EU:Ford sees another tough year shaping up in Europe - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Stacy94PGT · 02-28-2005, 17:11

Ford sees another tough year shaping up in Europe

Reuters

GENEVA -- Ford Motor Co. expects tough conditions to prevail in Europe again this year, the head of its European operation told Reuters on Monday.

"We are seeing signs of weakening in the UK. We see absolutely no sign of a recovery in Germany," Ford of Europe CEO Lewis Booth said on the sidelines of the Geneva Motor Show.

He said that without a robust recovery in Germany it would be hard to generate vibrant sales growth in the region.

Ford's European operations returned to profit in 2004 after a radical downsizing and it is counting on new models such as the Ford Focus to fuel growth. It has forecast a 2005 pretax profit of $100 million to $200 million.

Jim Padilla, Ford's chief operating officer, said the U.S company's hybrid car sales are expected to quadruple this year. Last year, the company sold about 5,000 of the a petrol-battery hybrid Escape models, which are marketed in North America. "We're looking for around 20,000 this year," said Padilla. He added that would include 1,000 to 2,000 Mercury Mariners which Ford will begin selling late this year.

Jack Yan · 03-01-2005, 01:12

No surprises. Ford's fortunes will revive once the brand becomes cool again, and when people get sick of the "wanker" brands like BMW. The 3-series is as common as muck, so if Ford can provide good value (as it is doing with the C305 Focus), then it stands a chance against Opel and Volkswagen.

Stacy94PGT · 03-01-2005, 11:50

A journalist stands in front of the Ford Focus ST.

Ford still expects a tough 2005 in Europe

By Michael Smith / Reuters

GENEVA - Ford Motor Co. expects a tough market in Europe this year after its market share dipped in January and February, the U.S. auto maker said on Tuesday.

"I have not got any more confidence, because we have had a couple months of the market being relatively quiet, and that is a concern," Ford of Europe Chairman Lewis Booth told reporters on the sidelines of the Geneva car show.

Ford Europe, which is battling high metal prices and stiff competition, did not wind back forecasts for the year, reiterating targets for net operating profit of $100 million to $200 million in 2005.

However, pressure would remain on costs, Booth said.

"We are expecting this year to be really tough in Europe. We still don't see a recovery in the German market at all," he said, adding Britain was also softer than expected.

"We can't decide whether that is a trend or a temporary blip."

He also said sales in the Turkish market were expected to decline 20-25 percent.

He blamed pressure on high commodity prices and a "free ride" for Japanese competitors making inroads due to favourable currency exchange rates.

He said Ford Europe would focus on costs this year but said there were no job cuts planned after reorganising capacity to be more in line with demand. Ford Europe now operates at full capacity.

Staff reductions would take place through natural attrition, he said.

Booth said high metal prices remained a concern. "I was completely paranoid last year. When I stop being paranoid I should move on," he said.

He would not comment on whether Ford would consider partnering with Italy's Fiat but said the Italian car marker may be a "little bit bruised at the moment".

Fiat settled a deal to dissolve its partnership with General Motors last month.