Ford CEO: U.S. plant expansion is 'vote of confidence' in Trump

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

Two more posts where the respondents want to make the thread about me, rather than the good news about what Ford is doing. Nothing new here folks. Let's move along.

What has occurred in this thread is that you have shown your gullibility about what just occurred in Michigan. Ford decides to expand its efforts on electric and self-driving vehicles in Michigan to the tune of 700 new jobs while it cancelled plans to build another factory in Mexico to build more Focus small cars (instead modestly increasing the production of the Focus at another Mexican factory by adding 200 jobs there). The reason for cancelling the new Mexican plant was reduced demand for the Focus, allowing them to meet the projected demand without investing $1.6 billion in the new plant.

These (mutually independent) decisions were made 3 weeks before Trump becomes President and months to years before any meaningful tax changes or import tariffs (illegal under NAFTA, BTW) could be passed and implemented (if passed at all). The contents and likelihood of passage of any such changes is unknown, as are their impacts upon Ford. Yet, Ford chooses to flatter Trump by saying that his policies had something to do with their decision (just as the SoftBank CEO did earlier), knowing that they could thereby curry Trump's favor (without doing anything they didn't plan to do anyway). Trump tweets about his responsibility for Ford's decision and you buy it, hook, line and sinker.

How's that for substance?

[whell]

Originally Posted by finnbow

What has occurred in this thread is that you have shown your gullibility about what just occurred in Michigan. Ford decides to expand its efforts on electric and self-driving vehicles in Michigan to the tune of 700 new jobs while it cancelled plans to build another factory in Mexico to build more Focus small cars (instead modestly increasing the production of the Focus at another Mexican factory by adding 200 jobs there). The reason for cancelling the new Mexican plant was reduced demand for the Focus, allowing them to meet the projected demand without investing $1.6 billion in the new plant.

These (mutually independent) decisions were made 3 weeks before Trump becomes President and months to years before any meaningful tax changes or import tariffs (illegal under NAFTA, BTW) could be passed and implemented (if passed at all). The contents and likelihood of passage of any such changes is unknown, as are their impacts upon Ford. Yet, Ford chooses to flatter Trump by saying that his policies had something to do with their decision (just as the SoftBank CEO did earlier), knowing that they could thereby curry Trump's favor (without doing anything they didn't plan to do anyway). Trump tweets about his responsibility for Ford's decision and you buy it, hook, line and sinker.

How's that for substance?

Your "substance" is nothing that couldn't have been gleaned from the article I posted, with the exception of the "flattery" angle which is just a rehash of old, tired crap. So, your "substance" may simply be evidence that you finally decided to go back and read what I originally posted.

Your focus in the flattery angle is fine if you want to engage in the lightweight end of the debate. But I think Mark Fields pretty publicly dispensed with that when he specifically said that Trump was not involved in the decision-making process.

You'd have to be a freaking village idiot (or an avowed lefty) to look at the history of this and exclude Trump as an influence. Whether, as Mark Fields indicated, its a belief in the development of a more business - friendly climate, or specifically targeting Ford with his comments following the Ford's announcement to build the Mexico plant, there was certainly some influence. "Substance" would be a discussion about the merits or risks of this type of influence.

Also, I think you've got the details regarding the production of the Ford Focus wrong. Demand for the Focus - which was HUGE when the vehicle was first introduced - has been tapering off for a while now, but its still selling pretty well. The Focus remains and important vehicle for Ford because it can be sold world wide, and because its a good "entry level" vehicle domestically.

Ford had previously announced its intentions to move ALL of its small car production - which includes the Focus - to Mexico. That's what the new plant in Mexico was for. Monday's announcement will keep the production of Ford Focus vehicles bound for the US market in Flat Rock, MI where they are currently being produced. The current Mexican plant will continue to product Ford Focus vehicles intended for the export market, and the workforce there will to support production for the export market.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

Your "substance" is nothing that couldn't have been gleaned from the article I posted, with the exception of the "flattery" angle...

The flattery angle is the whole story outside of Flat Rock, MI. Ford deciding to create 700 jobs there when the American economy is generating 200K jobs per month, year after year, isn't news worthy of national discussion were it not for Trump claiming credit and Ford choosing to flatter him. Got to hand it to Trump for claiming credit for something he had nothing to do with and the press running with it. OTOH, this, above anything else you've posted, belongs in your fake news thread.

[whell]

Originally Posted by finnbow

The flattery angle is the whole story outside of Flat Rock, MI. Ford deciding to create 700 jobs there when the American economy is generating 200K jobs per month, year after year, isn't news worthy of national discussion were it not for Trump claiming credit and Ford choosing to flatter him. Got to hand it to Trump for claiming credit for something he had nothing to do with and the press running with it. OTOH, this, above anything else you've posted, belongs in your fake news thread.

Good lord, you still have the facts wrong, particularly about what's happening in Flat Rock. Go back and look at post 23.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by finnbow

These (mutually independent) decisions were made 3 weeks before Trump becomes President and months to years before any meaningful tax changes or import tariffs (illegal under NAFTA, BTW) could be passed and implemented (if passed at all). The contents and likelihood of passage of any such changes is unknown, as are their impacts upon Ford. Yet, Ford chooses to flatter Trump by saying that his policies had something to do with their decision (just as the SoftBank CEO did earlier), knowing that they could thereby curry Trump's favor (without doing anything they didn't plan to do anyway). Trump tweets about his responsibility for Ford's decision and you buy it, hook, line and sinker.

How's that for substance?

Bully Pulpit.

Google it.