For about 30,000 Ford workers in North America, the company's Way Forward restructuring plan announced today involves being shown the door. Ford's plan, announced just minutes ago, includes the shuttering of 14 plants in the next seven years, with seven of them closing as soon as 2008, including St. Louis, Atlanta, Wixom, Batavia, Windsor Casting, and two to be named later. Ford hopes to achieve around $6 billion in material cost savings by 2010, in its bid to get back in the black. Click through for the press release and details of the plan's good news; you know, the coming profitability, the stronger Ford and Mercury brands, the environmental leadership, the innovation, the new 427 Cobra (we can dream, can't we?). [Update: Lean Manufacturing blogged the press conference.]
Ford's Way Forward Plan, Press Release
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 23, 2006 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today announced details of a comprehensive plan to restore profitability to its automotive business in North America no later than 2008. Ford will apply lessons learned from consumers and the company s successes around the world to strengthen its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands and deliver more innovative products while simultaneously reducing costs and improving quality and productivity.
The automotive market in North America is rapidly becoming as crowded and fragmented as other global markets, said Bill Ford, chairman and CEO. To meet this challenge, we are acting with speed to strengthen the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands, deliver the innovation customers demand and create a business structure for us to compete and win in this era of global competition.
We will be making painful sacrifices to protect Ford s heritage and secure our future, he added. Going forward, we will be able to deliver more innovative products, better returns for our shareholders and stability in the communities where we operate.
Ford Around the World 2006 Outlook
For 2006, the company is expecting another year of profitability from automotive operations outside of North America . Pre-tax profits, excluding special items, are expected from automotive operations in South America , Europe (Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group), Asia-Pacific and Africa , and from Mazda and Associated Operations. North American automotive operations are expected to be unprofitable. Overall, Ford s global automotive operations are expected to have pre-tax losses in 2006, while Ford Motor Credit is expected to achieve pre-tax profits.
The underlying assumptions behind this outlook include: full-year industry volumes of 17 million units in the U.S. and 17.3 million units in Europe ; industry net pricing that is expected to be down slightly in the U.S. and Europe . Also, the company s quality performance is expected to improve, market share is expected to stabilize or improve in all regions, and cost performance is expected to be favorable. Capital expenditures of approximately $7 billion are expected during 2006, while the company expects its year-end cash balance to be more than $20 billion.
Beyond the above expectations, the company is providing no other guidance about its financial performance for 2006 to keep employees and investors focused on one goal: sustainable profitability over time in all regions.
We must be guided by our long-term goals of building our brands, satisfying customers, developing strong products, accelerating innovation, and, most importantly, producing a sustainable profit from our automotive business, said Bill Ford.
Ford in North America the Way Forward
Ford s automotive business in North America was profitable in 2003 and 2004, thanks to the product investments and cost reductions driven by the company s Revitalization Plan, announced in 2002.
Since that time, more and stronger competition in all segments, a faster-than-expected customer shift from traditional SUVs into other segments, significantly higher material and energy costs and other factors have resulted in lower market share and higher costs for the company.
The team in North America , led by Mark Fields and supported by Anne Stevens, developed the plan for North America , drawing on their extensive global experience in Asia , Europe and The Americas. They have reenergized the Ford team to make it work, and they have the full support of the Ford Motor Company behind them, said Jim Padilla, president and chief operating officer.
Fields, executive vice president and president, The Americas, calls the plan the Way Forward. It touches every piece of the North American business to make it more customer-focused, product-driven and efficient, including:
More clarity for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands with a sharper focus on the customer and a clear point of view that will appeal to more buyers than today.
A renewed commitment to design, safety and technology innovation to differentiate Ford Motor Company and its products in the marketplace.
New product investments utilizing Ford s global architectures and scale to deliver more new products faster, including more crossovers, hybrid vehicles, new small cars, increased spending on Ford s truck leadership and new white space products.
Material cost reductions of at least $6 billion by 2010.
Continued straightforward pricing that is clear, credible and simple, which will further improve residual values.
A lean and flexible manufacturing system combined with capacity matched to demand. Capacity will be reduced by 1.2 million units or 26 percent by 2008, representing the majority of actions within the plan s 2006-2012 period.
Plant-related employment is reduced by 25,000-30,000 people in the 2006-2012 time period, in addition to salaried personnel reductions and a reduction in the company s officer ranks.
Stronger Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Brands
Ford kicked off the Way Forward plan in October with a comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and values in the U.S. automotive market. The goal was to develop a laser-like focus on different customer targets for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury to guide each brand s design, engineering and marketing decisions.
One of the most important findings from this research is that Americans really do want to buy American brands, as long as they are competitive with the imports, said Fields. We know this, because it s already working in some segments today, such as the success of the new Ford Fusion in the import-dominated midsize car market.
Of all the leading automakers, we believe Ford is America s Car Company because of where we ve been. In terms of economic and social influence, there is no other company that s had a greater impact on the lives of people in the U.S. and in the 20th century than Ford.
Customers identify with Ford and its uniquely American story, the research also revealed.
The challenge going forward is to give our customers, employees, retirees, dealers, suppliers and investors a reason to believe in Ford. That is going to be our focus, Fields said. Our Way Forward is not a retreat into smaller markets, but a retaking of the American marketplace. It s time to play offense. It s time to fight back.
We will compete vigorously to be America s Car Company, winning the hearts and minds of even more customers, he added. We will maintain our commitment to our loyal truck customers, while delivering innovative and boldly styled cars, crossovers, SUVs and other all-new products that will appeal to people who are still inspired by the American dream.
