Posts Tagged ‘Ford’

Ford teams with Microsoft to boost electric-car prospects

Posted by Amita Kalra on March 31st, 2010

Ford Motor Co and Microsoft Corp, announced on Tuesday that they will be teaming up in an electric-car charging optimization service to help drivers determine the ideal time to charge their vehicles and how to best minimize impact on the grid.

Microsoft Hohm will be offered to Ford car owners for free, the two companies said at the New York International Auto Show. Ford will introduce five electric vehicles by 2013, starting with a Transit Connect Electric later this year.

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally said the goal is “to make the electric vehicle viable, charging affordable and interaction with the utility grid smarter.”

The system is needed, they say, because electric cars will be the biggest energy drain in a typical household, so recharging needs to be managed. Ford and Microsoft already collaborate on the Sync in-car connectivity system for remote devices like cell phones.

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Posted in North America Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment »

Now Honda pulls a Toyota, Recalls 646000 Compact Cars Worldwide

Posted by Prabhjot Singh on January 29th, 2010

Hot on the heels of the disappointing news from Toyota (TM) to recall 4.6 million cars worldwide, comes a similar news from the Honda Motor Co. (HMC), who are recalling 646,000 cars over safety concerns. The recall includes all Fit, City and Jazz models made in 2007 and 2008. The Toyota fiasco already has the car’s owners fuming and now they will be joined in the ranks by Honda owners. The news comes as a double blow for the Japanese automotive market.

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Ford Posts Whopping $2.7 Billion Earnings

Posted by Amita Kalra on January 28th, 2010

In the wake of the Toyota fiasco, Ford Motors Co (F) is certainly making hay while the sun shines. The American automaker today announced annual earnings of $2.7 billion (86 cents per share), its first profit in the last four years. The quarterly net income soared at $868 million, or 25 cents per share. The company managed to finish way ahead of analyst expectations which predicted it to be in the red. Last year it had recorded dramatic losses to the tune of $14.6 billion.

This is attributed mainly to the aggressive cost cutting and an increased market share. Ford reduced its structural costs by $5.1 billion, far outdoing its goal of $1.1 billion. It also managed to gain market share in North America, South America, and Europe.  It may be reiterated that Ford is the only major U.S. automaker, not to reorganize under a US government-funded bankruptcy despite having debt twice in value to that of General Motors.

What’s more, it is expected that after the Toyota recall, consumer interest in Ford will rise, since it produces several vehicles comparable to the recalled and suspended cars.

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