Mulally: Ford's path to profitability based on electrification
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Jun 27th 2009 at 4:22PM 
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ford CEO Alan Mulally says the automaker is on track to return to profitability by 2011, despite posting a record $14.7 billion loss in 2008 and a forecast to continue posting losses through the rest of 2009 and 2010. A major portion of Ford's turnaround plan revolves around "more and more electrification, both hybrids and battery electric vehicles," Mulally said shortly after the automaker accepted $5.9 billion in U.S. Department of Energy loans as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program to retool factories to build more environmentally friendly cars and trucks. Ford plans to use the DOE funding to convert a couple of former truck plants into new automobile assembly facilities and help fund its planned electric van in 2010 and the Focus EV in 2011.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave-Phoenix 6:11PM (6/27/2009)
I believe it when Ford starts making hybrid models in quantities of more than 25,000 per year......
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ShaunneyCakes 6:17PM (6/27/2009)
I actually saw a Ford Fusion Hybrid in the wild today, and I must say, it is putty my Prius to shame in looks, but I still have it in MPG. If they fusion hybrid was 22,000, I would have DEFINATELY bought one instead of my Prius.
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Luke 9:57PM (6/27/2009)
I'm turning in the keys to my Civic when the electric Ford Focus is on the lots. Hopefully the tax incentives will still be there.
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Dave - Phoenix 3:22AM (6/28/2009)
I may do the same my HCH II.
I bought the Civic because I got tired of waiting. I wanted to do something now and new it would still be a couple years before an affordable EV was available.
KIB2 12:25AM (6/28/2009)
I can't wait to see what the hybrid version of my Fiesta will be I'm already getting over 40mpg's.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kambuib/3667120604/
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DasBoese 8:33AM (6/28/2009)
I don't think they'll take the Fiesta to hybrid, it's just not cost effective. They might make it a "micro-hybrid" though, i.e. give it a start-stop function.
They'll probably just continue improving fuel economy until they can switch over to a full electric drivetrain.
Mike!!ekiM 10:49AM (6/28/2009)
I can only hope they put some effort into "aFordability". They're killing me with their current pricing.
KIB2 10:57AM (6/28/2009)
Fiesta EV, that sound cool or maybe EV Fiesta. Either way I think it would be a game changer in its class.
Alan 7:52AM (6/28/2009)
Surely Ford's path to profitability is going to be based on hydrogen. HAHAHAHAHAA..... ;-)
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James 8:29AM (6/30/2009)
I'm happy to see Mulally's vision for electrification. I hope momentum builds for EVs in the U.S. market. It's the right technology for the long term, enabling us to improve performance and efficiency simultaneously: http://bit.ly/aRCkG
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Neil 1:40AM (7/06/2009)
Automakers have been standing with their hands in their pockets for more than a decade now, and here's proof:
The 1994 Honda Civic VX got 39/50 mpg.
Read that again.
Fast forward 15 years. What has Honda achieved?
2009 Civic gets 26/34. The Fit isn't much better because it's aerodynamics are hopeless.
Wait! You mean in 1994 they could get a normally aspired, non-hybrid, regular gasoline powered car to go FIFTY miles on a gallon of gas, but now people think 35 hwy is good??? Yes. Honda has been going BACKWARDS. You don't see it because the lazy press lets it go (and you believe everything you read).
Hey Ford, forget your stupid 'electrification'. Tear down of an old Civic VX and copy it.
Better still: Honda, YOU do that.
I'm NOT paying $3k more for a hybrid when you can get a standard car to do 50mpg fifteen stinking years ago.
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