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Ford/VW In Talks to Develop Vehicles Together


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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.

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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 by bzcat
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 by 7Mary3
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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...

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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.

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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 by jpd80
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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 by rmc523
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