I found an article written in 2008 by Dan Carney on msnbc.com outlining the strategy that Ford used to outlast the recession http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27723139/ns/business-autos/t/ford-better-positioned-ride-out-recession/. It was the work of CEO Alan Mulally who mortgaged the company’s name to build up $24 billion worth of financing just before the recession a move some say was luck, lucky or not this cash nest egg helped Ford ride out the recession.
Another reason Ford was able to come out a winner was identifying the changes in customer demand revamping their product line and introducing smaller more fuel efficient cars from their European lines. While GM and Chrysler were still pumping out big gas guzzlers Ford was looking at other ideas and not relying on their trucks as much. The new line has been a success and has continued to grow as this sales release from ford indicates http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/investors/investor-news/investor-news-detail/pr-ford-motor-company-june-and-36703. Here are some of the highlights from June 2012.
- Ford Motor Company’s year-to-date U.S. sales through June increase 7 percent, totaling 1.14 million vehicles; June sales increase 7 percent from last year at 207,759 vehicles sold
- Ford's Escape sales have increased 28 percent – the vehicle’s best month ever; the all-new 2013 Escape is selling on dealer lots in less than five days
- Ford Fusion sales in June increase 17 percent – the best June sales performance ever
- Ford Explorer sales up 35 percent in June and 15 percent year to date
- Ford F-Series sales top 50,000 – the best June sales performance in five years, with 55,025 pickups sold
Alan Mulally inteview http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/01/12/f_sl_mulally_ford.fortune/
