Ford Motor Company this morning announced that it will further cut production levels of its vehicles, citing soaring gas prices as consumers shift away from large trucks and SUVs.Ford will now be producing 690,000 vehicles for the remainder of the second quarter. That's down 20,000 units from its previous estimate - which was already a reduced number - and 15% below Q2 of last year.
Production levels for 3Q08 will fall to between 510-540,000 units, down about 15-20% the same period last year, and between 590-630,000 units in 3Q08 - down 2-8% from 4Q07.
While the Blue Oval will be producing fewer units overall, the company will increase production of cars and cross-overs like the Focus, Edge and Escape, Mercury Milan and Mariner, and Lincoln MKZ and MKX. Production of trucks and SUVs will drop sharply.
Ford also said it is planning further manufacturing capacity realignments, as it accelerates the introduction of more fuel-efficient small cars and crossovers.
Here's a thought for Sirius:
While fuel prices are obviously top-of-mind for consumers, why not run an ad campaign highlighting Sirius Travel Link? The ability to see nearby gas stations sorted by price and distance from over 120,000 locations nationwide is pretty noteworthy.
[AutoBlog]
Ryan wrote, "Here's a thought for Sirius:
While fuel prices are obviously top-of-mind for consumers, why not run an ad campaign highlighting Sirius Travel Link? The ability to see nearby gas stations sorted by price and distance from over 120,000 locations nationwide is pretty noteworthy."
Great idea, Ryan!
Which is why it almost certainly won't happen!! ;-)
Ads aren't worth their cost while this is undecided. After the FCC pulls its thumb out, absolutely!
More cars sitting on dealer lots unsold = more quality SIRI subscriber numbers
TVGenius, they get paid once the car is sold for the months it was sitting on the lot, what is the big deal with how they count it? How else are they supposed to put how they made the money they get from those?
"More cars sitting on dealer lots unsold = more quality SIRI subscriber numbers"
CONTENT IS KING!
"TVGenius, they get paid once the car is sold for the months it was sitting on the lot, what is the big deal with how they count it?"
Because a huge percentage of Sirius subscribers dont choose Sirius. Its given to them.
And Siriots love to scream "CONTENT IS KING". Its all bullshit.
Notice three guys standing around in the background? Ford is paying a fortune for these worthless bums in benefits and pensions. THAT is why the auto industry if failing.
>>>"TVGenius, they get paid once the car is sold for the months it was sitting on the lot, what >>>is the big deal with how they count it?"
>>>Because a huge percentage of Sirius subscribers dont choose Sirius. Its given to them.
>>>And Siriots love to scream "CONTENT IS KING". Its all bullshit.
Oh and somehow the people that have XM from their car purchase chose to have it. I ordered my GMC Truck WITHOUT XM. Yes, I got $200 taken off the purchase price but low and behold they still installed XM. For that 3months that I had XM was I considered a subscriber? YES. If I wasn't way are cancellations so high for both companies?
"For that 3months that I had XM was I considered a subscriber?"
Nope.
But those five months a Ford sits on the lot unsold, it's counted as a subscriber. And with 2 listeners to boot.
And it's not just those three guys in the background, you're also paying the 40 guys before them. The big 3 american companies average something like $6000-8000 of each car's price as paying benefits for people who DO NOT work for them anymore. For Toyota, it's barely over $1000.
TVidiot:
This new data represents 32 consecutive months that Sirius has garnered a larger NPD share than XM. The consumer has a choice at retail. How do you explain that?
http://siriusbuzz.com/satellite-radio-retail-a-mixed-bag-for-april.php
Scott writes, "Because a huge percentage of Sirius subscribers dont choose Sirius. Its given to them."
Yep, that's Sirius...King of the OEM installs. If only XM could have made some of those OEM deals...what minor percentage of those XM subs are OEM, Scott?
"For that 3months that I had XM was I considered a subscriber?"
Nope.
Wow than that really sucks to be XM. That means that the people who choose to buy SatRad, buy XM and then decide they do not like it. Now we know where that high turn over really comes from.
Scott writes, "Because a huge percentage of Sirius subscribers dont choose Sirius. Its given to them."
Wow and here XM has, GM, Toyota and the like and all the XM fanboys says their OEM dealers are better.
This sub counting game is getting silly. We know they are counted differently and unless you adjust XM up to over 10 Million, or take 11% off the Sirius number you are not comparing the same thing.
I like the XM counting method since I don't think a car on a dealer lot should count. Ryan, I know you say that since Sirius gets revenue they should count it, but let's remember they paid the automaker a bounty to install the radio. If I pay you $ 500.00 and then you pay me $ 6.00 per month, who's really ahead here ? (Face it, the automakers are NOT losing money on the deal)