MarkFive Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Ka for US Market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 It should be a huge hit in Boston....(in a heavy boston accent) "Hey John...go get the Ka so we can leave" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 KA is struggling to sell 2,000 a month in Europe and we are forced in driving small cars by high taxes on fuels, l can't see Ford selling many at all Stateside. Might make a nice golf cart though, l know the Americans like their golf they even managed to beat us this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkFive Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 KA is struggling to sell 2,000 a month in Europe and we are forced in driving small cars by high taxes on fuels, l can't see Ford selling many at all Stateside. Might make a nice golf cart though, l know the Americans like their golf they even managed to beat us this year. It will do very well here. This is the land of Honda and Toyota and there hasn't been anything from Ford to compete as of yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron W. Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Might make a nice golf cart though, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 It will do very well here. This is the land of Honda and Toyota and there hasn't been anything from Ford to compete as of yet. I think the Fiesta will sort Toyota & Honda out in the US, the Ka is not selling very well at all in Europe so what makes you think it would sell better in the US when our gasoline is costs over twice as much. Ka's 2000 sales in Europe did not have much impact on Honda and Toyota in Europe, but diesel engines do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I'm glad to hear that Ford is reconsidering the Ka for the U.S. Presuming it could be built on the same line as the Fiesta, it would not require tremendous incremental investment for Ford, yet its incremental sales could help fill out the capacity of the Fiesta plant in Mexico. Put another way, its sales numbers wouldn't have to be huge to pay for itself. It also gives Ford a credible competitor to Toyota and Honda in that size class - which I consider important from a consumer visability perspective; Ford MUST show itself to be a true competitor to Toyota and Honda in the eyes of the average consumer. That's how they will rebuild their image over the course of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkFive Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 (edited) I think the Fiesta will sort Toyota & Honda out in the US, the Ka is not selling very well at all in Europe so what makes you think it would sell better in the US when our gasoline is costs over twice as much. Are you talking about the existing Ka? Hasn't the Ka been on the market since 1996? It was one of the first Ford cars to have the New Edge design originally pioneered by Jack Telnak. That design style is long gone now. NA will get the new model thankfully. In Europe you have several models to choose from in the Ka's class. We have very few. With the shift to smaller cars it will capture some of the increasing demand. What are the total sales for that class of automobile? Edited October 6, 2008 by MarkFive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papilgee4evaeva Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 It also gives Ford a credible competitor to Toyota and Honda in that size class Honda and Toyota have absolutely nothing in that size class though. The Ka will slot below the Fiesta, which will compete with the Fit, Yaris, Versa, Aveo, etc. I don't think anyone actually sells an A-car in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkFive Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Honda and Toyota have absolutely nothing in that size class though. The Ka will slot below the Fiesta, which will compete with the Fit, Yaris, Versa, Aveo, etc. I don't think anyone actually sells an A-car in the US. Is the Smart car A-class? Maybe GM will reconsider bringing the Chevrolet Beat here as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papilgee4evaeva Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Is the Smart car A-class? Maybe GM will reconsider bringing the Chevrolet Beat here as a result. The smart is actually below A-class, believe it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Are you talking about the existing Ka? Hasn't the Ka been on the market since 1996? It was one of the first Ford cars to have the New Edge design originally pioneered by Jack Telnak. That design style is long gone now. NA will get the new model thankfully. In Europe you have several models to choose from in the Ka's class. We have very few. With the shift to smaller cars it will capture some of the increasing demand. What are the total sales for that class of automobile? Ka should make about 43,000 this year in Europe Old Fiesta sold just over 300,000 in 2007 it will be lower than that this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Honda and Toyota have absolutely nothing in that size class though. The Ka will slot below the Fiesta, which will compete with the Fit, Yaris, Versa, Aveo, etc. I don't think anyone actually sells an A-car in the US. Not yet. I don't think it would be a stretch to think that Toyota and Honda might be planning to bring product in that class to the U.S. This could be an opportunity for Ford to have a product arrive before Toyota and Honda. That would be a nice change, and again, good image building for the average consumer. And, for the reasons I mentioned, would be a move with little risk for Ford in terms of cost. I hope they pull this trigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battyr Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 (edited) Why not. If they can import the Ka first, then when they start selling the Fiesta, the Fiesta can be marketed as a larger, more expensive and higher quality car rather than Fords smallest car. They might even get what price for the Fiesta that they are asking for. If the Ka is a flop, then they can just stop selling it. Edited October 6, 2008 by battyr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericgrau Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 The car may sell ok. There are alot of commuters that just need basic cheap transportation from home to work. I think that I would rather drive a brand new Ka instead of an old used Geo Metro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 The smart is actually below A-class, believe it or not. I've always felt the Smart car had no class myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobu37 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 There are rumors that Fiat wants to bring their 500 to the U.S. And since the KA and the 500 have the same underpinnings the theory is that they would use the same plant for production. Hopefully, between the two of them there would be enough volume to justify a shift down at the Fiesta plant in Mexico. It is doubtful that these cars could be produced on U.S. soil profitably. If I am not mistaken the KA is currently sold in South America but I don't know if production is down there already or not. I doubt they import them from Europe. With gas just days away from falling below $3.00 a gallon here this whole conversation may be a mute point. At least until late February of next year when the inventories will be manipulated by big oil to drive prices up not to mention the impending production cuts over in the Middle East. And judging by the incredible increase in traffic on the interstate down here this past weekend we Americans seem intent on pushing oil prices back up. So maybe this conversation isn't a mute point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SVT_MAN Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 It should be a huge hit in Boston....(in a heavy boston accent) "Hey John...go get the Ka so we can leave" That was so bad, it was good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnFan Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Can Ford really sell the Ka in the US? Where an F350 is something you see almost everyday? A person in there has no chance of survival if hit by a Light/Medium Truck/SUV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one2gamble Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 the new KA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang_sallad Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 KA is struggling to sell 2,000 a month in Europe and we are forced in driving small cars by high taxes on fuels, l can't see Ford selling many at all Stateside. Might make a nice golf cart though, l know the Americans like their golf they even managed to beat us this year. 2000 a month in it's 12th year of production ain't half bad if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman100 Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 It could sell, as our standard of living in this country will drop in order to pay off the huge amount of personal, corporate, and governmental debts. We will be driving the crackerboxes one thinks of when thinking of a 3rd world country, and China, the Middle East, etc. will drive what we used to be able to afford. Of course, with all the used cars that will be out there, it might take a few years to reduce supply first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibinubu12 Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 It could sell, as our standard of living in this country will drop in order to pay off the huge amount of personal, corporate, and governmental debts. We will be driving the crackerboxes one thinks of when thinking of a 3rd world country, and China, the Middle East, etc. will drive what we used to be able to afford. Of course, with all the used cars that will be out there, it might take a few years to reduce supply first. [rant] I could see that. It wouldn't be that bad really, sometimes I think I'm the only one around that actually lives within their means. If you can't pay cash for a car, don't buy new. If you can't pay cash for a laptop, you don't need a computer. If you've got one kid, that doesn't mean you need a Grand Caravan SXT. A Focus would work the same for less cash, and my friends' parents can't understand that, because "every mom has a minivan". [\rant] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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