robertlane Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 click here for the article The French have never been so loved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
156n3rd Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 The French have nothing to do with it. I abhor them as much as the next, but think about this. Many BON members are clamoring for Bill Ford to do something. Wouldn't it make sense to talk to another car guy about cars? T-A-L-K. They are not signing anything. They are hob nobbing. They are conferring. For my money, I think there should be an all auto builders summut meeting to find out how to make things better for everyone. We're not talking about opposing armies or political parties. We're talking about getting ideas and suggestions. If you think that would make another company go out of business, wrong. Companies confer on product development all the time. With the way things are going, it couldn't hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemiman Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 If I were going to hob-nob, it wouldn't be with Renault. My first call would be to BMW, a company that can sell every car it can make for whatever price they put on the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 If I were going to hob-nob, it wouldn't be with Renault. My first call would be to BMW, a company that can sell every car it can make for whatever price they put on the window. And BMW would take the call why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnFan Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 because Lincoln's situation is so pathetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingincirclez Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 (edited) because Lincoln's situation is so pathetic. But that's just the problem - What does Ford have that BMW wants? Unlike Ford, which has unsuccessfully tried to support too many "luxury" brands to the very detriment of the one they started with, I doubt BMW sees much value in the Lincoln franchise, or anything else. BMW would be content to let Lincoln die on its own, which means more market for themselves. Now perhaps Ford has trucks and a distribution network, things of value, but there's so much deadweight that I doubt BMW is interested. Unlike Mecedes-Benz, BMW hasn't tried to be all things to all people, so trucks are of little use to them, especially in a declining market for such. Didn't Ford talk with BMW for a while back in the days when DaimlerChrysler was just coming to be? As I recall, the Family wouldn't relinquish control, and that was a non-starter to BMW then. So then Nasser went on a buying spree and thus Ford is where they find themselves today, while BMW remains as strong as they ever were. BMW doesn't need Ford. Edited August 23, 2006 by goingincirclez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one2gamble Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 But that's just the problem - What does Ford have that BMW wants? Unlike Ford, which has unsuccessfully tried to support too many "luxury" brands to the very detriment of the one they started with, I doubt BMW sees much value in the Lincoln franchise, or anything else. BMW would be content to let Lincoln die on its own, which means more market for themselves. Now perhaps Ford has trucks and a distribution network, things of value, but there's so much deadweight that I doubt BMW is interested. Unlike Mecedes-Benz, BMW hasn't tried to be all things to all people, so trucks are of little use to them, especially in a declining market for such. Didn't Ford talk with BMW for a while back in the days when DaimlerChrysler was just coming to be? As I recall, the Family wouldn't relinquish control, and that was a non-starter to BMW then. So then Nasser went on a buying spree and thus Ford is where they find themselves today, while BMW remains as strong as they ever were. BMW doesn't need Ford. neither family would let go of control but lets be clear. Ford wanted to take over BMW, not merge with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingincirclez Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 neither family would let go of control but lets be clear. Ford wanted to take over BMW, not merge with them. Well, to be fair I did say that Ford "talked" with BMW because I couldn't recall if it was about a "merger" or "merger-takeover". So if that's what it was, thanks for setting me straight. At any rate, my point was if there were compelling reasons back then, they are no longer relevant and BMW is in a much stonger position of strength today (at the very least, I doubt Ford could ever get away with uttering the word "takeover" today). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 (edited) And BMW would take the call why? To be fair, the companies have a history of dealing with one another. "English Patient", anyone? Edited August 23, 2006 by Harley Lover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sizzler Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 (edited) Ford has issues with perceived quality, and they want to get involved with Renault?????? LeStang LeStink LePew What could Renault possibly contribute to Ford, with all their Socialist payscale and EU-taxed plants and loooonnng history of shodiness? Heck, revive the Yugo and start building in Yugoslavia. I hear that's actually a good manufacturing enviroment nowadays. Edited August 23, 2006 by Sizzler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OAC_Sparky Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 What could Renault possibly contribute to Ford, with all their Socialist payscale and EU-taxed plants and loooonnng history of shodiness? "Stand next to me, kid. You make me look good." :happy feet: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 Maybe it was to ask him to have the headhunters stop pestering the staff — nobody wants to move to Nashville, got it? The thought occurs that if Nissan USA self-destructs over this, Nissan Japan could always re-introduce the Datsun label . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sizzler Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 "Stand next to me, kid. You make me look good." :happy feet: quoting back at ya: "Jacques Nasser, CEO of Ford Motor Company from 1999 to 2001, is a Lebanese as well. Ghosn considers him to be a close friend." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
156n3rd Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Nasser is old, dead news. Leave it that way. Doesn't Renault sell cars all over Europe and other parts of the world? Yes. Again, talking with someone doesn't mean anything. It can't hurt to see what the other guys have to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertlane Posted August 24, 2006 Author Share Posted August 24, 2006 And BMW would take the call why? Like BMW needs another "Rover" on its hands. Speaking of BMW though, whatever happened to Wolfgang Reitzle? There was word on the street that Ford wanted him back recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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