Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

[adrian]

The newly named chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co. drives a Lexus LS 430, the flagship luxury sedan from Toyota Motor Corp. that he unabashedly says he purchased because "it's the finest car in the world."

....

"And this is also the reason why I'm here (at Ford), because Boeing makes the finest commercial airplanes in the world, and what was compelling to me was that Bill Ford, when he called me, Bill wanted to focus on making the best auto company in the world ...

"The reason he called was not to restructure, not to get rid of stuff, not to sell it off. He called because he wanted to make the finest automobiles in the world. And that's why I'm here," Mulally continued. "Because I think the U.S. can compete. I know they can compete. ... There's no reason why we can't be the best in the world."

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I wonder where he parks since Ford banned all other competitor's vehicles from the lot.

[Pomai]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Unless this new CEO is good at working with Ford's labor unions, not much will change. We'll see.

I STILL have my eyes on the new 'Stang GT though. Sweet. By far the best "retro" design to date... until next year's release of the new Dodge Challenger!

[Konaguy]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Alan Mulally did a great job in turning around the fotunes of Boeing
Commercial Airplanes. So I have the full confidence that he will be
able to work his magic.Actually Ford's biggest problem aside a weak
car lineup, is the burdensome healthcare and pension costs.

[Miulang]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

I think the reason why Alan Mulalley jumped ship at Boeing after 37 years of working for that company is that he got skipped over for promotion when Richard Condit was forced to retire as CEO a couple of years ago (when Boeing corporate moved to Chicago). But like Aaron says, Mulalley did work miracles at Boeing...he was responsible for the 777 and 787 "Dreamliner" models that are wiping Airbus' okole right now. One thing Boeing knows, is how to run a tight manufacturing ship. Their systems are world class and I'm sure Mulalley will take all of that knowledge with him to Ford. Maybe he can take the Kaizen stuff that he learned from Toyota and make it work at Ford, too.

Miulang

[Konaguy]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

As far as I read, Alan Mulally wanted the ability to run the whole show. Since
there isn't many industrial type companies the size of Boeing, hence he ended
up with Ford. I for one, hope he is successful.

[Nik]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Very interesting. Ford really needs to make some changes. I just hope this new guy comes up with new ideas rather than continue the same old boring copycat cycle.

[Konaguy]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Aaron's thoughts on how to revitalize Ford :

1. Rejuvenate their product line of cars
2. Reign in their skyrocketing health care and pension costs
3. Improve the working relationship with the unions.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Aaron's thoughts on how to revitalize Ford :

1. Rejuvenate their product line of cars
2. Reign in their skyrocketing health care and pension costs
3. Improve the working relationship with the unions.

Nah...bring back the 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 with the peek-a-boo headlights and the sequential rear turn signals.

And don't turn it into a rental car like they did with the retro mustang!!! Make it a limited edition run and don't flood the market with too many of em. It just cheapens the desired effect.

[adrian]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Make it a limited edition run and don't flood the market with too many of em. It just cheapens the desired effect.

Like the new thunderbird? (BTW, what happend to that car anyway?)

[oceanpacific]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Reminds me of the time in the mid-70s when Dwight Holiday of the UH basketball "Fabulous Five" did some TV ads for Toyota, then drove away from the shoot in his Datsun 240-Z ............

[TuNnL]

Re: Ford's new CEO drives a Lexus

Like the Ford CEO said, the Lexus LS430 is the finest car in the world. It will take a miracle for Ford to compete. I say wait and see if he can find a rabbit in the hat (and not the VW kind). The Mustang - kewl car for a weekend cruise, but try driving it from Oregon to Washington and back. Da buggah stay panting, let me tell you!