The Auto Writer

The Ford Motor Company is changing the way that it is doing business. From this point forward, many of the products the company builds will be sold across all markets including in the US and Canada.

One Ford

The Ford Motor Company is a global automotive manufacturer with production facilities scattered across several continents. For many years the company has been building models in Europe and other places that were strikingly different than what they sold in the US and Canada. Small cars with tiny four cylinder engines, diesel motors, hatchbacks, and more.

Small Cars For Canada And The United States

Consumer demand on this side of the Atlantic has long been for larger, more gas thirsty vehicles, but consumer tastes are changing rapidly, so much so that Ford may soon be able to offer a product line up that is the same across the globe. In an expected announcement, Ford told the world last week that the company would be changing its production philosophy to a more unified approach.

Several changes to the Ford line up are planned. At the heart of these changes will be:

• Ford adding new fuel-efficient small cars and crossovers to North American product lineup.
• Six European small vehicles coming to North America from global B-car and C-car platforms.
• Three large truck and SUV plants converting to small cars; retooling begins this December.
• Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup to be almost completely upgraded by end of 2010.
• Ford plans to be the best or among the best in fuel economy with every new product in its segment.
• Hybrid vehicle production and lineup to double in 2009.
• Capacity for North American four-cylinder engines to double by 2011.
• Ford, Lincoln and Mercury confirmed in company’s North American brand portfolio.

Life For Mercury

Notably mentioned is that the Mercury name will live on, quite possibly as Ford’s new “small brand” division. Though Ford itself will sell the compact Fiesta and the Focus, the Ford brand will also continue to sell larger cars, trucks and SUVs. Mercury, however, may shift to small cars only while Lincoln will continue as the Blue Oval’s luxury brand.

“We are transforming Ford’s North American manufacturing operations into a lean, flexible system that is fully competitive with the best in the business,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “We remain committed to matching our capacity with real consumer demand, and we are equipping nearly all of our assembly plants with flexible body shops, ensuring we can respond quickly to changing consumer tastes.

EcoBoost Engines Are Coming Online

Beginning next year will be Ford’s first applications of their new EcoBoost engines. EcoBoost employs turbocharged direct-injection gasoline technology for up to 20% better fuel economy, with up to 15%  fewer CO2 emissions, along with superior driving performance versus larger-displacement engines.

Within the next five years, Ford plans to build more than 1 million vehicles a year worldwide off its global B-car platform and nearly 2 million units worldwide off its global C-car platform. This philosophy, called “One Ford,” will be the driving force for the Ford Motor Company from this point forward.

(Source: Ford Motor Company)