Summary
The cadence of Ford's new and improved products drives the company toward improved competitiveness and financial performance. Now, one of the D3 is showing that an American auto company can begin to compete with the foreign auto makers. Ford management is making the right moves.
Analysis
Ford's improved cadence of new and refreshed models will be a key to its improved competitiveness and financial performance. Foreign, i.e. Asian competitors, have been refreshing models on a three year cycle for many years. The D3, including Ford, made minor, nearly unrecognizable, changes to models that were barely competitive from the start. The result was that the foreign models provided higher customer satisfaction, higher revenues and better profits during their model runs. Ford is gaining momentum in this competitive cadence and the results are showing in improved products, higher customer satisfaction and sales. Ford management, led by CEO Alan Mullaly, is making the company more competitive and, eventually, stronger in the face of a extremely competitive market.
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
