ANTAUS Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 https://www.autoblog.com/2018/06/19/ford-vw-discuss-alliance/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 I hope this means that Ford gets an Econoline version of the electric VW Microbus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Seems clear VW would get access to Transit vans. Not sure what Ford would get from VW. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Seems clear VW would get access to Transit vans. Not sure what Ford would get from VW. New diesel exhaust emission control software. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Interesting article in today's Detroit Free Press. One analysis suggests that this would be a convenient way for Ford to exit Europe. Ford would sell their plants to VW. Interesting thought, if anything. https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/06/20/ford-volkswagen/717058002/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92merc Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 I doubt Ford will be totally exiting Europe. I see it more like Ford will be "selling" it's Transit platform to VW. Let them put their own drive-trains in them and sell them. And when Ford does an electrification of the Transit, it'll work with VW on options/requirements VW may need to accomplish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 (edited) VW doesn't need Transit platform. VW has its own Transporter and Crafter vans. But this could mean that they will develop the next gen replacements together. VW previously partnered with Daimler but they broke up when Daimler turned to Renault. Ford had been the only true independent van producer in Europe where Transit Courier, Connect, Custom and the big Transit were all developed in-house. Another possibility is closer collaborate between Ford Otosan and VW Bus & Truck. Ford is missing a medium duty type truck in Europe where MAN and Scania do. And this could also pave the way for Ford to exit South America where VW Commerical is much stronger than Ford. Ford is not going to exit Europe... Unlike GM, Ford has very strong business there. It is the #1 light commercial vehicle brand in Europe and the #1 selling brand in UK. Edited June 20, 2018 by bzcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordowner Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Ford is not going to exit Europe... Unlike GM, Ford has very strong business there. It is the #1 light commercial vehicle brand in Europe and the #1 selling brand in UK. Though if they did leave Europe they wouldn't have to hear the complaints about why Ford gives Europe the good cars. Like the improved Fiesta, the good Foci (not just the wanna be outback) and Fusion Wagons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Though if they did leave Europe they wouldn't have to hear the complaints about why Ford gives Europe the good cars. Eh, they'd have to listen to people complaining about something else. Some people aren't happy unless they're complaining about something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Maybe it's a deal where Ford takes a lead in the design of commercial vehicles While VW will lead on sedans as there are no more Ford sedans in the USA, and it's not worth it to waste engineering talent to design them for a smaller market, when top hatting VW platforms may be easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Ford is not going to exit Europe... Unlike GM, Ford has very strong business there........ Maybe, maybe not. In 2106, Ford of Europe had a record profit of 1.2 billion dollars. In 2017, profits fell 81% to $234 million dollars. Brexit changed everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351cid Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 (edited) I have nothing positive to say about this, so I'll just carry on. Edited June 21, 2018 by 351cid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Mary3 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 (edited) I see a couple of different scenarios. First, I don't see this as part of an exit strategy for Ford in Europe. This deal is with VW's truck unit, which is in the process of being spun off from VW: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-trucks/volkswagen-truck-bus-to-be-renamed-traton-idUSKBN1JG1E9 I think one possibility is a joint venture to produce vans. VW had partnered with Daimler for many years in Europe to produce vans, they may want nothing more than a new partner. Keep in mind light commercial trucks in Europe are pretty much a commodity now. All the vehicles are very similar and most are built and sold by joint ventures and marketed under multiple nameplates. Ford is sort of an 'odd man out' going it alone, though they are the #1 producer. It can't be too profitable. Another possibility is that it is an exit strategy for South America and possibly Ford's joint venture in Turkey. There have been rumors Ford is about to exit Brazil, Ford's truck business there may be attractive to VW's truck unit. Ford Otosan is a pretty small regional operation and probably would greatly benefit from a major truck manufacturer partner like VW's truck unit. I think this scenario is a little more likely as the cooperation between Ford and VW seems to be at this point limited to commercial vehicles. Edited June 21, 2018 by 7Mary3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DequindreToo Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Could Ford provide commercial vans in exchange for sedans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Could Ford provide commercial vans in exchange for sedans? They don't need to do that. They still have competitive sedans, they're just planning on replacing them with more profitable CUVs and "sedans on stilts" in North America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Developing commercial vans with VW would split the costs in half for Ford, that's a good saving considering that both partners were going t develop their own vans anyway... JV vans and power trains also opens the door to greater savings from suppliers and joint production facilities would reduce costs even further... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Mary3 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Developing commercial vans with VW would split the costs in half for Ford, that's a good saving considering that both partners were going t develop their own vans anyway... JV vans and power trains also opens the door to greater savings from suppliers and joint production facilities would reduce costs even further... Exactly. And since the competition is already doing it that way it just puts more pressure on Ford to do the same. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 (edited) Exactly. And since the competition is already doing it that way it just puts more pressure on Ford to do the same. Yes, PSA acquiring Opel / Vauxhall now gives it more access to German and UK buyers, especially if/when it starts broadening Commercial vehicle sales channels. Ford and VW have worked together before to create the gen 1 Galaxy before switching it to EUCD and CD4 after that. Edited June 21, 2018 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Seems clear VW would get access to Transit vans. Not sure what Ford would get from VW. I don't see anything positive about this for Ford. Would love to know what suit in Dearborn came up with this plan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 I don't see anything positive about this for Ford. Would love to know what suit in Dearborn came up with this plan. Im struggling with it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 (edited) I don't see anything positive about this for Ford. Would love to know what suit in Dearborn came up with this plan. Does it provide Ford access to products in markets above Class 6 and 7 that Ford's currently in? So VW benefits from Ford vans, while Ford benefits in larger trucks? Edited June 21, 2018 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Well we have ZERO info other than something with vans so it's hard to say whether it's a good deal for Ford or not. They wouldn't be doing it if there wasn't some benefit to Ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevensecondsuv Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 The only way I could think of to screw up Ford's sedan offerings strategy more than it already is would be letting VW get involved. Nobody, absolutely nobody, wants a passat with a blue oval on the hood. Heck - few even want one with a VW emblem on the hood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 It's also possible that VM approached Ford about vans and they haven't yet figured out what (if anything) Ford wants from VM. Maybe it's just a joint venture on vans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 It's also possible that VM approached Ford about vans and they haven't yet figured out what (if anything) Ford wants from VM. Maybe it's just a joint venture on vans. Other than saving on development costs, I don't see how that's a favorable agreement for Ford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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