11-15-05: Ford stock is trading at $7.93 this morning, nearly a record low. Stories all over the automotive press are talking about the idling and closing of plants due to plunging demand for American cars as Japanese and Korean car companies cant build enough to meet their skyrocketing demand. Ford's car line has been long suffereing the doldrums of old, outdated, and undesireable products in the face of the competition. New cars like the 500 and Freestyle have hit showrooms with little excitement of buyers, while the Fusion and Mustang almost singlehandedly have kept their sales charts for cars afloat. Football fields of trucks and SUV's are dead on the tarmac.

So, Ford continues to give us winners in the US market like the old dowdy Ford Focus, while every other market in the world; Europe, UK, Asia, China, South America and others get the all new re-designed Focus. This new car is a smashing world class product built on the same platform as the acclaimed Mazda 3 and the Volvo S40. Styling of this new car eschews all the homely characterisitics that have made the current US Focus a laughing stock of shoppers comparing it to other import cars. The new Focus is sharp, sporty and chic. A recent press release for the European and British markets lavishes about the cool new colors, the rakish styling, and performance. That is a great thing, it is proof that Ford has what it takes to build great cars.

But, Ford has no plans to bring the new Focus to the US for the forseeable future. What? Why? Is it the usual excuses that there is not enough demand for the car, that American buyers wont appreciate it, that there is not enough money to bring it to market here? Come on! The American market is buying up every cool car that Korea, Japan, Germany, and Sweden can boat over here including the ones made by FoMoCo. Why cant the brains at Ford see the forest through the trees? There IS a market in the US for well made, cool, smartly styled cars that are competitive. Why is it that Ford continues to build some of their best products for foreign markets and continues to sell us left over crap? And they wonder why their market share is sliding into the dumpster next to the Glass House.

I say, close the plants that build the product nobody wants and get this new Focus and it's utilitarian versions like the C-Max minivan that are selling all over Europe over here ASAP. People arent buying the re-hashed Explorers, out of date Expeditions, and underwhelming Freestyles for a reason. The market is asking for something new and different! Comment on this in our forum now.