Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Co., emailed the Ford team on Friday night “a message on the U.S. Election” as protesters gathered in Detroit and tensions nationally ran high over the presidential election. Ford, 63, is known to send periodic messages when he feels such communication is appropriate. The outcome of the 2020 election remained uncertain though polls… Continue reading Internal memo from Bill Ford offers reassurance, ‘no matter who is running the country’
Author: Detroit Free Press Online
Ford issues safety alert for 375,200 Ford Explorers with defect tied to 13 accidents
Select 2013-2017 Ford Explorers have a problem that diminishes steering control and is related to at least 13 reported accidents and six injuries, Ford announced on Wednesday. The company has issued a new safety recall for 375,200 vehicles in North America and Canada to fix a situation related to a previous recall. Ford said some Explorers registered in places… Continue reading Ford issues safety alert for 375,200 Ford Explorers with defect tied to 13 accidents
Ford exec reveals company has no plans to make all-electric Super Duty pickup trucks
Ford Motor Co. does not intend to build all-electric Super Duty pickup trucks, a top Ford executive told industry analysts Monday. “At the moment, we do not have any plans to go into heavy duty with battery-electric vehicles,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, Americas and International Markets Group, during a forum hosted by Dan Levy of Credit Suisse. The bestselling… Continue reading Ford exec reveals company has no plans to make all-electric Super Duty pickup trucks
Fiat Chrysler CEO says Ram will offer electric pickup
Get ready for an electric Ram pickup. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Mike Manley confirmed on Wednesday that Ram will join the rush to produce an electric truck, an area that promises robust competition with Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Rivian and Lordstown Motors already planning to launch their own models. Manley didn’t provide any details, but… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler CEO says Ram will offer electric pickup
Ford wage, benefits fuel union buzz at Honda, Toyota, says Unifor leader
Jerry Dias has his eye on Honda and Toyota now. The president of Unifor, the union representing Detroit Three autoworkers in Canada, said contract talks with Ford Motor Co. went so well that nonunion workers have begun making inquiries, wondering if the time has come to join. The Ford deal announced Sept. 28 included a $1.5 billion (U.S.) investment… Continue reading Ford wage, benefits fuel union buzz at Honda, Toyota, says Unifor leader
Appeals court: Ford committed fraud by selling defective Super Duty trucks
The owner of a 2006 Ford F-350 argued for years that Ford Motor Co. sold Super Duty trucks with defective 6.0L diesel engines to thousands of unsuspecting buyers and then concealed the known problems, saddling customers with repair bills and exposing them to engine failure. Now an appeals court has agreed with Charles Brian Margeson, 41, of Torrance, California. He is… Continue reading Appeals court: Ford committed fraud by selling defective Super Duty trucks
Lawsuit seeks millions from GM for cracked wheels on pricey Corvettes
After working 40 years in Michigan government, Vanessa Bishop Diggs retired to the warmth of Savannah, Georgia, in 2016 to enjoy “the moss hanging off the trees, the architecture, the food, the culture and the music,” she said. By May 2019, Diggs, 66, had saved $97,000 to buy the car of her dreams: the high-end performance 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 sports car, in… Continue reading Lawsuit seeks millions from GM for cracked wheels on pricey Corvettes
Amid job cuts, Ford workers get merit pay delayed by coronavirus
Ford Motor Co. plans to “be applying merit pay increases, delayed early in the pandemic, in October,” a company official confirmed to the Free Press. T.R. Reid, Ford spokesman, declined to say how many workers would receive the increase or the size of merit pay. “Merit pay increases vary by person, based on achievement of objectives.… Continue reading Amid job cuts, Ford workers get merit pay delayed by coronavirus
GM, Nikola renegotiate as Nikola makes more leadership changes
General Motors is seeking a higher equity stake in Nikola Corp. in return for sharing its fuel cell and battery technologies as well as building the Badger, a heavy-duty electric pickup, for Nikola. Two people familiar with the deal told the Detroit Free Press that lawyers for GM and Nikola have been meeting daily. GM originally agreed to an 11% equity stake in Nikola,… Continue reading GM, Nikola renegotiate as Nikola makes more leadership changes
Unexpected demand for 2021 Ford Bronco creates unique challenge for buyers
No reservation? No Bronco. Demand for the 2021 Ford Bronco SUV is so strong that Ford doesn’t expect to fill all customer orders into 2022, the company told the Free Press. The Bronco, a bestselling vehicle resurrected for the first time since it ended production 25 years ago, is being built to order initially. People who have placed reservations are… Continue reading Unexpected demand for 2021 Ford Bronco creates unique challenge for buyers