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As Rivals Flail, Ford Ramps Up Production

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 1, 2009 6:41 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Hoping to profit from its rivals' pain, Ford will ramp up this year's third-quarter production 10% over last year's, in a bid to grab market share from GM and Chrysler as they recover from bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reports. It’ll be Ford’s first production bump in nearly two years. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said a source from Ford, though he added, “No one is going to gift-wrap it for us. You have to deliver the product people want to buy.”

Ford is betting that product is its super profitable F-150 pickup truck. The company’s car production will actually decrease to 150,000, compared to 184,000 last year, while its truck production jumps from 234,000 to 310,000. Ford is essentially gambling that gas prices, which are already creeping back to $3 a gallon in some places, will remain low.

A worker prepares Ford's presentation of new cars at the Shanghai International Auto Show on its opening day, Monday, April 20, 2009 in Shanghai, China.
A worker prepares Ford's presentation of new cars at the Shanghai International Auto Show on its opening day, Monday, April 20, 2009 in Shanghai, China.   (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The company logo shines off the grille of a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO while another SHO sits on display at the Denver Auto Show.
The company logo shines off the grille of a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO while another SHO sits on display at the Denver Auto Show.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Unsold 2008 Mustangs sit at a Ford dealership in Castle Rock, Colo., on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.
Unsold 2008 Mustangs sit at a Ford dealership in Castle Rock, Colo., on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A long line of unsold 2007 F-150 pickup trucks sit outside a Ford agency in the east Denver suburb of Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, July 22, 2007.
A long line of unsold 2007 F-150 pickup trucks sit outside a Ford agency in the east Denver suburb of Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, July 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Harold Kichurchak inserts a piston in the EcoBoost V-6 engine at Ford's Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Brook Park, Ohio Tuesday, May 19, 2009.
Harold Kichurchak inserts a piston in the EcoBoost V-6 engine at Ford's Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Brook Park, Ohio Tuesday, May 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
In this Nov. 2, 2008 file photo, the blue oval logo of Ford Motor Company sits on the crosshatched grille of an unsold 2008 F-150 pickup truck.
In this Nov. 2, 2008 file photo, the blue oval logo of Ford Motor Company sits on the crosshatched grille of an unsold 2008 F-150 pickup truck.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Jun 1, 2009 12:57 PM CDT
The only thing Ford did better than GM and Chrysler was renegotiate their debt prior to the credit crunch. Had they waited like GM and Chrysler they would be in exactly the same position.
cfbailey
Jun 1, 2009 11:58 AM CDT
Thank you Ford...Alan Mulally is doing a GREAT job in terrible circumstances....CEO's like him DESERVE the 8 figure bonuses... He did not bring his company to Congress looking for a multi billion dollar bail out!
Derni
Jun 1, 2009 6:27 AM CDT
Ford is no longer "fix Or Repair daily?"

Ford's survival strikes chord with consumers
MarketWatch

Ford's CEO rises to the occasion
Herald (Everett, Wash.)

Money • US

 
bankruptcy • Ford • auto industry • pickup trucks • Ford Motor Co.

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