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Ford released its final numbers for 2006, and well, they're not so good. The blue oval reportedly lost $12.8 billion last year, and we expect only a percent of a percent was contributed to Mark Fields' corporate jet. Is there any hope?  

I hope they can turn it around, for Michigan's benefit. I won't be in line to buy stock, though.  

I keep hearing manufacturers blaming their losses on things such as health care.  Can this really be?  I do wonder if the UAW or employees think about wage concessions after hearing news like this?  I know I wouldn't last long at FoMoCo since  I'd be rallying fellow employees to accept less $$$ now.  

I hate this crap! Im sorry but Ford did not loose 12 billion. They just didn't make the same amount as the years before. They probably have billions in the bank just in case. As for the health care excuse... it is a big thorn in there side but not so much that its going to create multi billion dollar losses. They should get some lobbyist in Washington to push a national health care system since its been an issue since the Clinton administration (im only 22 so thats as far as i can remember about a national system, sorry!). It would alieviate some of the headache. Also i believe that President Clinton made a big mistake when he signed the free trade agreements that allowed Ford,GM, and DCX go to Latin American countries, which allowed for lower dirt cheap wages (and still billions lost????) It provoked many jobs to move out of this country and not only in the automotive industry.  

Think I'll dedicate my first post to Ford. Now the way I see it is this. If Ford stopped making crap cars that noone wants they wouldn't be in half as bad a position as they are now. I'm sure healthcare costs have some part to play, but not nearly as big a part as my first point. The abysmal garbage that's been rolling off the assembly line is an absolute embarassment in style, quality, and something these corporate idiots just dont get, FIT and FINISH. When I get into my Audi, I love to just grab the dashboard and sink my fingers into it. Soft plastics really do make all the difference. And why on gods green earth would I spend 30 odd thousand dollars on a Lincoln poseur sports sedan when I can have the real deal from Germany for the same price.
Its too bad the Costco return policy doesnt exist in the corporate world, or else the completely idiotic purchase of Land Rover could be reversed. 2007 JD Power results out, and guess who's at the bottom? Badge engineering you say? What's a Jaguar built on these days? A Ford Fusion platform? How about a Saab?
If this company goes bankrupt, and it sure looks like it will, I won't shed a tear for any of the poor souls that didn't take a buyout and get a job at a company that actually listens to what people like in a vehicle. Stick to trucks Ford. It's the only thing you're good at. Though my friend's front left calipre just siezed on his brand new super duty.  

Ford has had more competition from more car manufacturers in the last 30 years.  Its not their fault that more companies are now selling cars in the US and the world then in the past.  Their previous oligopoly on the car market is forever lost in today's and tommorrow's world. They are adjusting and adapting now as they know that they can survive by being a smaller company. Consumers today like a wider variety of cars and don't all buy from just one or two manufacturers anymore. Ford didn't foresee this so they couldn't downsize their company in time and hence, lost money.  We criticize Ford's cars but just because their cars may not have been top-tier in the past doesn't mean that they haven't learned from their mistakes. Give them time. Ronald McDonald is not making as much money in today's world too.  Times change. Tastes change. Ford needs to decide though if they will just sell family cars with the odd sportster or begin anew and start selling desirable cars only.  That's all. The American way of doing things worked in the past and they will work again only this time they need to remember there's are way more hands reaching for the same piece of american pie. It would definitely benefit Ford to push its products in all of Asia with the same pressure and magnitude that Asia has pushed its products over here in North America. An eye for an eye? The population over there is huge as well as their appetites for foreign products.  How about emerging markets in developed Africa and India?  There is hope...its not over yet.  

I think the Heads at Ford including the Ford family are manuevering the company to be sold to a major Japanese manufacturer like Toyota or Honda.

They may not care that Ford is dying and may want the mark in deep trouble to justify the deal.

Really sad for the workers who did a great job of building POORLY DESIGNED cars.