How many "small" cars do they sell? Fiesta and Focus?
Why do we care?
stan wrote: How many "small" cars do they sell? Fiesta and Focus?
Yes (and C-Maxes too). Though they already build all the Ford Fusions in Mexico as well... so this would be all small cars and all mid sizes too. But they'll still build big things here. Like trucks. right?
except the really big trucks.. like the commercial f650's and f750's. those are built in mexico too.
I dunno. I think it is better to buy American made cars, like Toyota, Honduh, BMW and Mercedes.
I think I'm more upset that the ass holes at USA Today have their website automatically play a video with the volume maxed without me clicking on anything.
xflowgolf wrote:stan wrote: How many "small" cars do they sell? Fiesta and Focus?Yes (and C-Maxes too). Though they already build all the Ford Fusions in Mexico as well... so this would be all small cars and all mid sizes too. But they'll still build big things here. Like trucks. right? except the really big trucks.. like the commercial f650's and f750's. those are built in mexico too.
so...Mustangs too? That just doesn't seem right somehow...
Dr. Hess wrote: I dunno. I think it is better to buy American made cars, like Toyota, Honduh, BMW and Mercedes.
And Hyundai and Kia. Is it bad that the "imports" build more cars in the US than the "domestics"?
Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Why do we care?
Well paying middle class jobs leaving the country?
In reply to stan:
Mustang is built in Michigan
Make Mexico Great Again?
(sorry)
Some time ago Ford said they were moving the Fiesta out of Cuautitlan . Many took it to mean out of Mexico while it may mean to the old Escort plant in, I forget the name, begins with T.
Ford probably sells a tons of "small cars" in Mexico and South America I'd guess (and probably very few trucks and larger cars) so probably makes sense in that manner. IDK. My Subaru was built in Japan, My Toyota was built in the USA, and our old VW was built in Mexico. This is global commerce. With most cars assembled predominantly by machines these days, I'm not sure it really matters all that much where geographically they're built. I suspect many/most of the parts for these Fords will be made in the US and just shipped down there for assembly, IDK.
I'm probably a bit surprised they still make small cars in the States.
Not sure how I feel about this.
But some of you guys are funny. Bitch and moan to high heaven about unions. But the only way for some of the companies out of them is to move to Mexico, which is also bad. No win.
alfadriver wrote: Not sure how I feel about this. But some of you guys are funny. Bitch and moan to high heaven about unions. But the only way for some of the companies out of them is to move to Mexico, which is also bad. No win.
QFT
z31maniac wrote:Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Why do we care?Well paying middle class jobs leaving the country?
Really? Most of the union guys I've met on shop floors were retiring and young folks don't really want the work.
Did you actually read the article? It said ford isn't cutting jobs here. Just moving production lines.
If you look at car market in Mexico, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't buy as many or possibly more small cars than the US. IT would be less to ship those there. Also, from what I understand, they are trying to make room for potentially a return of the ranger.
The article is kind of useless because it gives absolutely no information. What are they calling small cars? Is it the Fiesta, Focus, CMAX and Escape?
Regardless of if Ford makes money on these cars or not, the real damage is done to the surrounding infrastructure that kept the plant running.
The second and third tier suppliers to the plant are done LOT of jobs there. The landlords to the second and third tier suppliers are done The local tax infrastructure takes a hit especially if they tear down the plant to same on taxes. The people who work in the plants could care less if Ford makes $$$ on the cars they build, they need a paycheck.
Putting context to this, it all does not matter how Ford management feels about things; they might have been happy to break even and enjoy the national support of the workers. The reality is that the auto industry is global with very little national protectionism for the home team. If a manufacturer doesn't win the race to the bottom for cost control at any cost, they will be beat out by the slut next door who will be giving it away.
In reply to NOHOME:
The plants are staying open, just shifting what they are making. No jobs are being lost in the US. The investments in plants located in the US still is going to happen.
Again, it's interesting to note that people want cheap cars, so for many cars, that means paying wages of 2nd world countries. US OEM's are stuck with the UAW and CAW, and many here seem to be quite hostile to them. But when OEM's make moves to reduce labor costs- it's just as evil. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
edit- maybe this Free Press article is clearer- http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2016/09/14/mexico-ford-shiftng-us-car-production-mexico/90355146/
z31maniac wrote:Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Why do we care?Well paying middle class jobs leaving the country?
Not specific to this case but:
My belief is that whenever a certain type of job leaves, it opens american workers up to do things that are more rewarding and productive (and usually pay better too). Where we tend to struggle is preparing those workers for the shift.
Examples:
Fueled by Caffeine wrote:z31maniac wrote:Really? Most of the union guys I've met on shop floors were retiring and young folks don't really want the work.Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Why do we care?Well paying middle class jobs leaving the country?
Yes. The young people don't want work. That's very much a real thing happening for sure. Old dudes that have been on the shop floor for x number of decades are really hustling for new jobs and the young folks are just playing Pokemon all day long.
I read an article several years ago about production of the Focus when I had a ZX3. The Sedans and Wagons were built in the US and the ZX3's were built in Mexico. The ZX3's had fewer recalls and warranty repairs, but the article said it was because they were assembled in a newer, mostly automated assembly line. It stated that Ford couldn't use the automated system in the US because the unions wouldn't allow it.
Mexican auto worker labor rate $3.29 Us $23.83, Canada $19.13, China $5.19. Give it a few years Us will not be making cars. I still wonder what keeps Chinese cars out of the US, and when that agreement expires. You can thank the "Chicken Tax" for keeping US pick up production.
alfadriver wrote: Again, it's interesting to note that people want cheap cars, so for many cars, that means paying wages of 2nd world countries. US OEM's are stuck with the UAW and CAW, and many here seem to be quite hostile to them. But when OEM's make moves to reduce labor costs- it's just as evil. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. edit- maybe this Free Press article is clearer- http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2016/09/14/mexico-ford-shiftng-us-car-production-mexico/90355146/
Yeah, people want cheap cars, but it doesn't seem like this move is going to decrease prices. Ford didn't say they were doing this to keep the cars affordable. They're doing it to increase profits by decreasing the labor costs. To me, that signals same purchase price for the consumer, just reduced costs for the supplier. Ford and Wall Street win, but the consumer probably won't notice any difference. I'd guess that if Ford said they were moving production to a cheaper location outside of the US, but they'd drop the price of the cars accordingly, then there would be far fewer people upset.
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