Summary
Ford’s CEO says the company will rely on hydrogen-powered cars and hybrids to distinguish it from other carmakers. Bill Ford says the company’s first hybrid SUV is an example of a successful technological innovation. “The Escape Hybrid isn’t just a sensible solution that uses new technology. It is a hot item in the marketplace, and it is not just environmentalists who are raving about it,” Ford said.
Original source:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/01/bill_ford_point.html
Details
Introducing a briefing for financial analysts today in New York, Bill Ford, CEO of Ford Motor, outlined a product strategy that explicitly relies on hybrids and hydrogen as strategic differentiatorsâ¬"even in the short term.
One of the ways we plan to differentiate ourselves is to become a leader in offering innovation to make a difference for our customers, and the world in which they live.
What we are really known for is being a company that successfully applies new technology to a mass market.
We were the first to offer breakthrough innovations such as the V8 engine...
The Escape Hybridâ¬"the worldâ¬(TM)s first hybrid SUVâ¬"is a great example of successful product innovation for the mass market.
We did not build our results by cutting our product programs.
So the Escape is sold out, and while it is great to be trendy and fashionable, it was also named North American Truck of the Year.
We are the only auto company doing serious development work with all four fuel technologies: clean diesel, gasoline-electric hybrids, hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells.
But if the company wants to take ground back from Toyota, it will have to do more than be reactive.
In other words, they need to try to lead the broader clean platform market, in the way that Toyota seized leadership of the hybrid market.
For that to happen, Ford will need to pick up the product and marketing pace.
Ford is 4â¬"5 years behind in getting hybrids out in the market, and its competition in that space is moving on to their next-generation systems.
Having seriously researched and having just now bought an Escape Hybrid, it seems that Ford's product design, initiative, and quality control are real and the word on this should spread quickly.
About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he has created several downloadable courses on survival and preparedness, including his widely-downloaded course on personal safety and self-defense. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams co-founded NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing site that has now grown in popularity. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
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Thursday, February 03, 2005
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