GM, Ford Executives Discussed Possibility of Merger

[Hitec.Redneck]

Interesting. .



Report: GM, Ford Executives Discussed Possibility of Merger



Monday , September 18, 2006



NEW YORK — Senior executives at General Motors Corp. (GM) and Ford Motor Co. (F) have discussed a merger or alliance, industry newspaper Automotive News reported on Monday.



Citing several sources familiar with the talks, the paper said it is not clear whether the negotiations will bear fruit.



As of now, the two companies are not holding talks, and one source says there is a slim chance that anything will come of the situation, Automotive News said.



GM and Ford were not immediately available for comment.

 

[kbond]

wow can you imagine if something where to come of it? We'd have the Dura-stroke and the cor-stang. On a serious note, sure would be nice if they just partnered in designing cars that run on alternative fuels or even just found ways for SUV's to get 50mpg.

 

[Joe G.]

What would the Chevy and Ford boys do if they could not bad mouth each other?

 

[lmills]

I can see some of the diehard guys losing there minds over this. :-laf

 

[klenger]

Maybe Toyata will buy them both.

 

[KCJackson]

An F350 with the Duramax/Allison combo would be a tough truck to beat.

 

[Dieselnut59]

You can be GUARANFRIGGINTEED that their diesel offering would be in the V-8 format, especially since they each took an engine company who, other than their pickup offerings, each only builds inline engines and "demanded" the V-8 desigen of them.

I am SO glad the Cummins sells itself. I am glad we are partnered with a company (Daimler) who cares about diesel engines and has know-how in the field of everything from cars and SUV's to medium and heavy trucks, all available with diesel power.

screw a hybrid, screw a "E85" methanol. Diesel and biodiesel are where it is at. All this country needs is the fuel and emission standards of Europe, NOT kommiphornia!

 

[EMD-Run8]

WOW-------never thought I'd hear that news! Me thinks the 6. 7+6spd auto will be the dog to beat... ... ... ..... heh heh

 

[JFaulkner]

Maybe Toyota will buy them both.

Kleenex tissues would have to triple their current production numbers to keep up with all the UAW members tears if that ever happened. :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[rbattelle]

Ford is pretty weak at the moment... imagine if GM just bought them outright? That would instantly eliminate the possibility of Toyota becoming the world's largest automaker.



I can only assume that overnight all Ford trucks would get IFS and start riding like cars.



Ryan

 

[JHerr]

I am quite doubtful about the viability of the merger. I don't think either side's egos will ever allow a merger to happen. Who gets the power? Who eats crow?



While a merger may be very positive in some respects, it leaves an infinite number of questions hanging out there because these companies are so big. Should the dealer organizations be integrated? If so, how? If not, isn't it terribly costly, redundant, and confusing to the consumer? Who designs which vehicles? Should platforms be shared?



I am currently reading David Halberstam's 1986 book, "The Reckoning". It compares and contrasts Ford and Nissan from WWII to the 1980's. A very well-researched, insightful look at both Detroit and Tokyo. Twenty years later, I doubt much has changed... other than market share.

 

[JFaulkner]

What I find somewhat amusing is if a large corp. can lay off thousands of "white collar" employees and still manage to function day to day... . well then I guess you didn't need them in the first place. The movie Office Space comes to mind. . "what is it that you actually do here?"

 

[Cowpunk]

So the real question would be what piece of crap V-8 diesel would come of the merger? The Power-Max or the Durastroke? :-laf.

 

[rbattelle]

What I find somewhat amusing is if a large corp. can lay off thousands of "white collar" employees and still manage to function day to day... . well then I guess you didn't need them in the first place.

"The rest of the story" is that the remaining white-collar workers, however few, are expected to pick up the slack. That means even longer hours (many white collar workers put in more than 60 hours per week), more time away from family on business trips, and more pressure to perform, all for the same salary.



But hardly anyone ever comments about that... everyone hates the "rich".



Ryan

 

[KBennett]

Cummins owns Ford.

 

[BigEasy]

An F350 with the Duramax/Allison combo would be a tough truck to beat.

An F350 with a Cummins/Allison combo would be even tougher to beat!!!

 

[Dieselnut59]

"The rest of the story" is that the remaining white-collar workers, however few, are expected to pick up the slack. That means even longer hours (many white collar workers put in more than 60 hours per week), more time away from family on business trips, and more pressure to perform, all for the same salary.



But hardly anyone ever comments about that... everyone hates the "rich".



Ryan

I always love hearing about the "Evil rich". My comment is always: How many people do you know who are employed by a poor person? If the "rich" are so "evil", why are we supporting the "poor"???

 

[HBarlow]

Maybe Toyata will buy them both.

Ken,



Why would Toyota want to buy either of them? To underwrite their huge unfunded healthcare and pension obligations?



Harvey

 

[mhenon]

Now we're going to have to hear it from the Chevy guy's: "GM owns Cummins ya know".

Mike

 

[mhenon]

An F350 with a Cummins/Allison combo would be even tougher to beat!!!

I would be all over an F-350 with that combo!

Mike