enjoy talking about Tesla...
https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/tesla-pays-back-energy-dept-loan-early-091791
(...and yes, I know they likely just shifted debts between hands... just posted as something to set you off all over again...)

Business 101.......try it you may begin to understand business and not throw useless old links and quotes around. Lost cause with quotes on the world car market when we are talking USA. And your dream of direct marketing and vending machines is as laughable as your complete lack of business knowledge. Again thanks for your input, I laughed a lot this morning. Go buy your dream car.......but don't buy the stock. Now go away.....I don't teach for free or click on old links.

 

[Intuit]

What... no further comments about Tesla!? I know we're all stupid and don't understand business... even if we've run one and worked contractor jobs for decades. Just a kind suggestion, consider thinking outside the box. You may be rewarded for it.

 

[Scotman2]

Ford and the rest might be wise to mention to the investors that are bitching about the traditional manufacturers about not being more like Tesla should be careful what they wish for! Of course, the same mindset took Ford and Chrysler into Aviation and Aerospace not that many years ago. All in search of diversification.

 

[Intuit]

Renault, Rolls Royce, etc, etc... it actually wasn't uncommon for engine manufacturers to spread their expertise over multiple transportation platforms.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_engine_manufacturers
Unlike piston engines, jet engines don't have any practical use for land based transportation.
So it no longer made any sense to continue in that line of engine development once everything began progressing away from "flight by piston".

According to this...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DASA
...the aerospace leg was actually the brainchild of Daimler, not really Chrysler.

Re Ford, it appears they sold the division to a defense contractor...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Aerospace
...and that was after having developed and co-developed well known products such as the Sidewinder and Trident Missle.

Enough useless links already...