GM Govt. Bailout?

[Snyprwlf47]

The problem with Ameriauto is the high labor cost. Ford has been trying to keep up with the small fuel efficient car industry but cant because they would lose money due to labor cost!!!

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Snyprwlf47

The problem with Ameriauto is the high labor cost. Ford has been trying to keep up with the small fuel efficient car industry but cant because they would lose money due to labor cost!!!

I call
ford Europe has a higher (yup!) labour cost, and they keep up very well with the European and Japanese "small fuel efficient" markets. They just choose not to import the smaller cars and their technology here.... Look at the Ford Focus diesel that just came out - Ford won't import it because "Americans view diesel as a dirty fuel"

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

I call
ford Europe has a higher (yup!) labour cost, and they keep up very well with the European and Japanese "small fuel efficient" markets.

Ford makes their smaller cars all over the globe. Wouldn't surprise me if the Focus were made in Europe and it would not surprise me if Ford got a subsidy or two for doing it there.

Originally Posted by SailDesign

They just choose not to import the smaller cars and their technology here.... Look at the Ford Focus diesel that just came out - Ford won't import it because "Americans view diesel as a dirty fuel"

Also because of NOx emissions... some diesels are pretty bad that way.

Also, perhaps, because the Ford Focus diesel lacks the acceleration needed to compete in US markets. Perhaps the real cause is that the American consumer does not want a slow plodding car?

I'd have sprung for a Yaris diesel. No doubt about it.

Gene

[Bob_VT]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

I call
ford Europe has a higher (yup!) labour cost, and they keep up very well with the European and Japanese "small fuel efficient" markets. They just choose not to import the smaller cars and their technology here.... Look at the Ford Focus diesel that just came out - Ford won't import it because "Americans view diesel as a dirty fuel"

Ford had a diesel Escort here in the USA (one upon a time!) and it was a failure.....

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Bob_VT

Ford had a diesel Escort here in the USA (one upon a time!) and it was a failure.....

Waaaay back then, I'm sure it was. No-one cared much abouyt saving fuel over here. And to be honest the US Escort bodies were frikkin' HIDEOUS compared to the UK versions.

[PetersRedYaris]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

I call
ford Europe has a higher (yup!) labour cost, and they keep up very well with the European and Japanese "small fuel efficient" markets. They just choose not to import the smaller cars and their technology here.... Look at the Ford Focus diesel that just came out - Ford won't import it because "Americans view diesel as a dirty fuel"

Actually, their main reason is production cost. The diesel engine is built in England where labor costs are very high. They claim if they were to sell the car in the US it would be priced over $25,000 (more than a Prius). And if they built a plant in Mexico to build the engine there (where our Fiesta's will be built) they would have to sell 350,000 engines/year to cover the cost which they claim isn't realistic. I claim BS on that... No wonder Ford is going down with the other big 2, stupid decisions one after the other.

Heres the article- http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...ell-in-us.aspx