FORD Motor will slip to become the No 3 US car maker next year as rival Toyota Motor

[csv8]

FORD Motor will slip to become the No 3 US car maker next year as rival Toyota Motor powers ahead in the industry's largest market, according to a sales forecast released today.

Edmunds.com, which provides information on the US auto market, said Toyota would overtake Ford by mid-2007 in sales volume.

Toyota now often outpaces DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and for two months this year sold more vehicles than Ford, which has seen sales drop almost 8 per cent in 2006. Toyota's US sales, meanwhile, have increased nearly 13 per cent over the same period.

Ford, which is struggling with mounting losses in North America, has said it is aiming to hold its overall share of the US light vehicle market at between 14 per cent to 15 per cent, including fleet sales, from the current 17.7 per cent as it restructures by shutting 16 plants and cutting more than 50,000 jobs.

Ford expects a sharp fall in share next year as it is trying to pull away from sales of vehicles to car rental companies that typically carry steep discounts in favor of more profitable showroom sales.

Ford has ended production of its Taurus sedan, a model that was sold almost exclusively to fleet buyers in its final months.

Overall, Edmunds.com expects light vehicle sales to be flat in 2007, with sales near expected 2006 levels of 16.5 million.

"Gas prices will be a leading factor in how consumers choose what vehicles they purchase in the coming year," said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com, in a statement.

The firm expects Toyota's new Tundra truck, which is expected to be in showrooms in February, to take a chunk of large truck market share from US domestic automakers.

This is a very profitable segment, so any loss in market share will have a disproportionately large impact financially, according to Edmunds.com.

[xr8man83]

yea toyota will be the biggest car maker in the world soon i reckon FoMoCo has to pick its game up over there and we should be exporting our falcons the yanks have nothing like that

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by xr8man83

yea toyota will be the biggest car maker in the world soon i reckon FoMoCo has to pick its game up over there and we should be exporting our falcons the yanks have nothing like that

This is true. I work with quite a few Americans. One of the first things they do when they get here is avail themselves of a XR or GT falcon. They love them. Most go for ford as well. The styling seems to suit them over the holdens.

Would the yanks buy our falcon in the USA? You betcha. But a power upgrade would help heaps...... Make us hapier as well.

[Polyal]

Yeah as long as Ford can hang in there I think they will be right.

Pictures of up and coming models are positive, so is the new link with FoA.

It all happens in cycles, Ford are just very down at the moment.

[andrewts]

I reckon nothing would be better for Falcon to be sent over seas.

[vztrt]

Beside the fact that the amount of Falcons sent would be limited (due to the unions) Australia wouldn't be able to produce enough cars as we don't have the capacity. Another thing to remember is Americans have different tastes so they may see the falcon as an eyesore.

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

Who's saying that Amerrican carn't build their own Falcons over there. Export a few over see what the market reaction is & if they like they could send it into production over their, won't take long to get into the swing of thing as we already have moles & dies in use here.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by AUIII XR8 MAN

Who's saying that Amerrican carn't build their own Falcons over there. Export a few over see what the market reaction is & if they like they could send it into production over their, won't take long to get into the swing of thing as we already have moles & dies in use here.

Yeah that can be done, probably need a few cosmetic changes as I believe the American market would favour the AU look to the BA look.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by AUIII XR8 MAN

Who's saying that Amerrican carn't build their own Falcons over there. Export a few over see what the market reaction is & if they like they could send it into production over their, won't take long to get into the swing of thing as we already have moles & dies in use here.

Then they will decide it will be cheaper to build them in Mexico and ship them to Australia and shut down all manufacturing in Oz, with just the design and engineering done here. Bad idea. I'd rather see Ford Australia design and build Falcons for export to the Middle East than to send it over to the Americans so they can ruin it. They would give it dodgy American styling, floaty high rise suspension and poor quality slabby interiors with as many cupholders as they can fit.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Then they will decide it will be cheaper to build them in Mexico and ship them to Australia and shut down all manufacturing in Oz, with just the design and engineering done here. Bad idea. I'd rather see Ford Australia design and build Falcons for export to the Middle East than to send it over to the Americans so they can ruin it. They would give it dodgy American styling, floaty high rise suspension and poor quality slabby interiors with as many cupholders as they can fit.

You're exactly right brother! No matter how good a product we'd make, the yanks would ruin it. The Pontiac GTO was proof of that. And if our mainstream models were a success, they'd take over and find a cheaper way to do it then shut us down. Lose lose siuation.

If we could take a leaf out of Holdens book and get our Falcons over to China and the middle east we'd be laughing. That would mean we could invest a lot more money into LWB models, which might justify more agressive marketing, which will definately generate more sales.

