Mark Fields
Mark Fields
approach customers dealer earn forward good point products quality represent shave strong thinking value view
Our approach is not thinking how much do we shave dealer margins. Our approach is that as we come up with our products going forward that they have a strong point of view in the marketplace, that they represent good value and good quality to customers so that dealers can earn a good (margin) on them.
add auto gas growth higher interest last prices rates sales selling slower somewhat volatile
Somewhat slower (economic) growth, higher interest rates and volatile gas prices all add up to auto sales that probably won't outshine last year's selling rate in this new year.
business decision deeply easy families ford impact mindful move necessary plant production steps
A decision to end production at a plant is not an easy one, and I'm deeply mindful of the impact this decision has on Ford employees, families and communities. Unfortunately, these are necessary steps we must take to move the business forward.
agenda asked best bill brand brightest business emotional ford ground group hit innovative jim knows leaders north operation people product running strong team turn wins work
I asked Bill Ford and Jim Padilla for not only the best and the brightest leaders in our company, but for the kind of people who can work as one team on one agenda. That agenda is to turn around our North American operation with a team that knows how to win, an innovative product line-up that wins in the marketplace and a brand that has strong emotional appeal. We now have in place an outstanding group of leaders in The Americas, and they already have hit the ground running to turn the business around.
achieve capacity closing facilities including seven
To achieve the right capacity at this level, we are closing 14 facilities by 2012, including seven vehicle-assembly plants.
cars compelling hot question
There is no question that crossovers are where we need to be, and that they have to be as hot and compelling as cars like our Mustang.
choose pick
We have to pick and choose where we want to compete. The idea you have to be in all the segments, that's an old way of thinking.
arts center cultural diverse goals groups progress promoted realize served
We were making significant progress to realize the goals set some 20 years ago for an arts center that promoted the region's cultural groups and served a diverse community.
continue incentives path
We can't continue on the same path of incentives our competitors have introduced.
amount announcing detail share
We're announcing the appropriate amount of detail we can share with you today.
hitting lower objective sticking
We are still sticking to our objective of hitting the lower end of the milestone.
date return
We are not going to put a date on when Jaguar will return to profitability.
actual bring cap cars clear fusion higher introduce line margins prices pricing protect proves sticker success trucks
We started introducing clear pricing two years ago. The success of Mustang and Fusion proves that it works. We will bring sticker prices more in line with actual transaction prices and cap 'cash on the hood' rebates as we introduce new cars and trucks into the marketplace. It will protect our margins and consumers, too, through higher resale values.
flexible investment number production reducing thanks
We are reducing the number of plants, not necessarily production capacity, thanks to our investment in flexible manufacturing.