With that clear point of view in the marketplace, Ford is investing in new products for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury. The investment includes moving forward with the company s plan to offer hybrid technology on half of the company s Ford, Mercury and Lincoln nameplates in the U.S.
Today, the company is announcing that hybrid versions of the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will debut in the 2008-2010 timeframe. The new hybrids will join the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids, which are on sale today, as well as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, which will debut in 2008. Overall, Ford Motor Company plans to build 250,000 hybrids a year by 2010.
Ford also is announcing that it will introduce new white space products to reach customers in new segments, and accelerate plans to bring even more crossover vehicles and new small cars to market. At the same time, the company announced that it is increasing its product investment in Ford F-Series truck leadership; increasing momentum on its blockbuster cars today, such as the Ford Fusion and Ford Mustang; introducing more design innovations for more at a glance sheet metal changes and introducing more safety innovations throughout its North American lineup.
With more focused brands, new product investment and innovation, Ford will slow the rate of loss and then stabilize our U.S. market share in the near term, even as competitors add new models, Fields said. From there, we can set our sights on the future.
TheFord Brand: In the past, the Ford brand has demonstrated a clear customer focus in many but not all segments. Going forward, the Ford brand will build upon the success of hits, such as the Ford F-Series, Explorer, Expedition, Mustang, Escape and Fusion, and enter new segments with a clear, consistent and distinct point of view one driven by bold, American design and innovation. The 2007 Ford Edge, which goes on sale later this year, embodies that spirit.
We know how to play offense and play to win, Fields said. Our plan will deliver more products from small cars to our largest trucks that are unmistakably Fords.
Ford remains committed to maintaining leadership in full-size pickup trucks with the F-Series. The company also plans to continue its momentum in midsize cars with all-wheel-drive and hybrid derivatives coming for the Ford Fusion and developing new small cars and even more crossovers for the Ford brand.
Mercury : Ford is recommitting itself to Mercury and has developed more focused positioning that is a refinement of the work already done to revitalize the brand.
The newest Mercury products the Milan , the Mariner and the Mariner Hybrid are attracting younger customers to the brand and more women than Ford-brand products in the same segments, Fields said. In addition, they are bringing new customers to Ford Motor Company at conquest rates as high as 50 percent.
The attraction of Mercury is modern, expressive design one that is differentiated from Ford vehicles. Our Mercury target customer is not looking for product functionality that is substantially different from Ford vehicles. But they do have different attitudes and values, and they want a product that visually communicates that distinctiveness.
Going forward, we will be more aggressive in appealing to these customers with clear, modern differentiation in the design of Mercurys, a unique purchase experience and marketing that is targeted, personalized and interactive , Fields said.
Lincoln : Ford s vision for the Lincoln brand is to make Lincoln the reward for consumers who are living the American dream. The company sees Lincoln becoming the largest volume contributor to the Lincoln Mercury business.
Lincoln customers don t need to shout about success. They are self-made people with enough confidence to be elegant and understated, Fields said. That understanding of the Lincoln customers will drive our brand and product decisions going forward.
The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, the brand s first entry-luxury car, and the 2007 Lincoln MKX, the brand s first crossover, are significant first steps. Going forward, the company plans to give Lincoln vehicles an even clearer point of view through their powertrains, unique comfort and convenience features and unique designs.
Lincoln is about American luxury. There are many customers in this country living the American dream and who would prefer to drive America s luxury car. That is where we are headed , he added.
Straightforward Pricing: Ford is accelerating the clear-and-simple pricing strategy that began with the introduction of the Ford Fusion and Ford Mustang. Ford plans to reduce the MSRP of its products and dramatically reduce and cap rebates as it introduces new products.
We started introducing clear pricing two years ago. The success of Mustang and Fusion proves that it works, Fields said. We will bring sticker prices more in line with actual transaction prices and cap cash on the hood rebates as we introduce new cars and trucks into the marketplace. It will protect our margins and consumers, too, through higher resale values.
Ford also will increase its product advertising, focusing on brand characteristics based on innovative designs, features and customer benefits.
Investment-Efficient Product Creation
Ford has committed to return its North American automotive business to profitability no later than 2008. Over time, the Way Forward plan should deliver profitability throughout the lineup including new small cars by achieving significant material cost savings as well as quality and productivity improvements.
Several new initiatives will bolster ongoing work that already is yielding significant operating improvements. Specifically:
Ford will use more global vehicle architectures in North America , particularly for cars and crossovers, to reduce investment spending and improve quality.
The company will share more parts and systems that are invisible to the customer, such as brakes, suspension and underbody components, across its North American, European and Asian brands to leverage its global purchasing power for lower costs and better quality.
Ford will continue to implement its Global Product Development System which is based, in part, on Mazda s highly successful and efficient model to reduce product development times by six to 12 months, depending on the size of the program.
Ford will continue to invest in lean and flexible manufacturing, with 75 percent of its North American assembly capacity being flexible by the end of 2008.
Improved quality will be achieved, in part, through the Aligned Business Framework agreements with select strategic suppliers. The agreements are designed to strengthen collaboration and create a more sustainable business model for both Ford and its key suppliers to improve mutual profitability.
The Aligned Business Framework coupled with Ford s Commodity Business Plan process and a new single-team approach to product development and purchasing will deliver improved quality and drive technology innovations to Ford, while lowering costs.
END