Is Mazda the solution to Ford's troubles?

[mikeyb]

David Kiley of Business Week reports that troubled Ford Motor Co. may literally have its salvation within a phone call (or e-mail) in the form of Mazda Motor Co. Ford has 37% controlling interest in the Japanese automaker.

Kiley argues that Mazda has all the right ingredients for success: interesting, innovative designs; products that appeal to the desirable youth-market; and a consistent branding in its (in)famous 'zoom-zoom-zoom' tagline. Virtually all of Mazda's recent products - the 3, the 5, and the famous MX-5, are hits not only in the important North American market, but around the world, as well. (Pictured is the new seven-passenger CX-9) Mark Fields even said that Mazda is "a model for what we have to do at Ford."

What's your thoughts about Kiley's argument? Fire back in Comments.

[Source: Business Week]

article:http://www.businessweek.com/autos/c...27.htm?chan=autos_autos index page_autos lede

 

[dmitrik4]

i'm happy that ford has let mazda be mazda.

they might do well to "mazda-ize" ford a little. honestly, in contrast to GM, ford's products generally aren't bad in themselves; their execution is what's lacking. good design can easily be held back by crappy parts and assembly.

 

[tsunami]

yeah as far as domestics go diamlar/chrysler got off to a huge lead and now ford and gm either have to catch the **** up or (as GM is finding) make some serious cuts and pray for the gvt to help your ass' out of a hole... ford is on the edge imo and could swing up or it could swing down... i think their new models are a step in the right direction the fusion isn't nasty, and the focus is what it is if they could name it something different and sell the euro focus here for a profit it could help... i think the zephyr was a good idea they just priced it way to high, and the lincoln line is in need of a makeover... caddy (prob gm's only money maker besides the suv's) did it and look at them now. ford is making the right moves i just hope they work for them, hate to see another domestic brand go down... its only a matter of time before gm starts to sell some other things off the 14billion isn't going to last long....