GM and FORD Merger Talks.

[MickyB]

Dunno if it is a repost, but check this out.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/18/news...ion=2006091806

[Kryton]

"As of now, the two companies are not holding talks, and one source says there is a slim chance that anything will come of the situation"
did you actually read the article?
its the U.S.....who cares in the long run?

[MickyB]

Originally Posted by davway

"As of now, the two companies are not holding talks, and one source says there is a slim chance that anything will come of the situation"
did you actually read the article?
its the U.S.....who cares in the long run?

Nah I just thought I would post it without reading it, just for the the fun of it, of course I read it.
I forgot that everything posted in The Pub must be a definite fact, sorry to upset you.
Considering Ford US own Ford AU, and the same for Holden, in the slim chance that it did eventuate it would certainly be an interesting time.

[BaggedSplash]

wait...Ford owns Holden? explain why then that the new Pontiac GTO which is a Holden, has a Chevy motor in it?

i dont see the merger happening

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by BaggedSplash

wait...Ford owns Holden? explain why then that the new Pontiac GTO which is a Holden, has a Chevy motor in it?

i dont see the merger happening

General Motors owns Holden here in Australia. General Motors owns Cheverolet. Sharing resources.

[Scareybear]

Even if they did merge, or have some kind of agreement, the two brands would keep their own identity, brand loyalty is something money can't buy, all they're really interested in is pooling resources, staying competitive.
It won't happen anyway the anti-trust laws in the US will see to that.

[csv8]

CHICAGO (Sept. 18) - Senior executives at General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have discussed a merger or alliance, industry newspaper Automotive News reported on Monday.

Citing several sources familiar with the talks, the paper said it was not clear whether the negotiations will bear fruit.

As of now, the two companies, both struggling with shrinking market shares while restructuring operations, are not holding talks, and one source said there is a slim chance that anything will come of the situation, Automotive News said.

GM and Ford declined to confirm any talks.

"As we've often said, GM officials routinely discuss issues of mutual interest with other automakers," GM spokesman Brian Akre said. "As a policy, we do not confirm or comment publicly on those private discussions, which in many cases never lead anywhere."






Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt said the automaker does not comment on speculation.

On Friday, Ford said it would slash $5 billion in costs and one-third of its work force as it warned its auto business would not make a profit in North America for another three years. It also suspended its dividend and pledged to revamp a vehicle line-up seen as weak by analysts.

However, the No. 2 U.S. automaker ruled out an immediate sale of its Jaguar brand, disappointing investors who wanted Ford to press ahead with asset sales to raise cash, sending shares to their biggest single-day percentage decline in almost four years.

Earlier this month, Ford named Alan Mulally, a former Boeing Co. executive, as chief executive, ending the troubled five-year stint of Bill Ford Jr. as the company's operational head.




GM is in the midst of its own restructuring as it tries to recover from a $10.6 billion loss in 2005.

Turnaround efforts at the world's largest automaker have gained traction this year as 34,400 workers -- about a third of its work force -- have accepted early retirement and buyout offers. GM is also closing 12 plants.

Still, CEO Rick Wagoner is under pressure to show further improvement as GM studies a possible tie-up with Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Renault SA in which Nissan and Renault could buy up to a 20 percent stake in GM.

That deal, urged by GM's largest individual shareholder, billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, has been widely viewed as a means of prodding Wagoner to speed up the company's turnaround efforts.

Last year, GM and Ford agreed to jointly develop a new 6-speed transmission, which is in production in plants at both companies.

09/18/06

[05MkIIFutura]

Yay, thats just what we need to finally kill off the aussie large car - the Falcon and Commodore sharing key components meaning absolutly no innovation or competition.

Toyota Aurion anyone??

[csv8]

No Chrysler 300C SRT.

[merlin]

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

Yay, thats just what we need to finally kill off the aussie large car - the Falcon and Commodore sharing key components meaning absolutly no innovation or competition.

Toyota Aurion anyone??

Maybe it would be the GM-Ford SS or the Ford-GM Commodore XR8?

[Poetic Justice]

It would mean sharing R&D, sharing components but no way would they share models or even remotely resemble each other.

It would be business as usual for Ford Australia and Holden.

[MYVYSS]

Goes to buy LS2 Powered XR8........!!!! LOL

[The Stylist]

As far as I'm concerned it means nothing, the media are having another beat-up to create publicity.

Now where did my coffee go?...

[EF, What else?]

Originally Posted by The Stylist

As far as I'm concerned it means nothing, the media are having another beat-up to create publicity.

Now where did my coffee go?...

It's in your lap

[The Stylist]

Originally Posted by EF, What else?

It's in your lap

No, my hand is usually down there - I think the coffee went all over the computer screen when I read that article.

[uranium_death]

It's poo.

And if it did happen, the value of old Falcons would increase in value as well over time.

The blue oval is the only way for me. Although some Holdens are still nice cars.

[TUF_302]

Wont happen, just wont ever happen!!!

[DJM83]

Cant see it happening but stranger things have

[XR8putts]

They wouldn't have the ordassity.

[MethodX]

Why not?

Business is business, rather they stay viable than to please a small percentage of ppl.

[Poetic Justice]

need to understand the concept of business.

I really don't think the top educated businessmen would have an attitude to say ", we can't merge with Ford because our buyers might think we're weird".

[Smoked]

Cant see it happening at all.

[DanielXR8]

Well when you consider that in places like Australia and no doubt the same happens in the US, that many parts come from the same subcontractor and they are intended for the same purpose, the idea of sharing R&D and just asking the supplier to give both companies the same identical part, makes a heck of a lot of sense.

You reduce R&D costs, get economy of scale and simplify the subcontractors manufacturing, which helps with just in time delivery and cost control.

It could also reduce inventories as one or the other company can stock enough of one item to meet the demand of both companies or if the sharing was significant, they could also share warehouses etc.

The average punter wouldnt have the faintest idea that their car shares parts with a GM vehicle and most wouldnt care. Those that do will pretend they don't know or keep an older car "when they were real *insert car name* *insert Ford or GM here* cars".

I remember replacing a globe on the interior map light on my EL Futura and the plastic housing for the map lights had a Ford and GMH part number on it. Didnt ruin my day in the slightest. One more source of spare parts if I ever needed it, was my view.

When you get down to it, most cars today are designed by one company, with some of that work subcontracted as well, and then built by many companies as sub assemblies that happen to come together at the end of the assembly process to become a Ford or Holden or whatever. It's not like any Ford product has all Ford parts anyway.

Daniel

[csv8]

Daimler Benz Bought Chrysler, Renault bought Nissan. Could happen. Statesman badged as a Fairlane !!!!

[Jason[98.EL]]

if it happens it happens i wont buy a new ford ever (not that i have ) wishing as we speak (to buy a new ford )

but in reality i cant see it happening

jason

[tbearz]

lol merging ford & Gm would be like putting to manure piles together still a pile of crap!!