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Ford Motor Company Posts a Profit

By Sanford | November 2, 2009

Ford Motor Company Announced today that it posted a profit. Even its domestic car division was profitable. Among the reasons cited was the Cash for Clunks Program. People still want and need roomy cars. They don’t need $100 fill-ups.

Ford able to produce and get to market hybrid crossover vehicles such as the Escape in time to capitalize of both high gas prices and the Cash for Clunker Program. GM is still working on the Volt and contenting itself with flex-fuel cars. How did Ford pull this off?

Bill Ford pushed for environmentally friendly cars for which he received stiff opposition due to costs and the public’s desire for big SUVs. The program was shelved, and it hurt Bill Ford’s career within Ford. I wonder if the work that Ford Motor Company made during that eco-friendly era enable Ford better enable to bring these hybrids to market quickly. I also wonder if Bill Ford might not be a bit of visionary like his great-grandfather, Henry Ford. Henry Ford, for all his faults, brought us the assembly line, which made cars available to the masses, and increased pay to reduce absenteeism. Those were unheard of and revolutionary for the time. Only Henry didn’t have to worry about reporting quarterly earnings or working with senior execs and board members who just wanted to play it safely, make the numbers, and follow the pack. Henry was a leader. So was Bill, only Ford Motor Company went public in 1956. Bill deserves credit for his vision and vindication for his convictions.

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