Trump’s tariffs have already cost Ford $1B; now it’s planning layoffs – NBC News
http://www.autonews.com/article/… – Auto News
The old model for the car business is slowly dying; Ford is smart to invest in autonomous and truck technology, and bring features to an old business that can make it new and (hopefully) profitable.
For many years the automobile business, and its partner “big oil” dictated what we drive, and what features are available. Companies like Tesla have turned that model on it’s ear, and proven people want transportation that is elegant and bundled with features that make it fun to use, without bartering safety features as an option. Even today, less expensive cars have fewer safety options like collision avoidance, blind spot mirrors, etc. etc.
Fords real competition is not the other car companies – they are, sadly, becoming dinosaurs, unless they can adapt. The real competition is disruptive technology that is coming at the market – making today’s cars less desirable, comfortable, and lacking features that integrate with our connected lifestyles.
Top 6 Digital Transformation Trends In The Automotive Industry – Forbes
Fords competition is the Future, not other car companies. The sooner they can shed their commitment to the dealership model, funding oil company profits with bad gas mileage, obsessive love of the internal combustion engine, and holding on to old technology models – THE SOONER THEY CAN MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE AND BECOME COMPETITIVE.
Disclaimer: I own some Ford stock, as well as Tesla. I drive a Nissan (their CEO just got charged with financial misconduct), and will most likely have an electric vehicle as my next car.
Consider reading my article: Can you trust car companies?
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