China and the middle east are our answer, America definitely is not! As for americas answer? Well, who knows. Build better cars, listen to the consumers, and wait a generation till all those workers seeking payment from the detroit car makers cark it!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Cobra

You're exactly right brother! No matter how good a product we'd make, the yanks would ruin it. The Pontiac GTO was proof of that. And if our mainstream models were a success, they'd take over and find a cheaper way to do it then shut us down. Lose lose siuation.

If we could take a leaf out of Holdens book and get our Falcons over to China and the middle east we'd be laughing. That would mean we could invest a lot more money into LWB models, which might justify more agressive marketing, which will definately generate more sales.

China and the middle east are our answer, America definitely is not! As for americas answer? Well, who knows. Build better cars, listen to the consumers, and wait a generation till all those workers seeking payment from the detroit car makers cark it!

I pretty much agree, but how did they ruin the GTO? They didn't touch it other than the front end, and who cares, we never got it.

Actually everywhere the Monaro was sold they increased the power AFAIK.

Also nothing wrong with sharing an entire platform, who cares if they stuff it up. IMO our designs would be better suited for OS markets, the yanks can keep their "falcon" for themselves and any sucker who wants it over there, poor Canada...

edit: LOL...didn't see that previous post...oops....

[Den.]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I pretty much agree, but how did they ruin the GTO? They didn't touch it other than the front end, and who cares, we never got it.

Actually everywhere the Monaro was sold they increased the power AFAIK.

Also nothing wrong with sharing an entire platform, who cares if they stuff it up. IMO our designs would be better suited for OS markets, the yanks can keep their "falcon" for themselves and any sucker who wants it over there, poor Canada...

edit: LOL...didn't see that previous post...oops....

I don't know about "ruin" but G.M. did change a few things safetywise like the gas tank for American standards. The American press mostly complained because it was so plain yet the original GTO in '64 was basically even MORE understated!!!! We never got it at all in Canada though we are supposed to get the next one.

I think the biggest problem here was that there was almost NO advertising for it!! They just never gave it the promotion and the chance it deserved.

[andrewts]

They might, but from what I hear, the new Falcon doesn't look much like a BA. ;)

[krt10]

the problem with ford usa is that they are not listening to consumer demands.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by andrewts

They might, but from what I hear, the new Falcon doesn't look much like a BA. ;)

Who told you that?

[andrewts]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Who told you that?

Well, aren't they gonna look somewhat like those Mondeos? You know, the concept on with no door handles. It's going to be an entirely new car, so I doubt they would keep +4 year old body design would they?

[iwanta5.4sc]

ford us should use the falcon as Taurus repalcement (build in the US) and use the fairlane LTd as Victroia repalcement

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by iwanta5.4sc

ford us should use the falcon as Taurus repalcement (build in the US) and use the fairlane LTd as Victroia repalcement

FOA are trying to get the contract to export Orion LWB models to the middle east.

[Den.]

We're already getting a Falcon but it's yet another "crossover" vehicle". No wonder Ford's dying here, have you seen their current/near future line up?

The crappy 500 and a bunch of boxes on wheels! BOOOOORING!!!!

I been a Fordguy a long time but there's not much on a lot these days I'd even CONSIDER buying if I were buying!

We have the Mustang, the F150, the Explorer, the Escape, and the Superduty. That's it! Everything else seems a near copy of the Escape, the Grand Marquis you're lucky to actually SEE on a lot as dealers seem like they want to hide them and the 500 is a Volvo with a not so great engine and front end problems.


The Fusion and it's relatives are just weird and haven't lived up to their mpg projections!

And of course the one decent little car they have, the Focus, is getting killed off!

Unfortunately Ford deserves it's death if it happens. I hope it doesn't because if it does I won't have a job to go back to when I recover! And as a Fordguy I just plain WANT Ford to make it! But with what they're selling can't see it.

Getting some of your stuff would be the kick in the *** Ford needs but so far.......

"Our" new Falcon looks like a big Scion, the boxy one. Yuck.

[Sledgehammer]

Ford will have some increased competition here as well because the Dodge Charger and new Camaro are going into production in 2008. The Mustang will be under some serious competition as these cars both have a more powerful base platform, and look really awesome, it will be pony wars all over again...

Ford cannot rest they have 2 years to come up with the goods.

[Den.]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer

Ford will have some increased competition here as well because the Dodge Charger and new Camaro are going into production in 2008. The Mustang will be under some serious competition as these cars both have a more powerful base platform, and look really awesome, it will be pony wars all over again...

Ford cannot rest they have 2 years to come up with the goods.

But the Charger and 300 are just hideous looking!! Are you guys getting the Magnum? Much better! Hopefully too the Challenger will show up soon..........